Howdy everyone! I thought I would just make a little thread on here, as everything I have heard in the past about front lockers is they can be deadly in the snow, especially ice. As I was contemplating putting a locker in my jeep, this almost turned me off to an auto locker up front, almost being the key word.

I went with a lockrite front locker for my dana 30 on my 5 speed Cherokee. I am sitting around 5.5-6" of lift, 33x10.50 BFG KM2's with 3.55's. I also have the tracklock in the rear 8.25.

I just got back from a week of hunting in north western Pennsylvania (I live in southeastern PA) and the weather was terrible. My hunting spots are treacherous when dry, let alone snowy and icy, almost nobody ventures into these areas, as they are clearly posted "capable vehicles ONLY".

The first night was freezing rain leaving about 1/4" of ice on the dirt roads, then the next morning about 3" of snow settled on top of that. I played around with that locker a TON that day, and it never once scared me in the least. The ONLY thing it did to me, even on the ice, is over steer me through the turns. I never had it push me straight even once. Every thread I read on here seemed to say "avoid a front locker like the plague if you live in snowy areas" but I had no issues whatsoever. I never found it so easy to get to my hunting areas. I didn't even put on the chains this year.

Obviously if you hammer it too hard, you'll slide off the road, but isn't that the case with ANY vehicle in the snow? The locker doesn't hinder my turning, and it obviously didn't effect my stopping, so what's the big deal?

Needless to say, I love my front locker, and the places I went attest to that fact. I say don't be scared of that front locker in the snow.

 

When the front wheels are locked together the can loose traction on ice easier like how you can get a locked back end to come out easier. Obviously driving style plays a part. You can steer and mash it and the front will pull you in the direction you want.

 

Locked front in the snow is better than locked rear in the snow. With the rear locked it will try to drive around the front tires, with the front locked the rear will follow.

 

i assume that would be only 4-wheel

if driving 2 wheel it wouldn't still pull the rear would it?

 

Thanks for the real life input. From everything I have read I believe if you can only afford one locker the front is the way to go. This post helps push that belief.

 

Its like anything else, once you get used to how it behaves while locked in the snow/ice you will be fine. Mine has been locked front and rear for while and I have never had any issues in snow or ice. Its all in how you drive I guess.

 

With a good snow I cant turn in 4 wheel drive it goes straight inless im idling. The rear locked is just like any other rear wheel vehicle with an lsd

 

I am locked front and rear. In 2wd in the snow it just fine. If a person has no experience it could be scary for them. But anyone who has driven the wheels off cars/trucks, etc..... Wont be surprised at all.

 

Just for giggles and to add to the description, the worst "road" I follow to my hunting spot is called lost run road. I don't know the degree of incline, but its a goat path down the mountain. There are several decreasing radius switchbacks both up and down the mountain. Even on the ice I didn't push straight, and remember, I do have the LSD rear so all four were spinning. I DID however decrease throttle input while turning, obviously, just like you would any other vehicle. My main goal of making this post was to simply show that IF you have learned to drive your vehicle properly in the snow, and you maintain those skills in the locked vehicle, you hardly notice it. So many people are spreading BS about uncontrollability in the snow, and my experiences throughout last week were totally opposite.

My dad has wooded property and I have old dirtbike trails covering it, so I took the jeep wheeling again in about 8 inches of snow pack yesterday. Again, I have tight turns, up, down, and around the mountain. No issues turning, no issues sliding. The ONLY thing I notice is increased traction and less wear and tear on my jeep..Before I would have been thrashing the throttle to go where I can now only idling. My .02.

 

Back in 2003 I had Detroit lockers front and back ( and I live in the middle of the Rockies JSYK ) and loved it even at 65-70 mph on I- 70 not resckless just the norm up here ,never even heard of this rumor bout them being bad in snow. More traction is more traction???
I had one of my absult best deep clay ish mud and snow wheelin day with that truck. I can't wait to get locker for this one. I've got a little 4.5' hill here on the property ( which is my Mini fix spot ( I have 5 different routtes I can take up and down ) sence the snow has turned to ice I can't crest it, but I know I could if I had lockers
Good post