Which locker and gears? The great locker debate continues

A2frontrange

A2frontrange

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Colorado
So I found pieces/chunks of metal in my rear differential and I think it may be time.
It’s a 99 sport with 30 front and 44 rear with the trac lok. I believe the pieces I found were from the trac lok. I’m having no issues but who knows when to expect more shrapnel.
I recently installed the viair 400h air compressor. I live in Colorado and drive in the snow and this is my semi daily along with the work truck. So I think I want a selectable rear locker and do the regear.
here’s the facts:
1999 sport 30/44 with TL
Ax-15 transmission and I run 33x12.5x15
I wheel in the mountains and Moab generally.
I love that it’s not a trailer queen and want to maintain that. The trails around me are usually an hour highway drive each way and it drives well now. I also have a small camper trailer that I will tow a few times a year. I will regear for 35’s just in case.
Which rear locker do I go for and what gear ratio?
 
A2frontrange said:
I will regear for 35’s just in case.
Click to expand...

Does "just in case" mean:
a) "I will be moving up to 35s in the near future"
b) "35s are a plan that will never come to fruition"

You don't want to be stuck with gears appropriate for 35s if you're never moving to 35s.

A2frontrange said:
Which rear locker do I go for and what gear ratio?
Click to expand...

ARB and 4.88 for 33s. ARB and 5.13 for 35s.
 
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This is where it gets a bit funky for what you want to do gear wise.

4.56 or 4.88 for 33s, 4.88 with higher RPM

4.88 or 5.13 for 35s, 5.13 with higher RPM
Unless you 100% plan on jumping to 35s, id avise against considering 5.13 since it would be unreasonably high RPM for 33s on the street which you may not like, unless it doesnt bother you

Another example, Ive got the NV3550 5speed and 100% plan on going to 35s, so Im going to regear to 5.13s while being on 33s and being a DD. If i was undecisive on tire size then id go 4.88 as you can potentially jump to 35s and still have tourque on the street, 5.13 would be better obviously, but IMO too high for 33s unless you dont mind the higher RPM like myself

my 0.2c
 
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DylanM345 said:
This is where it gets a bit funky for what you want to do gear wise.

4.56 or 4.88 for 33s, 4.88 with higher RPM

4.88 or 5.13 for 35s, 5.13 with higher RPM
Unless you 100% plan on jumping to 35s, id avise against considering 5.13 since it would be unreasonably high RPM for 33s on the street which you may not like.

Another example, Ive got the NV3550 5speed and 100% plan on going to 35s, so Im going to regear to 5.13s while being on 33s and being a DD. If i was undecisive on tire size then id go 4.88 as you can potentially jump to 35s and still have tourque on the street, 5.13 would be better obviously, but IMO too high for 33s unless you dont mind the higher RPM like myself

my 0.2c
Click to expand...
Except he’s in CO and down on power from altitude. I’d go one step lower
 
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L J said:
Does "just in case" mean:
a) "I will be moving up to 35s in the near future"
b) "35s are a plan that will never come to fruition"

You don't want to be stuck with gears appropriate for 35s if you're never moving to 35s.



ARB and 4.88 for 33s. ARB and 5.13 for 35s.
Click to expand...

c) when my current tires need replaced I will certainly be enticed. But they only have 7k on them.
I was thinking 4.88. Why arb?
 
DylanM345 said:
This is where it gets a bit funky for what you want to do gear wise.

4.56 or 4.88 for 33s, 4.88 with higher RPM

4.88 or 5.13 for 35s, 5.13 with higher RPM
Unless you 100% plan on jumping to 35s, id avise against considering 5.13 since it would be unreasonably high RPM for 33s on the street which you may not like, unless it doesnt bother you

Another example, Ive got the NV3550 5speed and 100% plan on going to 35s, so Im going to regear to 5.13s while being on 33s and being a DD. If i was undecisive on tire size then id go 4.88 as you can potentially jump to 35s and still have tourque on the street, 5.13 would be better obviously, but IMO too high for 33s unless you dont mind the higher RPM like myself

my 0.2c
Click to expand...
I certainly don’t get to use 5th often and it’s a bit tiresome on longer trips to keep it at 2500-3000 rpm.
4.88 will work well for both 33 or 35 then?
 
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FYI, I considered an E-Locker, but I didn't like the fact that they unlock if you reverse while locked, and they take anywhere from 1/2 to 3/4 of a tire revolution to engage once the switch is flipped. That's why I'm going with an ARB.

Full disclosure: I don't have any experience with E-Lockers, but that's what I read while researching for my choice of locker.
 
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Oi
Modoc Guy said:
FYI, I considered an E-Locker, but I didn't like the fact that they unlock if you reverse while locked, and they take anywhere from 1/2 to 3/4 of a tire revolution to engage once the switch is flipped. That's why I'm going with an ARB.

Full disclosure: I don't have any experience with E-Lockers, but that's what I read while researching for my choice of locker.
Click to expand...
any of the selectable may require small amounts of rotation to engage/disengage.

Where did you rear about the reverse unlocking?
 
Modoc Guy said:
FYI, I considered an E-Locker, but I didn't like the fact that they unlock if you reverse while locked, and they take anywhere from 1/2 to 3/4 of a tire revolution to engage once the switch is flipped. That's why I'm going with an ARB.

Full disclosure: I don't have any experience with E-Lockers, but that's what I read while researching for my choice of locker.
Click to expand...
I hear ya. I want to have it when I need it and don’t want to feel it otherwise.
DylanM345 said:
Not until you flip the switch
Click to expand...
that’s a good thing.
 
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