I have an 91 Jeep cherokee(4.0, completely stock) with a tire off the rim that can go through more mud than my 96 Grand Cherokee with 31's(no joke). The Cherokee doesn't have lockers either.. I'm guess the heavier weight of the Grand Cherokee makes it just sink.. So my question is.. Should I get a locker for the front or rear first? What would make it do better in the mud?

 

Rear

 

Rear, if your GC has the 4.0l i6 then it is about 100 lb. more.

 

100bs more then what? If your saying the ZJ is only 100lbs more then the XJ you are mistaken.

My XJ with the lift, 34" super swampers, steel wheels, and winch bumper in the front weighs in at about 3100 lbs with me in it.

My 4.0 ZJ weighs in at about 3900 lbs with me in it. It is the Laredo also.

My 5.2 ZJ weighs about 4200 lbs with me in it. Limited with all options.


To the OP, go with a rear locker. If you have the 44a your options are limited to the Aussie locker only.

 

I kinda wonder what the weight distribution ratio is. I have the 5.2l limited with all options as well..

 

If it were mine, I'd drop an Aussie/Spartan/auto locker in the front, so when you get out of 4WD you don't notice it at all.

 

The thing is, it's full time 4wd. I'm working on doing a transfer case swap but don't have the time/money at the moment.

 

Yeah, AWD kills that opportunity. With it being only a 4.0, there was the chance of it not being AWD.

If it were mine, I would just wait till you do the 231/242 swap and slap an auto locker in the front. That's what mine has. I love my setup.

 

The only way your XJ is weighing 3100 pounds with all the mods is if you've done some SERIOUS cutting/removal of interior pieces. XJ's weigh just over 3100lbs from the factory. Adding the lift, 34's, and a winch bumper will only increase your XJ's weight. And the d44a only came in v-8 models, unless a swap has been done.

To the OP, for mud, go with a rear locker. Check out aussielocker.com. If it's more of a dd, look into a Powertrax No-slip if you have the d35.

 

My XJ has no options. Crank windows, no abs, no ac components, manual seats, manual locks, no carpeting, no rear tow receiver, cut fenders, spare tire and mount deleted. This was weighed at a commercial vehicle scale.

 

That explains it. not having all that stuff will definitely help keep weight down.