Diff locker

[92 white track]

I got stuck this weekend in the snow, well i high centered the right side, which left only two tires spinning.
So who makes a affordable locker for the front or rear, i was thinking locking the front, just cause i don't use it that often.

[Bex]

Of course you have actually confirmed that the hubs were locked (by jacking up one front wheel, with the hubs locked at tcase in 4wd, you should not be able to spin the wheel). When you say high centered on the right, you mean that your right front tire was off the ground?

[92 white track]

Well it was a pile of snow that i was trying to crawl over.
And my right side was held up by packed snow, so only the front and back right tires where spinning.
I want at least one more tire moving, so i have more traction.

[road_tripper]

in an 'emergency' you can always deploy the poor man's locker... the parking brake.

BTW, what is 'affordable' to you? If an ARB is affordable, it is the best. At the other end: welding the rear (or front???) diff for a couple of dollars.

[92 white track]

How does the parking brake trick work?
I was looking for something cheap, like a spool or something similar.
Arb is to expensive, I'm not rock crawling here, just want to keep from getting stuck.
Any known issues with welding the spiders together in the front for added traction?

[road_tripper]

Originally Posted by 92 white track

How does the parking brake trick work?

pull on the brake handle, keeping the lock button depressed. the diff will send an equal amount of torque to both rear wheels, more torque with more brake applied.

obviously if you add enough brake that the wheel in the air is stopped, the wheel on the ground is also stopped.

will give about as much push as someone pushing from behind (pushing by hand, not in another truck). if you're really stuck it's not going to help much.

Originally Posted by 92 white track

Any known issues with welding the spiders together in the front for added traction?

google is your friend... trail rig only? towed to the trails? daily driver? 31" tires?

[fordem]

Originally Posted by 92 white track

Any known issues with welding the spiders together in the front for added traction?

Yes - it makes steering VERY difficult.

A spool or a locker in snow or ice is going to make for a very exciting ride and possibly a tour of the roadside drainage system

I would suggest that you add a shovel to your options, it's going to be more affordable.

[92 white track]

A shovel LOL.
That's a good idea actually, i have a small one that will probably fit in the back.
Road-tripper, its my daily driver.
How would it react to a trackloc spool or welding the spiders on the rear?
Just curious, Ive never played with spools or welding spiders before.

[fordem]

That roadside drainage tour suggestion is actually applicable if either end is spooled, with the front, you do have the option of unlocking the front hubs and allowing it to drive as normal RWD vehicle, but that kind of defeats the purpose of having 4WD.

A spool or welded axle does not allow for differentiation (the wheels to rotate at different speeds) in turns, so it forces slippage elsewhere, usually at the tire/road point of contact - in the dry on a tight turn you can expect to hear the tires bark and on a wet or slippery surface, if it's the rear, it will be inclined (or more inclined, since these vehicles already have such a tendency) to sliding sideways & swapping ends; if it's the front, it will "plow" (understeer) badly, even to the point of continuing straight ahead with the steering on full lock, (just depends on how slick the surfaces is).

I don't suggest spools for daily drivers, some folks will fit "auto lockers", I'm inclined to say avoid those also, especially in the winter.

[92 white track]

Thanks for the input.
Shovel seems like the best method lol.