I was wondering if locking front hubs offers any benefit to our trucks other then the fact that the axles no longer free wheel which makes the cv boots last longer? I mean in terms of off-roadability is an add diff good? Should I just get the front diff welded because I will only be using 4wd in traction limited situations.

 

I went with locking hubs for a couple reasons. First, after I swapped motors, the vacuum system was no longer functional due to the reworked wiring. Second, there is less drag and wear and tear. ADD is okay for off road. As for welding your front gears, I wouldn't. You would only be able to travel in a straight line with little to no chance of ever steering. Get a locker for the rear and maybe consider one for the front (if you use an air locker in the rear).

 

Having the ADD diff and manual hubs is IMO the ultimate ifs system for our trucks ( besides longtravel and whathave you). The ADD diff uses cv joints that are actually bigger and stronger
But I really like having the ability to switch to 4wd on the fly up to 80km/h.

Manual hubs offer less rolling resistance when on the road, ability to unlock one side or another if there is damage, you also are able to have 2wd low.

 

With locking hubs and my ADD permanently engaged (vacuum actuator bypassed on diff), I run with my hubs engaged in crappy weather and still shift in and out of 4wd on the fly. The only difference is that I have to get out to lock them, just in case, and I can feel a bit more resistance on dry pavement with the hubs locked and in 2wd.

I put Warns on. Aisins would have been my preference (talk to WabFab), but I got a heck of a deal on the Warns and I don't do enough hard core offroading to stress them. But if I do, I'll be looking for the Aisins.

 

Manual hubs provide A LOT more options for getting off the trail and home.

I want to do the FROR full floater kit with manual hubs on the rear axle too ...

 

Also, I heard that the autolocking hubs don't stay locked when you have to back up. Don't know if that is true, but my truck was a DX so it came with manual locking hubs from the factory anyways. I did reuse my hubs when I did the SAS and just installed the Long's chromoly conversion 30spline hub gears.