Powertrax is a good and easy to install auto locker. We run them in all the shop vehicles. Although we are located in south Texas and rarely see snow.

I've ran my xj in the snow with a powertrax in the back and not had any issues. Plus it's as easy as changing spider gears. They run about 500 bucks though. Plus shipping charges.

 

I live in PA. DD 90%, dry, snow, ice. I have and use the Detroit True Trac in the rear of 2 of my XJs and putting one in another XJ and JK. Love it.


$575
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/dtl-912a553

 

I've got a power Trax no slip in the rear of my xj. I've had if for 3 or 4 years. I have zero complaints works great, very easy to install, and silent doesn't ratchet like most other auto lockers. I live in mass and we get plenty of snow. I know it's back there but it's not hard to drive with. Just think if you gun it and whip around a corner the back end is going to slide. Drive around in a snowy parking lot for a bit and get a feel for it. Its Really not that bad and off road it flat out works

 

We USUALLY (not this year!) have snow/ice mostly covering the roads from October-April. (No Salt.. only gravel) We have snow in places till late July/August at higher elevation. I had about 10' of snow at my house in 2013. Have to drive 300 miles halfway across the state to visit the family for Thanksgiving/xmas etc and back. I live about 30 miles of interstate and up a mountain from where I work. With my Detroits, it was not a fun time for me going 60-70 down the interstate and having it lock/unlock every time you hit a dry patch/icy patch. To be honest, I think the front locker in that Jeep was worse than the rear... pretty scary at times when it grabs. I am not trying to say "I drive in snow, you don't." Just for me, doing that much snow/ice driving, its not something I would not want to do again or ever recommend to someone else. Most of the 4x4 guys I know up here will only run a selectable OR trailer their rig to the trail in the winter.

Like I said (and you can tell by this thread), some people drive them all winter long no-problem. Just be aware that it is something you will have to get used to and adjust for. Had an ARB in my first XJ, then had front/rear detroits, have had 2xjs with open diffs, one with welded diffs, and now I am back to the ARB. If you can swing it, selectable is the way to go.

 

I love my trutrac. Best limited slip in my opinion as it will never wear out and doesn't need additive because it doesn't have clutches. The fairly extreme bias ratio is also very nice off-road.

 

Unless you drive maniacally there would be no need to adjust your driving with a powertrax locker in the winter. They operate basically unnoticed until your off-road or heavy on the throttle.

 

Nothing works very well if you drive 70 mph in poor conditions period, I made a good living off of those people in CO. when I owned several towing companies. We called them flat landers saw the same when I lived in Butte MT.adult locals knew how to drive others didn't. In fact when I lived in both places my DD cars all HP ones had lockers in them also.


People today just don't know how to adjust for driving conditions or have a AWD SUV and drive it like they are invincible till "The End".

 

Yep, the driving habits of flatlanders is why the California Highway Patrol is forced to shut down roads just because they spotted two snowflakes. That used to make me very upset when the CHP made me chain up my Tractor Trailer because there was just a couple patches of snow along the shoulder. lol

 

I also love my trutracs. I have them in front and rear. They have been extremely dependable off-road, I'm able to pull up the same obstacles that my locked buddies try. They are also invisible on the road - until I hit some snow and put it in part time. Then my jeep turns into an unstoppable snow tank.

 

I am an adult local... Been in one wreck in my life... Not my fault. You should know, it would take AGES to get anywhere in MT going 45. Especially Missoula to billings. Going 65 is about 20mph below my regular speed

 

Lunchbox lockers are absolutely the way to go for a daily. 250 for a spartan/aussie. or 700-1200 for a full case. I run a spartan myself, not for any particular reasoning. Its loud when cornering but if you can deal with that you're golden.

 

Have driven it many times and at speeds under 45 a lot in the winter, in fact a wind gust blew my PU truck off the road at Big Timber, MT. when I was going 30 mph, not a damn thing I could do about it.


In the summer during the daytime there was no speed limits when I lived there only at night then 60 mph.

 

I run Detroit Lockers in both of my differentials 99 D30/Chy 8.25 and have no issues in the snow or ice. Just use your head & drive carefully.

 

So, select able is definitely on the wish list, but not happening any time soon. it sounds like more people are recommending the powertrax? what are the differences between the spartan/aussie/powertrax? the all look the same, but I am not educated in any way about them.

 

In a word...Sound.
I ran a Powertrax No-Slip in an 8.25, it was awesome. No clicking or ratcheting noise, it was simply there and working.

The first time I heard a rig with another brand locker parking at a local meet-n-greet I told the driver i thought his axle had just blown up. He shook his head in disgust and said it was his locker and it always sounded like that.

I used to carry the Powertrax No-Slip Lockers on my site but no one bought them. To pricey for folks I suppose.