The difference is traction!

Cars are designed to be used on paved streets. 4x4 trucks "should" be designed to go offroad. The "TracRite" is simply the wrong application for a truck!!

"Gear type"- limited slip/Anti spin differentials are designed to split torque between the wheels and the bias built into the gearset can provide extra torque to wheel with traction if the other starts to slip. The problem occurs when one wheel has no traction. It can be said "bias x nothing = nothing".

Clutch type, cone type and even lockers do not (should not) have this problem.

 

CRX yes, street legal no...Quaiffe on it's way. Check out my photo gallery and you will see!

 

You are correct...I was refering to the weight difference being between his VW and the rear of our trucks...on a front wheel drive car most of the vehicles weight is right on the drive axle and this is partly why the Quaiffe unit in his car felt better...totally different ball game but yes it is because of more weight on the drive axle (in relation to the weight of the actual vehicle) which is causing more traction. Less weight on our rear axles in relation to total weight causes poorer traction and less efficiency of the torsen unit.

I for one like the torsen unit in our trucks...I don't take mine off road, but do like it's characteristics when cornering on road and for the occasional trip into wet grass and such while parking trailers. If you use the park brake or foot brake you can make the traction biasing to act different which will give you some traction...but yes you are also correct that for true off road there is nothing like a locked diff or something a little more locked, not just limited slip (as in our torsen units) and a clutch type unit would likely function better for true offroading. I also like the fact that in theory there are no parts to wear out like clutch plates and such...however if a torsen unit wears out it can be pricey.