Limited slip rearend

[RGardner]

I have found a truck that has everything I want on it except for the limited slip rear end. The question is just how important is it in a 4x4? The truck is priced right but will I regret not getting the limited slip? I know it is a very useful option if a 2 wheel drive but I just don't know if it is necessary in a 4x4. Any suggestions and opinions will be appreciated. TIA

 

[Boonieman]

My 2001 Dodge supposedly had limited slip, but it didn't work worth a crap. It was a 4X4 CTD auto, and the non-functioning limited slip never once prevented me from going where I wanted to go. The 2003 I have now has limited slip, and it actually works, and works very well. All that being said... here is my opinion:



These trucks are so expensive anyway that I'd get EXACTLY what I wanted on it, and never have any nagging doubts about "should I have gotten???" Just my humble thoughts on the matter.

 

[pstillo]

tell the dealer to install the limited slip and you will buy the truck. They should be able to do it.

 

[JohndeereG]

Originally posted by RGardner

I have found a truck that has everything I want on it except for the limited slip rear end. The question is just how important is it in a 4x4? The truck is priced right but will I regret not getting the limited slip? I know it is a very useful option if a 2 wheel drive but I just don't know if it is necessary in a 4x4. Any suggestions and opinions will be appreciated. TIA

I drove a 00 without a limited slip. Darn truck wouldn't go up my driveway with wet leaves. Father-in-law had 01 with the limited slip which was a big improvement. Put either truck in 4wd and they would go anywhere. My 03 is fine with the limited slip but nothing compares to the Light duty F-250 gasser I drove. That truck would go just about anywhere.

 

[Dean Upson]

These trucks are so expensive anyway that I'd get EXACTLY what I wanted on it, and never have any nagging doubts about "should I have gotten???" Just my humble thoughts on the matter.

Amen, Brother Boonieman .



Dean

 

[RCrowley]

RGardener I was in the same position as you. I looked into having the limited slip added and was quoted a price of $1,000 plus. I passed on that truck and found one with it a few days later that was exactly what I wanted. Take your time and do your homework make sure the truck you buy is exactly what you want. IMHO any truck with out limited slip is a headache waiting to happen. If you have the time order exactly what you want.

 

[Dean Upson]

I have found the LS differential in my '03 to be much better than the one I had in my 98. Others have said much the same. Get exactly what you want is the best advise I can give.



Dean

 

[Rosco]

Heres my $. 02. I think the others have given some good answers but johndeereG gave you the only hands on answer.



I had a '94 Jeep wrangler and a '99 1500 Ram both had open diff's. I drove through many snowstorms, a few blizzards, and did other light off-roading with both trucks and had no trouble. Only once did my Jeep get stuck while my buddy was driving. That was on a beach doing something we shouldn't have been doing and we had not even aired the tires down for sand driving. If you rarely venture off road and you don't need to have every option just to keep up with the Jonses then a open diff will be fine.



On the other hand, if you plan to do any moderate offroading or intend to plow snow like I do then you should get the LSD.

 

[Prairie Dog]

I would never buyn a p/u w/o LSD. They want to spin too easily, like when you have to start from a dead stop on a hill. I actualy got a brand new truck stuck when I parked nose down on an exposed aggregate driveway that was wet, Two guys had to push me up the dang driveway!

 

[HBrink]

I would not buy a new truck without LS. Had to search for it in the 01 truck but didn't see many 03 models that didn't have the "option" listed on the window sticker.



Only 1 month to go and the 03 will be mine!!



By the way Dean - it will be a mirror image of yours, down to the Prodigy brake controller and the Pullrite hitch. Thanks for the info. And thanks to Casey. Thoughtful, well-informed guys like that are why this site is doing so well.



Take care,

Harry

Olympia WA

 

[DIESELMAN]

Heres a different... . spin... . If I were a manufacturer, I wouldn't SELL a truck without LSD. How embarrasing can it be to sell the meanest toughest Iron on the block, and then have to push it out to the street?? How much does it really Cost to Add ??

 

[RGardner]

Thanks for the advice guys! About what I had decided, for what these babies cost you should get exactly what you want and never look back!

 

[Fireman]

I wouldn't want one without it. HOWEVER if I were intending to use it quiet a bit offroad I might take it without and add ARB air lockers to both ends



FWIW

Fireman

 

[nkiewel]

Originally posted by Fireman

I wouldn't want one without it. HOWEVER if I were intending to use it quiet a bit offroad I might take it without and add ARB air lockers to both ends

I didn't think that there was an ARB for this axle yet? I talked to the fols at ARB about two weeks ago and they said that they were "looking into it". Looks like the factory LSD is the only option at the moment.



Nate

 

[nkiewel]

QUOTE]I talked to the fols at ARB [/QUOTE]



fols = folks, not fools... [