JB74 Traction Improvements

wrote:

Throttle blipping and left foot braking allied to light weight and smaller size can go a long way to countering a locking diff.

Roger

Indeed left foot braking can help. Use it a lot trialling as the ALRC does not allow diff lockers or ATBs in the regs while competing.

Not sure I'm convinced on the weight thing, I know it is often cited when discussing Jimny's off road. But I can't quite follow the physics of it.

I do know big heavier vehicle can also be very good off road and have never noticed shedding weight to improve this in anyway.

The narrow track and overall dimensions of the Jimny give a good advantage over a 90, but less so when comparing to say an 80 or 88" coiler.

The only time I got my 90 stuck was as a direct consequence of it being too heavy trying to pull my Sankey through too wet of a gateway, the whole rig just sank as soon as any torque was applied. Same gateway in even wetter conditions and a Jimny with a heavier but twin axle trailer and it just went over the top long enough for the front wheels to make it to the tarmac and haul the trailer through. The additional 500kg of the 90 wasn't very helpful on that day.

If you drive a route that has ruts created by bigger heavier motors, ie LR,s or similar, then you can run in one rut and just about run adjacent to the other rut because of your reduced track. You are also helped by the reduced weight which will reduce your chance of breaking the edge of the rut you are so close too.

Roger

Weight makes a huge difference! There are many marshy places on our farm where the Jimny goes effortlessly but the Defender just leaves deep ruts. Before I had a Jimny we only ever went to these places with a quadbike. In slippery conditions and on steep climbs the low weight is also a big advantage.