Suggestions for differential locker or limited slip

[Jerry Bransford]

...As for the front - you live in Minnesota...so I would NOT recommend an automatic locker. (lunch box). Nope.
The lunch box works great for people who do not drive in the snow.

Keep in mind what the original poster already said above which I quoted below.

It for the most part just for trail running and hunting, will not be driven in the winter. .

 

[Sunder]

Keep in mind what the original poster already said above which I quoted below.

Good catch - I missed the part where he said he won't be driving in winter.

 

[ScottCO]

Truetrac LSD in the rear is a good choice. Great for winter, and because they don't fully "lock", it will be less prone to breaking a 27 spline rear axle. (less prone than a locker, but more prone than an open diff)

As for the front - you live in Minnesota...so I would NOT recommend an automatic locker. (lunch box). Nope.
The lunch box works great for people who do not drive in the snow. But a lunch box locker can be unpredictable and dangerous in snow or ice. (You can be driving along nicely, then be immediately turned around 180' due to the auto locker deciding to engage on it's own).
In the summer, it will be awesome...but in winter...it will be fine for "most" of the time, until the one time it spins you off into ongoing traffic. If you do put a lunch box up front, do not engage 4x4 in winter on the streets or highway.

For the front, I'd recommend either a selectable locker, another TrueTrac up front, or keep it as an open diff.
I personally have a TrueTrac in my rear, and will have a TrueTrac in my front by tomorrow (I hope). I also live north of you.
The Detroit TrueTrac (not to be confused with the Detroit locker), is a LSD, and therefore works nicer in snow or on ice than an auto "locker".
The selectable locker is good up front because YOU decide when it's locked or unlocked. It can provide arguably superior traction when engaged and 4x4'ing and driving straight, but you can lose traction (laterally) and have difficulty steering.
An open diff isn't going to help you much when 4x4ing (what you have right now), but is not going to do anything unpredictable in snow or ice.

I chose a TrueTrac up front over a selectable locker because of a few reasons:
1. price
2. reliability (some people have issues with moisture freezing the air compressor lines. The TrueTrac does not have that issue - it doesn't even have clutch packs to wear out. It's just always going to work.)
3. it's (arguably) better in snow/ice, especially if steering in tight trails.
4. My Jeep is my daily driver.

As I've never 4x4'd with it yet (I plan to this Sunday), I cannot comment if I made the right choice or not. But that was my reasoning vs a selectable up front.

I'd also say that a 5.13 gear on a Dana 35 is a really small pinion. That might be too low for that axle combo in some people's opinions, but I can't say for sure.

Firstly, Thank you and Jerry for the detailed and easy breakdown of info here. I live in colorado, tj will be my dd again so bring on the winter driving. I think inwill be goong with the truetrac x2. You’re reasoning above are along the same lines as mine.
The rabbit hole is so deep.

 

[jjvw]

Firstly, Thank you and Jerry for the detailed and easy breakdown of info here. I live in colorado, tj will be my dd again so bring on the winter driving. I think inwill be goong with the truetrac x2. You’re reasoning above are along the same lines as mine.
The rabbit hole is so deep.

Recently I lost the LSD function after replacing the rear factory locker with an ARB. It will be interesting to see if I miss it this winter on the winter streets. On the trails, I don't miss the LSD at all.