Lunchbox locker opinions?

[Ejforan]

I’ve been playing with the idea of getting a locker for my stock jeep and was just wondering what benefits this would have for me since it is a daily and an up in coming overland build. I haven’t gotten down and checked yet but the vin report says my rear is 3.73 dana 44 which I have read is relatively rare. Would the front or rear diff be a more practical place for a daily driver locker? As well as what are the best ones for front and rear I have heard a ton about the noslip and a decent bit for the aussie as well.

 

[Chris]

For a daily driver I'd rather have a selectable locker (i.e. an ARB or Eaton).

Also, it's always advisable to put a locker in the rear first, as your vehicle is RWD the majority of the time.

 

[Ejforan]

For a daily driver I'd rather have a selectable locker (i.e. an ARB or Eaton).

Also, it's always advisable to put a locker in the rear first, as your vehicle is RWD the majority of the time.

That definately makes sense to me but my cousin whos been mudding cherokees and wranglers since he could drive(granted i am not gonna be mudding might drive through mud but no mudding) but as i was saying he suggested a front lunchbox since its cheaper and will only be used when in 4hi.

 

[Chris]

That definately makes sense to me but my cousin whos been mudding cherokees and wranglers since he could drive(granted i am not gonna be mudding might drive through mud but no mudding) but as i was saying he suggested a front lunchbox since its cheaper and will only be used when in 4hi.

Oh yes, that makes sense to use a lunchbox in the front locker. But if you were going to do only one locker, you'd want to do the rear. Of course having two lockers is even better

 

[Educatemepls]

I'm going with "no slip power trax" since as far as I know it's the only one that's quiet and not clicking while on 2wd, others even when not beIN used will still play they song of they people when you turn .

 

[JMT]

I have a powertrax no slip in the front and a selectable in the rear.

However, if you are going to be in the snow and ice it could be difficult to learn to drive it with the lunchbox up front. I am told up here in WA by some old geezer Jeepers that if you turn and it does not get traction you will slide, so give it some gas and it will swing around (kind of like drifting). I added it while I was in TX, not expecting to move to WA.First winter around the corner. If you get snow and ice where you are (I can’t tell if you’re east or west WA), then you might go selectable up front.

If not, a lunchbox is great. I prefer the powertrax because there is no clicking. It is invisible in 2WD and very handy in 4wd.

 

[whitrzac]

DO not buy the no-slip for the Dana 30.
They had a bad batch of them and I had 3 defective ones in a row. The last one I got was cracked out of the box and powertrax refused to do anything other than keep replacing them.

The Dana 44 one seems to be holding up OK, but even then I don't think they're worth the extra ~$100ish over a normal lunchbox.

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/powertrax-no-slip-locker-exploded.20202/

 

[ErikOffroad]

One question I have thought is if you still drive around in 2wd in the snow would a front locker still mess with you?

 

[JMT]

One question I have thought is if you still drive around in 2wd in the snow would a front locker still mess with you?

No. Invisible. Does nothing in 2wd

 

[Gollywomper]

I had a rig with lockrights. I would rather of had no lockers. If it is a street driven rig I would try to save until a selectable locker is in the budget. That is just my opinion.

 

[Lou]

Sounds like you have absolutely no need for a locker.

 

[EzPeezy]

One of the first upgrades I did was putting a lock-rite in my Dana 30. It's still going 8 years later on a buddies Cherokee down in Baja. It's an easy installation that you can do at home if you have basic tools, and you aren't messing with anything that will need super fine calibration afterward. Having a locker in the front is a great way to add incredible traction, and a lunchbox is the cheapest and easiest way of doing it that won't mess with you on the road.

Snow is harder apparently.. I've only driven in it two or three times and it was okay, nothing crazy.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

I'd never install a lunchbox locker into the rear axle for several reasons. First, a lunchbox locker is notoriously poorly behaved when in the rear axle since there is always torque passing through the rear axle whether you're in 2wd or 4wd. A No-Slip is a bit better behaved in the rear axle but I still wouldn't run even that one in the rear. Then automatic rear lockers (lunchbox lockers are automatic) can be a handful on icy or snow-covered roads, Especially when in the rear. Finally, lunchbox lockers are physically small and they're just not as strong as a full carrier locker is which is important when in the rear axle.

If your part of Washington sees much snow/ice and you have to drive on it, I'd go for a selectable locker in the rear.

