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Tires or locker more effective

dejones64

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Stock BD you're already getting an aggressive tire with rear locker.
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TellurideBronco

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Without traction, you can lock all the differentials, and it’s still not going to move. Tires first, followed by center, rear, and front (in that accumulative order) differential locks.
 
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Apples

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So I have never gone anywhere I think I might get stuck, as it doesnt sound that great to me. So my Wrangler Sport has done the job just fine now and my F150 in the past.

Watching a bunch of videos, comparing Traction control, to lockers. Lockers in general, got through the obstacle better or faster, to could where the others couldnt. That being said, most of the videos I found most applicable to me, were with fairly conservative tires.

Question, given the Big Bend and the Black Diamond, both stock as they are, which would be more capable. Black Diamond with the stock tires, or Big Bend with a very aggressive tire used only for some more difficult trails?

Pretty open and vague question, but comes down to do tires make more difference than lockers in a more NW slippery time trail situation?
I think you're asking the wrong question. The question you need to be asking is, will you use a locker.

Good tires with open differentials will get you a great many places. There will be a point however, where it becomes difficult to get through a spot with just your tires. Without the locker you may be left needing a winch from a friend or having to turn around or take a different route. There's a reason they call lockers "the easy button." I wheeled my Xterra with open differentials for years and got many places, but I got to a point where I wanted to do more and a good set of tires weren't cutting it. So I ended up locking both differentials.

Also, tires are replaceable. Adding lockers is exponentially more expensive and complicated. If you're wavering between models on these two things, go with the feature you can't easily add later.
 
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Old Guy

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In a situation where all your tires are on the ground (mud, snow) tires or chains are probably most important. In the rocks where one or more tires may be airborne (due to lack of articulation) a locker is probably more important, Neither will help much if your hung up on an obstacle due to lack of ground clearance, really my only complaint the Bronco...damn, just talked myself back into the Sasquatch!
Check, don't drive over 12" rocks.

Been binge watching TC vs Locker videos. Very informative. Likely TC would do me fine, but the BD seems to be a good choice with the added rear locker, and I want Advance 4x4.
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