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We know this subject is one that’s been discussed around camp fires for years, but what are the pro’s and con’s of Diff Locks and Traction Control……, and more important, which is better? We would love to hear your opinions on the subject!

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I have a 2x4 Isuzu double cab with a rear diff lock and a Land Rover Discovery 2GS with a centre d/l and traction control. The traction control takes getting used to and when the wheels start spinning it's really difficult not to lay off the power and wait for the T/C to kick in. I've had loads of fun in both cars but I have wondered how the Disco would perform with a rear difflock fitted.

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Personally I enjoy diff lock the most. For one there's no waiting for computer's to decide which wheel is spinning and what to do about it. Secondly I'll always have faith in good old mechanics over electronics. My Disco one will definitely get a rear lock diff, eventually(: That being said, my friend has a GL 320CDI which has both, and he has a lot more fun with the traction control, leaving the diff lock off most of the time

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One other thing I have noticed with traction control is that once it kicks in depending how much throttle you have the car tends to lurch over the obstacle...I haven't had the opportunity to take it off road too much i'm sure it just takes some getting used to how much throttle you need to apply

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@ Ryan, once you have found the "bite" point things get much smoother!  

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I do not think I should comment on this issue. I have LSD at the back. No traction and no lockers. This issue is coming up at regular intervals in the club and no definitive answer was ever obtained. I think it is horses for different courses.

However I had the chance to do a trial with a Gelandewagen in Piet Retief, which I considered the best off-road vehicle ever. This one has front, rear and middle lockers. He done the trial with ease and was used as a recovery vehicle.

Traction control is extremely good and adequate for terrain that is varying and even on tarmac. Windup between the diffs is not a crisis and stresses are less. Lockers are for tricky situation but in a straight line only. Very few hills are straight-line approach. There are holes and the terrain is not smooth. You do place stress on the drive chain – more or less. The driver is the nut that holds it all together. If you overdo it you can break the vehicle. Traction control on the other hand is also connected to the throttle if it is drive by wire and will ease up on the throttle if the driver goes crazy. Lockers in the hands of an experienced driver in my personal humble view will outperform a traction control system. With the traction control system the control is with the vehicle and the vehicle decided the best option and it will give adequate traction but safely. After a lot of debate in our club this was the general statement.

Traction control
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0aUduwnQLE
I can also do this but due to LSD I have to add chains at the back to force it to act like a locker with traction on the wheels.

A practical comparison was done between LSD, traction and lockers and these are below.
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2wkW05Pc6c&feature=player_embedded
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNFacsKnswM&feature=player_embedded