tvarney26

im looking into getting a lunchbox locker and want to know pros and cons of front vs rear locking diff and if u guys got any prefference on which to buy and why (how was ur experience offroad and on)

rompnXJ

oh boy this question always turns into a huge unsolveable debate; as to which performs better, front or rear. if you have to pick one or the other i say to lock the front; but thats just me.

also; front auto-lockers are invisible when not in 4x4, somethin to think about if you DD it

92XJGuy

Have an Aussie front, also my DD, you wouldn't know it's there. Love it. Helps pull me up hills. Rear will help push you, I believe. I think it comes down to preference, really. I do plan on getting a rear eventually too though.

holycaveman

I have to agree. For on road and off.

Went wheeling a couple weeks ago in an area called the rock garden. Its a river with big rocks. Lots of opportunity for body damage. A yota and tj wheeled with me among fully locked rigs. They had locked rears, I had locked front. It was very noticeable how my jeep would climb its way over rocks. Theirs would have to push the dead front wheel over rocks. We went the same places. But they struggled in many areas. I never spun a tired the whole day. Sold me on a front locker for certain.

ohio95xj

im with these guys, i have an aussie in front, i love it both on and off road, i say lock the front....especially if its a dd

Atmos

love my rear detroit locker. cant hardly feel it on the street and I did almost an entire trail in 2wd last night. my aussie front is ok but I would definitely pick a rear locker if I could only have 1

MallCrawlXJ

I would have a front over a rear any day.

In my experience, the front pulls you, and the rear pushes you. I would rather have the front locker helping pull me over an obsticle than a rear locker pushing me into it.

I have ran with just a front, just a rear, and fully locked. Of course two is better than one, but I was more impressed with a front when only running one.

NorCalJeep

In my opinion, a front locker would be better than rear locker.

ohio95xj

so far 6 say front 1 says rear

wader218

In my opinion if you have to drive in snow put it in the rear. If that locks up going around a corner you dont want to slide into a car or something cause you cant steer. I wanted to do the same thing by putting a spartan locker in the front. I was told that it could be hard to control when its slick. I have a detroit rear in a Tahoe and love it. My cherokee is limited slip rear with open front. Hope this helps.

BatmanXJ

Depends on your type of wheeling.
I locked my rear first. I will lock the front as well some day. Thing to think about is when the front is locked and in 4wd you will not turn very well (if at all). One thing I do on trail rides is put in 4 low and leave it there to keep temps down since the engine doesn't have to work as hard. That would be next to impossible to do on our trail rides once the front is locked. It honestly a personal preference that all depends on your type of wheeling.

mr white

Front first. Or preferably both at the same time.

holycaveman

You lost me? I always wheel in low!

mr white

big tires + locker makes it hard to turn tightly when in 4wd.

rompnXJ

im just gonna say i disagree that a front locker makes it difficult to steer on trails, i usually cruise in 2wheel, or 4hi if the trail is really slick. if i get into a tight trail that involves climbing, or have to wheel thru some deep mud, thats when i pop it into 4lo. the steering wheel does firm up just a touch in 4WD but its minimal.

shouldnt be goin faster than 10-15mph in 4lo anyway

as for snow driving, never done it. but if its anything like mud driving, a front locker improves handling; it gives you a more sure-footed feeling. just my opinion