Very basic locking differential question

[Jersey Jim]

Many thanks to all the persons who wrote about the pros and cons of open, limited slip, and locking differentials on 4WD and 2WD vehicles. The discussions were an awesome help as I plan to replace my old 2WD F150 having open differential with a newer model 2WD possibly equipped with the 3.55 electronic locking differential paired with 2.7L engine.

But my question and concern is a lot more basic than what persons normally dive into.

With the 3.55 electronic locking differential, is it correct that it will never engage unless I decide to manually press a button or some other trigger ?

I'll only be getting the locking feature for the infrequent occasions that we go onto dirt roads which can be muddy if the weather hasn't been kind. With my current truck, I weave around were possible and hope that I avoid deep muddy spots. Someday my luck might run out.

You also can select that mode, but not be in it until dropping low enough in speed for it to engage. I think the max speed is around 25 mph before it automatically disengages. It will engage in and out as driving speed permits, but it's basically a slow-speed feature.

Personally I only use it when launching and retrieving my boats on the slippery/steep boat ramps. When buying this 4x4 2.7L truck in 2021, that e-locker was one feature I "insisted" on. I'm not waiting for one wheel to slip on the boat ramp, for the other wheel to start working. That's when split seconds count. Too many youtube videos out there of boats dragging their tow vehicles into the water. I also have the 3.55 rear. I lost a couple hundred pounds of towing capacity, but still have almost 8,000 pounds, and only need 6,500 on the bigger boat.

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