Lunchbox Locker Questions

NKlekas

NKlekas

TJ Enthusiast
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 15, 2019
Messages
154
Location
Elko, NV
After spending too much time on this Forum, I've begun to second guess me decision about a Lunchbox Locker in my Front Dana 30. I was pretty confident in my choice, due to my budget, to put a Powertrax No Slip in my Dana 30 but have came across a few questions...
Even in 2WD, is the locker that poorly behaved in the Snow? I didn't realize the real complaints about that issue until doing my homework. I live in a place were it certainly snows and am a little concerned about it. Lastly, how do Lunchbox Lockers do for Daily Drivers and at high speeds at highway/interstate driving? Might be just overthinking but before I buy the locker I'd rather be certain.
 
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NKlekas said:
After spending too much time on this Forum, I've begun to second guess me decision about a Lunchbox Locker in my Front Dana 30. I was pretty confident in my choice, due to my budget, to put a Powertrax No Slip in my Dana 30 but have came across a few questions...
Even in 2WD, is the locker that poorly behaved in the Snow? I didn't realize the real complaints about that issue until doing my homework. I live in a place were it certainly snows and am a little concerned about it. Lastly, how do Lunchbox Lockers do for Daily Drivers and at high speeds at highway/interstate driving? Might be just overthinking but before I buy the locker I'd rather be certain.
Click to expand...

I had one in my cj in the mid 90’s, it’s fine for Elko,
 
NKlekas said:
After spending too much time on this Forum, I've begun to second guess me decision about a Lunchbox Locker in my Front Dana 30. I was pretty confident in my choice, due to my budget, to put a Powertrax No Slip in my Dana 30 but have came across a few questions...
Even in 2WD, is the locker that poorly behaved in the Snow? I didn't realize the real complaints about that issue until doing my homework. I live in a place were it certainly snows and am a little concerned about it. Lastly, how do Lunchbox Lockers do for Daily Drivers and at high speeds at highway/interstate driving? Might be just overthinking but before I buy the locker I'd rather be certain.
Click to expand...

I've had the PowerTrax No Slip since 2017. It is still functioning flawlessly.

  • It is invisible in 2wd at any speed.
When I installed it we lived in TX, never saw snow. Then we moved to WA state in 2019. This is my fourth winter with a lunchbox. Your issue is when turning. The times it gives me trouble is when the roads are covered in snow. Usually the main roads get cleared quickly, so the only time I'm in 4H is is in the neighborhoods. I always drive slow in neighborhoods, so it is not really an issue for me. It may push me straight ahead when I try to turn, but I avoid that because I know to let off the gas and let the rig go around the turn slowly. The locker is great in the deep stuff and I don't usually have any trouble turning there. So, I won't be removing my lunchbox locker. Your situation may dictate another decision.
 
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I have a Torq Locker in my Dana 30. As far as semi-daily driving in dry or rainy conditions, it does fine. Some audible clicking/ratcheting in 2WD while turning. I’ve had it in there 1 year in December.

As far as snow, I‘m not in the best location (central South Carolina) to give the best snow advice. Back in January we did have 2 weekends in January where we got an inch or two. Didn’t stick to the roads though. I went out on some dirt/sand back roads to play around and see if it behaved differently. I honestly don’t remember it being any different. Im waiting until we get out next ice storm so I can test it out in those conditions.
 
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I only had issues with one wheel on ice the other on dry pavement, it would chatter when the wheel on ice stopped spinning and the one on pavement would still be rolling.
 
masnottuh said:
a nice limited slip is typically much better for slick conditions such as snow/ice and even sand. still decent in rocks from my experience as well
https://www.powertrax.com/product-info/powertrax-grip-pro-traction-system/

but FWIW I have friends with lunchbox lockers up front and they don't have any of the problems you mentioned, they do fine on the road in 2hi
Click to expand...

I have an LSD in the rear and want to add either an ARB or Detroit back there eventually so I figured id go with a Lunchbox upfront for my budget.
 
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NKlekas said:
I have an LSD in the rear and want to ad either an ARB or Detriot back there eventually so I figured id go with a Lunchbox upfront for my budget.
Click to expand...

I went the similar, locker in front because of more traction up front lsd in back, but I had locking hubs
 
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JMT said:
I've had the PowerTrax No Slip since 2017. It is still functioning flawlessly.

  • It is invisible in 2wd at any speed.
When I installed it we lived in TX, never saw snow. Then we moved to WA state in 2019. This is my fourth winter with a lunchbox. Your issue is when turning. The times it gives me trouble is when the roads are covered in snow. Usually the main roads get cleared quickly, so the only time I'm in 4H is is in the neighborhoods. I always drive slow in neighborhoods, so it is not really an issue for me. It may push me straight ahead when I try to turn, but I avoid that because I know to let off the gas and let the rig go around the turn slowly. The locker is great in the deep stuff and I don't usually have any trouble turning there. So, I won't be removing my lunchbox locker. Your situation may dictate another decision.
Click to expand...

I knew it would struggle on turns and I am okay with that I was just worried about the snow. Again, I think I read too much into it and was thinking it would be bad in any High/Low or 2WD drive just regular driving in the snow.
 
astjp2 said:
I went the similar, locker in front because of more traction up front lsd in back, but I had locking hubs
Click to expand...

It came with the LSD in the rear and it's good enough for the wheeling I do now. I want to Add a locker back there in the future.
 
Snow isn’t an issue in 2WD. I ran an Aussie up front in my previous TJ and it was invisible in the snow in 2WD. With that being said shifting gears in 4WD was interesting, each time i shifted the Jeep would kinda slide slightly and you learn to turn with minimal throttle, it tended to understeer. I may be wrong, but even though everything is spinning in 2WD there is no power going to it to engage the locker. On dry roads, as mentioned, you mind hear clicking pulling into parking spaces.
 
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Camdenst said:
Snow isn’t an issue in 2WD. I ran an Aussie up front in my previous TJ and it was invisible in the snow in 2WD. With that being said shifting gears in 4WD was interesting, each time i shifted the Jeep would kinda slide slightly and you learn to turn with minimal throttle, it tended to understeer. I may be wrong, but even though everything is spinning in 2WD there is no power going to it to engage the locker. On dry roads, as mentioned, you mind hear clicking pulling into parking spaces.
Click to expand...

Uhm, I had one In Alaska for 5 years, it can be noisy as fuck if you are not prepared for it when you have one tire on ice and the other on dry pavement…in 2 wheel drive, because the tire on ice locks up and the one on pavement keeps turning.
 
Can't speak for driving in snow at speed, because we don't have snowplows here so in short order it turns to snowpack or it gets rained on and turns to ice and you have to be ridiculously slow and cautious with every control input.

That said, the first time I drove in it with my Torq locker up front I was in 2wd because of all the scary stuff I'd read about lunchboxes in the snow. I was having trouble even getting moving at all. I ended up giving in and putting it in 4wd, had a much easier time and though it was a little different, it was still perfectly predictable.
 
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I have an aussie in the front and have used locrites in the past as well. All click when going around turns. Most notable are in parking lots and gas pumps/stations for me. Everywhere else in 2wd you don't notice it.
 
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Highway there is no issue, actually there is no issue outside of snow/ice.
When I bought it, I spent a couple weekends trying to figure out what all the clunking and noise was when I turned hard into and out of the garage stall that has a turn. Was making me crazy, until I read about them. Was in the process of hooking up a GoPro type camera when I read that they click loud on tight turns, and light went off in my head. We have roundabouts in our neighborhood, it clicked there pretty good too.
 
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