In 2wd a front lunchbox locker is fine. It's when you shift into 4x4 when a front lunchbox locker would be no fun on an icy/slick road.

 

[xxdabroxx]

If you get snow/ ice my vote is for a Truetrac or a selectable. I love my selectable front and truetrac in the back.

 

[Rob5589]

Rear first. If a DD, E-locker or ARB would be preferred. Neither are great if running on icy roadways, however.

 

[RiverDawg24]

I'm going to go the other way.

I prefer to run auto lockers in my rigs front and rear. I've had ARB's, Detroit's, and lunchbox (Aussie) lockers and welded spiders in previous rigs. I prefer the K.I.S.S. method and an auto locker is just one less thing on my to do list when wheeling. ( I HATED the welded/spool )

My last jeep before this one, I daily drove with Aussie lockers in a rear Ford 9" and a Front Dana 44. It honestly never bothered me.

Sure they would pop and bang on occasion and you had the "fishtail" action when shifting at times. But I guess i just got used to it.

So too each his own I supposed. But I will say I live in a climate that gets less than a foot of snow per year on average

Currently I am running an open diff in the rear after removing the previous owners full spool and a Spartan locker up front. If I feel the need for a rear locker in my glorified mallcrawler it will be an Aussie.

Edit: Just editing to say in the Dana 44/ford 9 jeep I was trying to climb a near vertical wall and pogo-sticking the jeep. I didn't get out of the throttle in time and most of the jeep's weight landed on the pass rear axle. I broke a brand new Dutchman 31 spline shaft in half on the right and twisted the splines on the left shaft about a quarter turn. I was running 35" BFG Km2's. 4.0l with an automatic trans. I replaced both shafts. The Aussie didn't have a blemish and as far as I know is still in the jeep today.

 

[Rob5589]

I'm going to go the other way.

I prefer to run auto lockers in my rigs front and rear. I've had ARB's, Detroit's, and lunchbox (Aussie) lockers and welded spiders in previous rigs. I prefer the K.I.S.S. method and an auto locker is just one less thing on my to do list when wheeling. ( I HATED the welded/spool )

My last jeep before this one, I daily drove with Aussie lockers in a rear Ford 9" and a Front Dana 44. It honestly never bothered me.

Sure they would pop and bang on occasion and you had the "fishtail" action when shifting at times. But I guess i just got used to it.

So too each his own I supposed. But I will say I live in a climate that gets less than a foot of snow per year on average

Currently I am running an open diff in the rear after removing the previous owners full spool and a Spartan locker up front. If I feel the need for a rear locker in my glorified mallcrawler it will be an Aussie.

Edit: Just editing to say in the Dana 44/ford 9 jeep I was trying to climb a near vertical wall and pogo-sticking the jeep. I didn't get out of the throttle in time and most of the jeep's weight landed on the pass rear axle. I broke a brand new Dutchman 31 spline shaft in half on the right and twisted the splines on the left shaft about a quarter turn. I was running 35" BFG Km2's. 4.0l with an automatic trans. I replaced both shafts. The Aussie didn't have a blemish and as far as I know is still in the jeep today.

And that is the difference.

 

[Long Rider]

John Currie has an interesting video. He says a selectable locker in the rear is best because a full time rear locker can increase the turning radius.

 

[RiverDawg24]

And that is the difference.

Agreed. But not entirely. Some were lamenting that the auto locker for a DD is a no-no. I disagree. And we do get frequent ice storms here in NWA. I still would rather have a auto locker

 

[mgroeger]

I’ve been playing with the idea of getting a locker for my stock jeep and was just wondering what benefits this would have for me since it is a daily and an up in coming overland build. I haven’t gotten down and checked yet but the vin report says my rear is 3.73 dana 44 which I have read is relatively rare. Would the front or rear diff be a more practical place for a daily driver locker? As well as what are the best ones for front and rear I have heard a ton about the noslip and a decent bit for the aussie as well.

DON'T put a lunch box in the rear on a daily driver!
I HAD an Eaton Detroit Locker in the rear and I HATED it. It's very jerky and will def wear suspensions parts out quicker than without it. It liked to kick the arse around turns as well especially in the rain. It was just an unpleasant daily driver. I also have an Eaton electric locker in the front and we were going to swap them but we couldn't so now I simply have a locker up front and while having a rear as well is very desirable for off roading I can say that having just the front has gotten me up/over/out of any trail challenges thus far.