I think I just posted this on another locker thread, but it's worth repeating. A little driving skill goes a long way. After putting an Aussie in the back I've payed attention to how it drives and find that keeping it straight is actually easier than when it was open. We're all driving older vehicles. No traction control, AWD, and very few have ABS. Learn your vehicle's driving habits and adjust accordingly. These aren't fancy new cars that damn near drive themselves.

 

I just replaced my OLD M/S tires on my XJ with spanky new Hankook Dynapros and I love them. Been through 2 snows here in and I didn't really need 4wd.

Of course this isn't Duluth.

Having grown up in Duluth, it sounds like you need better tires. I was able to deliver pizza from Pizza Hut on Central Entrance back in the late 80s with my 73 Charger. In the winter.. Downtown.. Never got stuck. Plus driving around generally.

I would have given my left nut to have a Jeep back then.

I imagine that my '92 with the new tiers would dance all over the steep hills there now. Even in 2wd.

I suggest NOT purchasing rubber from Duluth Tire on 53 in Hermantown. After dropping $800 on new tires for my 98 Buick AND the expensive "road hazard", they had to order 2 new tires for me as the rears were bad after 1 year. Since I was visiting the folks, I couldn't stick around for 7 days for the replacements. They would NOT give me a break on 2 NEW tires. No sir. Full price.

Ended up going to Walmart. lol. Goodyear Vivas will let you drive around for a year but that's all. Finally replaced with more Hankooks. Love em. Price was good too.

Replace your tires. Sears has deals sometimes. SAMS club if you have a card. Look for tires that have the "snowflake" logo on the sidewall. Those are rated for snow conditions.

Locker not needed.

 

ive had 20+ muscle cars and i PROMISE you, Posi IS more tail happy. It's physics. MUCH easier to break the rear end loose when one tire is already fighting to break loose. Im not saying that its impossible to drive, and of course, paying attention will help. And any decent driver should be able to compensate. I was simply saying to be sure to compensate. in case he's never driven anything locked/Posi/LSD, etc.

 

Gotta agree here. At least for me with an aussie locker in the rear. In 2wd if you aren't careful on the gas while making any sort of turn on ice/packed hard snow the rear end kicks out. It's fairly simple to learn and compensate for, or avoid doing it all together. In 4wd it's not a problem thouh.

 

Not to pick at what you've said, but what will make you "go straight instead of turning" would be a locker in the rear.. not the front. And its far less likely to happen if you're in 4wd as the front tires are pulling as well.

 

Sorry, if you are speaking about driving fresh snow more than a few inches deep then yes a front locker will work OK, but if you're talking about driving on packed snow and ice the front locker may not have the traction necessary for the auto locker to work as intended and both tires will spin [ because there is no traction ] which will cause the rig to not turn and to push straight ahead.
While this can also happen on a rear axle it is more easily compensated for with throttle input.

 

I love haven a locker up front and not the rear bc one of my buddy has a Aussie front and rear and he hates to drive it on snowy road bc the *** tries to pass him all the time

 

Look OP, traction is simple. Tires, locker, done.

 

If you're still stock Goodyear Wranglers' are plenty good for a DD. Where I live in MO we see more ice than snow and they work great in both. Clutches on a limited slip can wear out earlier than wanted if your working it, so a locker would be better. With the D35 I might go for a true-trac from what I hear those don't bang at all. If you want to go limited slip Auburn makes nice durable units that you can run front and rear, and they wear well. Had one in a Chevy Blazer I mudded regularly for the 5yrs I had the unit installed and never had to break it open to work on it.

 

Well! Now I guess it seams I have a few big decisions to make! I'm definetley looking at tires. I think I'm going do go with the Aussie locker almost purely based on the cost and the good reviews. I would ask weather I would be more benefited by putting one on the front, or one on the rear. But, it seams that it's almost just user preference. I'm waiting to do the tires and locker til the spring, as I'll have the truck apart because I'm installing air shocks in the back and replacing the front shocks as well. Hopefully I'm going down the right track!

 

Keep in mind you'll only get traction if you can put the power to the ground. You can be locked front and rear, but if your tires aren't clawing at the driving surface your still not gonna move.

And, if physics is considered, a front locker tends to be more useful off road. Pulling your front end up and over and obstacle from the front is easier than trying to push it up and over from the rear.

However, if your just worried about snow, a front locker will cause the front to tend to push (understeer) around corners as both tires are forced to spin at the same speed.

 

Well I guess I am not completely clear as to what the advantage of the stock rear end is. If it's beneficial to road handling and or efficiency I might as well put the locker on the front right?

 

For strictly on road driving a locker or limited slip diff should not be necessary. Regular old 4wd should be fine with good tires.

Keep in mind an open diff will still spin both tires in snow. Otherwise donuts in the snow would be a bit different.

You really should get off this locker kick and focus on new tires.

Unless somehow you happen to have a non functional vacuum disconnect not giving you 4wd in the first place...

 

Don't think anyone caught this so ill say it. You can not use part time or 4lo on a SOLID surface that will tear up your drivetrain fast. The best for snow and ice is full time. Reason for that is full time doesn't lock up the tires and cause you to spin out as much. Plus if your just on ice part time won't do much but mess up your drivetrain. I don't know what the hill was like if it was just asphalt or snow or ice. If it was asphalt and you couldn't get traction you have a problem lol. If its a decent amount of snow, go into full time and if you still can't get it try part time. If its ice well no one gets traction on ice lol sorry. And I saw something about mud tires being bad for snow.. Well mine arent horrible but they eat away at the snow which causes me to sink down faster maybe at's would be better for you. Also try looking at a front locker first. Cheaper, easy to install, and I think they do good in snow. If your just lacking the power to make it then that's your engine not traction. Hope this helps, good luck!

 

What do you mean by lock up the tires?