Rear locker or both?

[lakesinai]

I wanted to replace my bronco with a new one. Was think of just a black diamond with rear lock..I do light offroad and live in a in the snowy arera. .So do I really need a front locker.?

I think that the most important attribute for a Bronco in Ice or snow is the Auto Advanced 4wd transfer case. I have the rear locker with Auto TC on my 2021 OBX. I keep it in 4A much of the time for rain. The rear locker is a huge feature on the beach. From living in the Adirondacks A regular 4wd system is crabby and touchy on snow, because of the patchiness of pavement ice & snow. Auto 4wd fixes that, so While my old bronco/excursion was great in fresh deep snow, the rest of the time, it liked my wife's Subaru for mixed conditions.

If you can still order a non-Sasquatch vehicle with the Advanced Auto transfer case, do it. I insist on a rear locker. So you either need a Black Diamond (which I think has the Advanced TC & rear locker) or go for the Sasquatch which has the Advanced TC.

Sponsored

 

[jtgensler]

Would 4 auto on the advanced transfer be of use for OP situation? But that only comes with full 4x4 option trim such as Badlands I believe.

the 4A button is nice in snowy conditions, yes.

And I'd say the OP doesn't need a front locker.
Mine is definitely no mall crawler & I'd say i've "needed" my front locker maybe 3-4 times in 2.5 years of ownership.
The rear is normally enough to overcome whatever you've got going on.

 

[Bronco4]

You don't need it tell to "YOU NEED IT" . It does help with resale.

 

[CRCs_Reality]

I have a 21 FE 4d Sas. Both lockers. My driveway is a 13% grade with many turns which goes on for 1100 feet. This past winter was the first winter I have NOT had to use chains occasionally. I tried the auto 4wd, no worky worky. Rear locker alone in full 4wd, almost. Both lockers, just the ticket! I will never go back. I have a unique situation, so ymmv. As a side note, I also put a winch on front, just in case. Haven't had to use it, on the driveway at least! A few other questionable times, yes, but not the driveway!

Came to post something similar, there was a week last winter where my unique driveway ("only" 830 feet ) was only passable using both lockers.
The front also came in handy in Colorado and Moab last year, I likely didn't "need" it, but it was a handy cheat code on a few obstacles where the rear only was struggling, but front/rear together walked right up.

 

[MNBigfoot]

Came to post something similar, there was a week last winter where my unique driveway ("only" 830 feet ) was only passable using both lockers.
The front also came in handy in Colorado and Moab last year, I likely didn't "need" it, but it was a handy cheat code on a few obstacles where the rear only was struggling, but front/rear together walked right up.

Same here, we ice fish and the accesses can become quite gnarly at times (and there is no bypass) the front locker can be a game saver. But I still think its just the topping on the cake, when you look at everything else the comes with it. I see the BD package as 1/3 of the Sasquatch package at half the price.

 

[Douglasjwood]

Honestly most owners will rarely ever need the front locker. But when you do, it would stink to pull winch line when you could have pushed a button. I bought mine knowing I wanted both lockers. My use is daily in the winter.

I did have a hairy situation one time in my Tundra. Came down said driveway backwards and ended up in the ditch. Took the JD 450 dozer to pull it out! The loaded Bronco was my answer. It has yet to disappoint.

 

[T800]

A locker will help significantly in snow, though you really only need one. Since the rear is a solid axle and the front is IFS, it makes sense to do the rear if you're only going to have one.

When I had my first Jeep (2012), I did a front axle swap. I went from a open D30 to a Rubicon D44 (with a locker). One my first runs was a snow run. I didn't have the locker on and I was sliding all over the place on a mountain trail. One of the guys on the run slid into a tree (minor damage).

One of my friends saw me and asked if I had my locker on, which I didn't. He told me to turn it on. It was a night and day difference. The front had instant traction and was pulling the rest of the Jeep. Rear was still sliding around corners.

Front and rear would be better, though I would say you really only 'need' one.

 

[Owl]

You obviously live in a tax-free state (not Taxifornia). If I sold my 2Dr here in California the taxes I'd pay would be about twice as much as a rear-posi for my 2Dr base for the same price 2Dr.

I'd just get a rear posi installed ... and call it a day.

 

[CalvinT]

In another life I had to drive to a lot of mountain tops. One road had a 40% grade with loose rock in places. I remember following an International Harvester tractor up it one day. HIs left track kept slipping, so he'd have to stop and adjust.

Anyway... This was in the early 1980s. We drove 3/4 ton 4X4 pickups which didn't have lockers and we didn't air down (45 psi). Sometimes our tires would slip. So we'd backup a little bit and try a different line.

Paying attention to your line is more important than the equipment you have. Never rely on equipment to substitute for thinking.

 

[Brian_B]

Honestly most owners will rarely ever need the front locker. But when you do, it would stink to pull winch line when you could have pushed a button.

This is the truth.

A winch will get you out of almost anything. But you need to get out, find something to pull off from, tie it off, wind it back up when done, and hope you don't snap a line and take off your arm, and knock all the snow/mud/river water/dirt off your boots.

A locker will get you out of (some random made up number) 85% of what a winch will. By just pushing a button. You just have to set down your latte long enough to push the button.

 

[crzyhawk]

Posi might cause problems with the computer traction control.

 

[Easy-v]

I figured how pissed off I would be if I spent 45-55K on a vehicle only if later I found out the option I wanted was on the $62K spec/build of the Bronco. So I went with a Badsquatch Lux and have no regrets, and have used my lockers- both front and rear.

Usually you use the front ones right when you say to your self "I can't believe I'm about to do this with the bank's truck".

 

[Douglasjwood]

Anyway... This was in the early 1980s. We drove 3/4 ton 4X4 pickups which didn't have lockers and we didn't air down (45 psi). Sometimes our tires would slip. So we'd backup a little bit and try a different line.

Paying attention to your line is more important than the equipment you have. Never rely on equipment to substitute for thinking.

So very true! Been there too. Add to that 3/4 ton 4x4, mostly shot tires. You learn through trial and error how to negotiate obstacles. Growing up on the farm also afforded me the tractor to pull me out when I was in a pickle. My dad would just shake his head and ask what were you thinking? 8 miss those days. Wish my dad was still here to see the stuff I do with my Bronco that was much more difficult with the old Chevy. The 6G Broncos really have a lot of easy buttons that are truly useful!

 

[Owl]

Posi might cause problems with the computer traction control.

Good point. Actually, traction-control works like posi in many ways. I wonder if they would aid each other or fight each other. Would be nice if somebody on the forum chimed in who might have put a posi on their rig.

 

[Jossman 2026]

Front Locker just when going slow + straight.Has worked for me since the early 70's in both work vehicles + my own rigs.Opinions are like A-Holes-we all have 1

Sponsored