I understand that a locker on the front axle could make driving interesting in icy conditions but will a locker on the rear axle make driving tricky in icy conditions also?

 

If you're not doing a lot of off roading then you don't want a locker in the front. A locker in the rear is fine just as long as you keep to the normal rules of driving on icey roads.

1.) Slow down to where you need to be for the conditions you are in.
2.) Easy on the gas and brake pedals.
3.) Don't be stupid.
4.) Don't think you can drive faster because you have a 4x4.

 

Depends on the locker. If you put a selectable locker in the axle, when it is off, it will perform just as an open diff. If you install automatic lockers they will engage any time you apply power to that axle. It will affect the way it drives, but it will be something you can get used to, at least in the rear. I hear that an auto locker in the front can be squirrelly on slick roads. HTH!!

 

My front auto locker is fine as long as the front axle disco is disengaged and I slow down for the conditions.

 

Disengaging the disco renders the locker inoperable, so yes that will work. Basically you just have to used 2 wheel drive on snow and ice, at least that is what I've heard. I'm putting one in soon, and don't drive mine as a DD anyway, so it should serve me well.

 

Yeah, sense locking my XJ, the only time I've engaged the front axle was when we had about 6-8 inches of snow on the road. Then it was just basically like driving off road, anyway. Slow and steady got me through....my winch and tow strap got a lot of others through.

 

Personally I would not lock anything that is a daily driver with an automatic locker. I am kind of a Kiljoy there. If you are on snow and ice., you need the differentials open so you can steer and enter corners. One wheel will need to go faster then the other. This can happen as long as you don't hit the gas. If you do, then the rear and or the front will lock and try to make the vehicle go in a perfectly straight line. This is acceptable on the trail where there is wheel slippage anyway, but not on the highway at speed. Use a selectable locker if you want one. They are more expensive, but much safer.

 

Alot of good info...Thanx

 

im locked up front with an aussie, no problems with it, it rachets around corners...pretty much dont even notice it when in 2wheel drive. and i DD mine

 

The best locker probably out there that I have seen and experienced with is an ARB air locker. They are a bit pricey for a front and rear plus the air compressor you have to buy, but it all kind of pays off once your done because you can choose if you want your front or rear locked or not which is best for off-roading. Then right as you get on the road you turn it off and your good to go plus the air compressor you have to buy may also benefit you in some other ways if you have a leak in your tire or need to air something else up off-road and there isnt any gas station close by.

 

I'd lock the front if I were going to DD it and if I could only afford one auto locker.

But I don't really drive in much snow and icey conditions either.

How much offroading do you really do? A lot of guys think they need one just because they wheel with guyS with lockers. If you dot wheel more than once a month or do I wouldn't waste the money.

I locked the front with a Lock right and rear with an Auburn LS. That's the best combo I could come up with for DDing it and wheelin in weekends unless I wante to drop the $$$ on ARBs.