Matt16

You're going to go to a 4 cylinder third (2 pinion design) to run an Aussie locker, but I believe the Powertrax No Slip is available. Personally, I'd go to the 4 cyl third, they're supposedly 95% as strong.

Before you waste money on a 33x12.5, read this:
http://www.expeditionswest.com/resea...tion_rev1.html

bullcrew

We have snow/mud as well as some areas of sand here too. Mainly the mud/snow in winter aside of that Id do skinnier.
Thanks for the info as its insightful.

Matt16

I'd do skinnies in those conditions. The surface layer of mud is the slipperiest, you don't want to try to get your traction from that layer, you want to dig down into something harder.

With wide tires, you also have to push a wider section of mud and snow out of the way in order to go forward.

bullcrew

does 4' of snow count!

toyNG

Sorry I gave you a bad link. But it looks like Matt16 hooked you up.

Matt16

Err, perhaps stick with 12.5s then, but do an all terrain so you don't slide around on ice too bad.

Masterblaster

This thread was helpful. I was having the same dilemna. Spoke with a guy at Northwest Offroad today about whether to go with the Detroit TrueTrac in back or with the Detroit locker. He said that the TruTrac had better quality. I'm going with the locker though based upon what I've read as far as simplicity and traction are concerned. its going in a heavy duty 4 cyl diff with 5.29's ordered as a package from NWOR.

Masterblaster

I just installed the new 5.29 Detroit locker differential today and it's great. Have not noticed any bigtime noise from the rear end when cornering and the reduced gearing is real nice. Maybe now 5th gear will get some use!! I ran it in 4wd with my IFS 4.10 on slick ground and the front tires spin a little. Going to do the SAS and put in 5.29's in the front this summer.

oneraindog

i hate to try and dig up old threads but im confused. OP stated most of his driving was in mud and snow. i have read a lot that lockers on the rear are potentially dangerous/bad handling in snow and ice.

clarification?

RustBucket

iTrader: (1)

What is with this old thread resurrection epidemic???

oneraindog, to answer your question from my limited experience, lockers can lock/unlock when you're in slippery conditions and cause traction issues. LSD's are much better in low traction or slippery situations, while a full locker is better for rocks, lifting tires, etc. I had a chance last winter to play on icy roads and snow with detroit TT's (LSDs) front and rear and the handling was excellent. But back when I ran TT up front and Lockrite in back I had better traction in rocky, off-camber stuff.

oneraindog

all the resurection that im doing? haha i havent even started!

im very new to all this and im deep into a viscous info junkie bender, reading all the threads i can on what i have come to understand are the first priorities in off road mods
drivetrain
armor
tires
suspension

still making me way through the relevant drive train info



SO. truetrac.
do they offer that much of a significant advantage in snow, ice, mud over normal 4x4 engaged, open diff?

thanks

RustBucket

iTrader: (1)

Well, I was referring to a general trend I've noticed... but resurrection of general technical information threads isn't so bad really

Yes, in my experience LSD's, the truetrac is the only one I have experience with, offer advantages in all driving scenarios over open diffs. You will experience some resistance when steering and a greater turning radius if you have one up front, but it's not that bad.

Good luck with your info search! Sounds like you have a good plan. Just try and wheel as much as you can so you can enjoy the mods you're doing! After enough web-wheeling it's easy to think that you can't have fun without lockers, armor, 4.7's, blah blah. Some of the highly complex build-up threads on pirate4x4 go on for years they never seem to get used...

oneraindog

im tearing my eyes out trying to decide what is going to be the best combo for the riding i plan on doing.

truetrac f/r
truetrac f arb r
open front/arb
arb/arb

my plan is for trail riding everything short of rocks that are going to tip a wheel in the air. or very rarely. i live in the NW with mud, ice, snow a plenty.

RustBucket

iTrader: (1)

Fortunately if you pick a good gear ratio (like 4.88 or 5.29) their resale value is pretty good so you can experiment. I am actually planning on swapping out my rear TT to an e-locker (someday!) since I live in the South and do so little ice/snow driving.

oneraindog

right on why is the gear ratio important to the TT resale?

RustBucket

iTrader: (1)

Most people like to regear at the same time when they install lockers. That way the pumpkin only has to be removed and set up once. The most common stock ratio is 4.10 and people practically throw those ones away. You will find 4.88 and 5.29 to be the most common and the most desirable. There's a ton of info on this site about how to choose the ratio that works best for you. Feel free to resurrect one of those threads!

oneraindog

oh i might
i have been reading a lot about gears.
was just wondering about that specific comment. the way you worded it, it sounded to me like the "wrong" gearing might mess up the TT and thus decrease resale value. is that what you meant?

RustBucket

iTrader: (1)

A different gear ratio wouldn't "mess up" a locker unit... I just mean that if you post a diff with 4.88 gears on this site it will get sold quickly, while a 4.10 may not.

oneraindog

oooooo right. the gear resale. not the TT. phew. sorry. like i said, my reading comprehension is.....yeah....

Jaino240

I went with Trutrac front Detroit rear. Now I have an aussie in the front now.

But it was very effective, almsot the smae as havng a locker in the front.

Do you have truck or 4runner?

I had the truetrac in the front of my truck before i put in the Detroit in the rear. HAving the trutrac in the front is better than having the trutrac in the rear IMO. Because the rear of a truck is so light, the trutrac in the front literally just drug the truck outta the mud or up a snow bank.