But you arent comparing only the front locked verse only the rear locked. By what you dscribed you are comparing both front and rear locked verse only the rear locked... Of course its going to seem that way.

 

OK... How about this: It's harder to turn the steering wheel when the front is locked. It's easier to turn when it's not locked.

 

This is the answer I've been looking for, for so long! Where I live it snows a **** ton in the winter and I have been on the fence about locking the front for years because of this. How was it driving around town with the front locked in the snow?

 

Yup. Eaton e-locker. Does the same thing without the air system hassles and the inflated ARB price tag...

 

IMO it really depends on what you plan on driving. I can see advantages to both setups on different terrain. If you're on ice, a locked front is going to create a lot of understeer at speed. A locked rear could cause a spinout. NP242 and LSDs for both lol. Locked diffs will behave differently no matter what, so be careful.

I like the idea of a selectable up front for trails to make turns easier.

 

It really isn't.


It was fine. Just find the way you wanna turn, either let off and take it slow, or power through it and kick the *** end around a little. I can see it being weird if you've never driven a jeep before (I wouldn't go throw my gf the keys and let her drive to work in a blizzard by herself) but it was not a big deal at all for me.

Again, it really isn't. If anything, most of the time it's easier bc both wheels are trying to grip and get over whatever you're trying to get over instead of one just hanging out not helping.

 

That's weird that you know how hard it is to turn my Jeep and I don't.

 

I've owned plenty of jeeps and trucks, plus I've lived in PA my whole life, so snow isn't an issue what so ever. I just read so many threads about how terrible it is to have an auto locker in the front axle in the snow. Finally someone with real life experience has so info lol

 

i had a XJ open/locked on 31s then 33s for 4 years and like 45-50k miles. my XJ now is selectable/locked on 35s. i've driven pretty much every configuration XJ you can build from stock to "is that still a XJ i think its a tube buggy."

turning radius from tightest to "damn this sucks" is:

open/open
locked/open
open/locked
locked/locked

thats without taking cutting brakes into consideration. how "easy" it is depends on your power steering setup, and not really if you're open or locked up front. yea, if you have 39s and a spool in a full width front, it wont be easy to turn... but 33s on a D30 it doesnt matter open or locked, sorry dude.

 

We'll agree to disagree...

 

I already stated this exact thing. Yes, it is alot easier to PHYSICALLY turn your steering wheel with the front unlocked and the rear locked verse the front locked and the rear unlocked. BUT. That does not mean that the Jeep can turn in a TIGHTER TURNING RADIUS. With the front tires cranked all the way one way or the other and your foot on the gas, your Jeep will turn in a tighter radius with the front locked verse with the rear locked.

If you are having trouble getting you steering wheel to physically turn that far then you need to address issues in your steering system. I can lock my front end on 35s, on pavement, in 4wd, and still crank the steering wheel all the way left then all the way right. I have a stock steering box and steering pump.

 

I never said anything about a tighter turn radius. In my original post, I just said it's easier to turn with the front unlocked.
So you're saying the same thing as me except you are arguing with me for some reason...

 

Because the question is where should he put the ratcheting locker and you say in the rear. I disagree and I am providing points for my statement. Tighter turning radius takes precedence over the steering wheel being harder to turn offroad when in 4WD.

 

How much tighter is the turning radius on loose terrain?