Thinking about getting an ARB RD-90...opinions?

[devinsixtyseven]

A lot of guys here seem to be running the RD-90, and I can get a smokin' price from one of our guys here so I'm thinking about pulling the trigger.

How do you guys like them?

How do you decide when to use it?

Have you discovered any limitations of your vehicle when using it?

How often do you use it?

Thanks much!

-Sean

 

[DaveInDenver]

How do you guys like them?

How do you decide when to use it?

Have you discovered any limitations of your vehicle when using it?

How often do you use it?

1) It's stronger than the stock diff for my truck. That is good. It's significantly larger in volume than stock. That's bad. I can get just slightly less than a quart of gear lube in my diff. There's not a lot of room in my third member, so I also get weeping of gear oil. Do I like them? Depends on the day, both my front and rear lockers blow oil through the solenoids, so some days I love them, some days I hate them. Currently my truck is very under used due to engine issues, so sure, I love them (not having used them much this summer).

2) I use it if I can't make an obstacle, but I usually try once with it open unless I /know/ I won't make it. The most often that will happen in deep snow or mud. In rocks, it makes the steering soooo hard that I will try with the front unlocked 99% of the time.

3) The limits of my truck are pushed with the rear only, so I would have to say that the front locker is a marginal gain.

4) Mine has been used on about 10 to 12 runs total, including snow runs, in the past 2.5 years. Want mine? I use tire chains more often than my front locker, so it's largely redundant. The only reason I have not sold it is I'm gun shy since I travel alone a lot and it seems like insurance.

 

[p1michaud]

Arb Rd-90

A lot of guys here seem to be running the RD-90, and I can get a smokin' price from one of our guys here so I'm thinking about pulling the trigger.

How do you guys like them?

How do you decide when to use it?

Have you discovered any limitations of your vehicle when using it?

How often do you use it?

Thanks much!

-Sean

I've only had mine in use for about one week now, so I don't have much advice to offer with respect to long term use. The main reason for purchasing and installing it was that I got a great deal on it. As for your questions:

1-I really like having it as insurance so at this point, I like it.

2-As Dave has mentionned, I first try the obstacle with the rear only locked. If that fails, I hit the switch and try again. Usually, these situations will require a spotter as well.

3-I have not used it enough yet. I still use comon sense though, just because I've got a locker front and rear does not mean I can drive everwhere and try every challenge. I always ask, why do I have to cross this obstacle and is it worth it?

4-I've had to use it 3 times on my first run this past Saturday. It was a 250 Km trip. I don't expect to use every trip, but it's nice to know that it's there.

Cheers :beer:,
P