Hey all-
Just a real quick question of opinion-
Is it worth buying and installing a front locker for a 3rd gen that doesn't see huge mud puddles, rock crawling, etc?

Throw your opinions my way, please!

 

No. Unless you rock crawl or see alot of off-road use don't bother. It does make the truck alot better, but it's pretty darn good with just the rear locker.

 

I second schaf's opinion.

 

I third it. But it sounds like you had some kind of reasoning for wanting a front locker. What were you thinking?

Steve

 

I dunno...'cause it's cool?
Seriously, though. I thought it would be nice to have that added bit of traction available to me until I thought about how often I'd need it...NEVER!
I don't mud bog or rock crawl. I do go four-wheeling on the moderate to difficult trails quite often. But, I've never encountered anything that my rear locker couldn't get me out of.

My whole reason for asking was this:
I called Off-Road Solutions to get a quote on the manual hub conversion for 3rd gens. I figured while they had the front end torn apart, a front locker could be installed and I'd save a few dollars on labor. However, the locker alone is ~$600 not including the compressor (let me know if I'm full of sh**). After thinking about it for a while, I thought that $600+ could be better spent on a TJM

 

Also to do the manual hub kit you never remove or open the front diff. So you will really be adding labor not saving it. If you were re-gearing, then it would make sence but like you said it is well over $830 in parts alone.

All you do for the maual hubs is pop the axles out. Nothing with the diff itself. All the labor is done on the outter spindles.

 

You would use a bumper and winch more often than you would use a front locker.

How does the old saying go?

A winch will get you through times of no lockers better than a locker will get you through times of no winch.

 

SOLD! That sounds like great reasoning to me, Gene.

Alan, it sounds to me that you already have you mind made up to scrap the front locker idea. Do the bumper and winch thing. It's functional and looks cool too.

 

If you don't want to do anything big, then there is no point in it.

If you are regearing or have tackled things that are too tough, then it makes sense.

I would rather have two lockers and no winch then a winch and no lockers, oh wait, I do.

 

Alan, since you have the rear locker, do the winch.

Nothing like an agressive looking bumper and winch up front to make a rig truly look like a 4x4.

Plus it's nice to pull those out who do get stuck.
Been there done that

Gene, those are good words.