Do you lock your differential in while driving in snow with chains on?

Don't feel like writing a book today?

 

Don't blame ya. You off highway guys have it figured out.

 

This.

 

Well, we like to think that we do. We get surprised sometimes.

To the OP...just from personal experience I'd go ahead and lock in. Unless you're making hairpin turns or switchbacks your truck should steer alright.
Donner is a good place to learn ice and snow driving.
If you have double lockers you can play the switches like piano keys if you need to lock in or out. Just be sure your wheels aren't spinning when you engage.

 

If you don't lock them up when chained up going over a mountain then when is an appropriate time to lock them up?

I've only chained maybe 3 or 4 times, I lock them all up so they all spin at same speed. Not making any turns anyway. Rather have the power divided by all 4 wheel ends, in my mind that should make it harder to have a spin out. If I'm wrong someone please explain to me how. Cuz I am a chain up rookie. And intend to stay that way.

 

At least they are asking. Lock 'er in. A chained drive wheel doesn't do anything unless there's power going to it. In 35 years, the only vehicle I ever hung iron on, was my garden tractor. I never trucked in the mountains, and I figured, if I needed chains, it wasn't worth going out.

 

I grew up in the rockies. Spent my whole life trucking, retired now. I agree, don't think I ever used the power divider when chained up

 

Personally I think a guy is better off locking in the interaxle provided there are no sharp turns. Any 1 set of the 4 duals loses traction and you'll just spin that one wheel set. At least with the interaxle locked in you're putting power down with at least 1 wheel set on each axle.

 

I don't think they are needed unless you run off road or on goat trails. Diff locks that is.

The power divider that splits the power 50/50 between the front and rear axles I would use on the highway. The diffs are "open" so it's harder to spin all of the tires and start to slide. The differentials are "open" so all the power will go to the side with the least amount of traction. Well, most of the power, both will spin if you mash on it hard enough. One side won't spin and that's where the traction to keep you going straight will come from. You will hear the engine rpm climb and know it's slick. You have some warning it's getting slick.

With diff locks you will have more traction as both sides of an axle will turn at the same speed. But if you loose traction both sides will loose traction and you will start to slide "fishtail" immediately. Thats why I think they are suicide at highway speeds. The axles will stay locked if you are going straight even if you let off the throttle. If it's slippery enough just the motor alone slowing you down can be enough to break traction, and if the diff locks are on, all positions will break traction. Like in a car and throwing on the parking break.

Chains are a different story. Lots of traction. Don't need either with chains on. I'm sure there are exceptions.