HELP!! Need to work through locker or no locker!!

[King Luis]

so in what case would you need a locker vs regular traction control?? just needing both tires to spin vs TC locking up one tire forcing the others to spin?

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[Moze]

Your use cases do NOT need lockers and (as people have shared) you never want to use lockers on the road. The only reason I can see you getting lockers is that it may make the vehicle more attractive to the NEXT owner because they are a pain to add later on vehicle with as sophisticated a drive system as this. So, only for resale value.

 

[Thechief86]

I was also wondering about the slippery conditions part. I know 4A would be the best solution, but would 4H with open diffs be useable?

4hi has always worked well for me in snow and light mud.
My current jeep with a welded rear and auto locker in the front gets interesting on slick roads, but isn't un-drivable for me.
I just scored a Subaru Forester as a daily to use until I can get my Bronco, and that thing is awesome in the snow. (Used to belong to my uncle, so I've driven it a fair amount before owning it.)

 

[2Jeeps&PatriotX1]

so in what case would you need a locker vs regular traction control?? just needing both tires to spin vs TC locking up one tire forcing the others to spin?

4A, 4H and 4L do a great job for 99% of the people. Think about crawling over a rock and your passenger front tire is in the air, a locker would apply 100% of per to driver front that's touching the ground vs having an open diff power would be going to both front wheels even though 1 is in the air and useless.

 

[2Jeeps&PatriotX1]

I was also wondering about the slippery conditions part. I know 4A would be the best solution, but would 4H with open diffs be useable?

In CO winters, I run 4H on the roads when they're covered in snow. 4A works too but there have been times where it made the vehicle react too much and I know consistently how the 4H drives. 4L is only for offroad and limited to slower speeds.

 

[Dads_bronze_bronco]

Based on what you describe you do NOT need lockers. I always say that if someone has to ask if they need lockers then they don't. I have lockers on my wrangler and rear locker in my truck and live in CO, on pavement including winters, I have never engaged my lockers on either vehicle. Lockers are for trails more than just dirt trails, think rock crawling where you have 1 tire on the axle in the air.

As a matter of fact, I wheel my truck pretty hard including rock crawl and have never engaged the rear locker, 4H and 4L have worked well enough.

My former boss has a cabin up in the NC mountains, and he is really challenged getting up the long gravel road up to the cabin in the snow without lockers - even with chains. It’s the only time he needs them though.

 

[Mountain Goat]

I was also wondering about the slippery conditions part. I know 4A would be the best solution, but would 4H with open diffs be useable?

Works fine so long as you won't be encountering dry pavement, or will remember to turn it off when you get through the slippery spots. 4H is equivalent to a locked center differential, and is not intended for long term pavement driving. 4A bridges the gap between a part-time 4x4 and an AWD vehicle.

 

[2Jeeps&PatriotX1]

My former boss has a cabin up in the NC mountains, and he is really challenged getting up the long gravel road up to the cabin in the snow without lockers - even with chains. It’s the only time he needs them though.

just know that lockers are great at getting you out of hairy situations but can also put you in hairy situations and make it worse.

 

[DonM]

so in what case would you need a locker vs regular traction control?? just needing both tires to spin vs TC locking up one tire forcing the others to spin?

This whole thread is really coming from me being tired of spinning one tire upon take-off in my F150 in anything but the best conditions, even under light acceleration. But the whole issue may be solved enough with more of the weight of Bronco being over the rear axle as opposed to my truck. Really more weight in less of a footprint overall.

 

[2Jeeps&PatriotX1]

Works fine so long as you won't be encountering dry pavement, or will remember to turn it off when you get through the slippery spots. 4H is equivalent to a locked center differential, and is not intended for long term pavement driving. 4A bridges the gap between a part-time 4x4 and an AWD vehicle.

I drive in 4H on my commutes to work/from 27 miles each way but only if highways are covered in snow. The moment they're just wet and no standing snow I'll switch to 4A in the truck or into 2WD in the jeep but I have to be careful with the jeep due to it being so light, 4.88 gears and turbo.

 

[Dads_bronze_bronco]

just know that lockers are great at getting you out of hairy situations but can also put you in hairy situations and make it worse.

Then we have to have a winch too just in case amirite?

In all seriousness, it doesn’t sound like the OP needs lockers, and I agree 4a would be the right way to go.

 

[da_jokker]

It's funny, I read post where people talk about never having to use there locker(s). I have done some very mild trails, and in every case, found some simple hill with either loose dirt/gravel or ruts where I couldn't climb it in my XJ (4x4 but with open diffs). The moment the chassis starts to flex, tires start spinning because they get "light"

Maybe I just suck... maybe I just need to learn that brake dragging technique... but the idea of just flipping a switch and making it up without spinning the hell out of the wheels is just too tempting.

I'm getting Sasquatch if for no other reason than the fact of doing a front locker (and a lift) on a IFS is a big to-do after the fact. (Also getting the stronger Front end doesn't hurt either )

 

[buildbigboats]

Based on your stated situation...save your money and don't get lockers right off the bat. Drive your new Bronco around for a while and if you then decide you really need them put something aftermarket in such as Aussie/Torq, one of the air/cable/electric lockers or an LSD such as Detroit Trutrac

 

[Incognito]

Okay...first off, I will completely admit that I'm one of those that will rarely use their vehicle off road let alone anywhere near the vehicles ability in its Base form. I also admit that I love the look of the Sasquatch package, but realize that it'll purchased for the look and not the ability. It's going to be 98% street and 2% dirt (think dirt roads and crappy campground access roads and sites). Maybe even some sand? We get snow and slush and ice part of the year so 4WD is nice for that.

The big question.....how good/bad would lockers be on the STREET for snow/slush and just general extra traction? I'll drive it more like a rally vehicle than as a rock or mud buggy. Then that would also morph into tire/wheel combo that would look proportional but be better for faster street type driving.

My initial though is to go with aftermarket LSD front(?) and rear diffs and no bigger than 31x10.5's. Most likely on 17s for the lower profile sidewall.

What is everyone's thoughts?

35x10.50r17 is what I'm running on my open differential '17 Wrangler.
The Jeep's D30 front axle is weaker than the base Bronco's M190.
It's a known-known that as long as I use a light pedal offroading, (IE: don't bounce hard on rocks , or high RPM mud slinging) the D30 will live.
The vast majority of Wrangler owners running 35"s are doing it on D30s too.

A Bronco with the M190 and limited slip differentials on 35"s, will be fine.

 

[JT1]

so in what case would you need a locker vs regular traction control?? just needing both tires to spin vs TC locking up one tire forcing the others to spin?

If you were driving in deep snow, or a slick sleet/snow/ice mix and the tires were constantly losing traction, traction control that's using your brakes to fake the open diff into sending traction to both tires will heat up your brakes fast. A rear locker in that situation is the right answer.

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