Can you guys help a noob to the lockers awesomeness? My TJ didn't have lockers but my new rubi does. I've taken it offroad 2x and don't feel I fully understand when to use the lockers and when to turn them off. I found myself switching the fronts off when I needed tight turns. I turned both lockers off when I was moving between obstacles and going more than 3-5mph. What are the tips on when to use them and why? Should rear be on almost all the time? Any in-depth understanding you can provide is appreciated.

 

Thanks Ludski. I totally understand what they do, just not when to use them and when specifically to turn them off. I don't want to burn up my gears running around locked all day if that is not how they are supposed to be used. I'm not even sure if that would happen. I always wanted lockers in my TJ and made sure to get the rubi with them already in. I'm probably making this out to be much more of an issue than it is, but I just want to be sure I'm using them correctly.

 

I turn on my lockers when coming up to a difficult obstacle or after I started up an obstacle and spun out. I turn them off between obstacles, unless its a hard trail and the obstacles are close together, then I keep my rears on but turn off the front. as its hard to turn.

I try to run as far as I can unlocked. Then use the lockers when needed.

The best way is to experiment. Your jeep will do pretty good unlocked on most trails.

 

On the trail I generally run with the rear locked and the front unlocked. The trails are generally loose enough that the rear tires can slip enough that turning is not an issue and it doesnt seem to strain parts too much. I keep the front unlocked to allow better steering until I feel I absolutely need it. Occasionally when I fail to climb up a shelf or something big I notice that I forgot to lock the front. Typically locking it and trying again gets it done.

As mentioned by others, experiment with what works for you. So far the most important time I have found to have everything locked up is crazy off camber trails! Having one or two tires in the air is when lockers really save your butt. You can get up some climbs and mud unlocked with momentum. But when you are flying a wheel or two, you are down to lockers, winch or outside intervention.

Have fun!

 

Great comments! Between the 2 responses it seems there is a little play in when to use the rear. This is pretty much exactly how I wheeled these last 2 times. I may leave my fronts off more next time as I found myself needing to turn more and still had the lockers on. I'm trying to make the switch from using momentum in my TJ to crawling in my JKUR.

 

Once you are on the trail and into 4lo it won't hurt to leave the rear lockedup unless you are doing lots of tight turns, then it will make turning easier if you are totally unlocked. Steep climbs with ledges and side to side slopes would be a really good place to have lockers front and rear. If you are on hard surfaces like large flat rocks unless you are just going straight that would ge a good place to turn all lockers off. Again like others have said as you gain more experience with the JK you will learn when you really need them and when you don't. The traction control works so well in the JK my little blue X acts like it is locked most of the time anyway.

 

Ok I'll throw my two cents in, and this is what I do.. First I have an '07 2dr Rubi. I hardly ever use my lockers, even when running the Rubicon. If you have an E-locker, there really is no reason to leave it on all the time. And the front locker should only be engaged when you have already attempted an obsatcle using the rear and locking the front is necessary. And always turn it off once you're past the challenge. There is no better way of blowing up a front U-joint than trying to turn with lockers on. Trust me I know this first hand. Avoid lockers on soft trails with tight turns. The rear axle will try to push the front staright no matter what direction your fronts are turned. Had a newbie buddy of mine drive himself off the trail this way. Also because a locked rear axle wants to push straight ahead, dont use them on off cambers, especially downhill with loose or slick surfaces.
Lockers are an aid and should be used if they are needed. Sort of like a winch. But to run them just because you have them is silly. People with limited slips don't have an option, therefore they have to learn to live with them. Now some obstacle like up-hills with loose gravel, or mud I'll throw the rear on just for security. But with the E-locker my approach is, try an obsatcle first open-open, then rear if needed, then front and rear if necessary. If that doesn't work, time for the winch.
Again, some may agree with me, some not. But I have run some gnarly trails here in California, and I don't use my locker much.

 

Here's how I use my lockers. I only turn them on, when I can't get up an obstacle. Otherwise I leave them off. My reasoning is, if I get stuck, I have the option of locking the differentials, then trying again to get out. Then if I'm stuck locked, it's time to pull line. It's pretty amazing how far you'll be able to go, without your lockers. I've surprised many people, running some difficult trails unlocked.

 

Thanks to all of you with feedback. I'm new and learning so I appreciate your experience. On my club's last run, I was talking with one of the trail bosses, a guy who's been wheeling for decades, and he told me exactly the same thing that you (usagone) just said. He suggested that instead of relying on my Rubicon's technology to do all the work, that I instead try going open-open so that I can learn to feel the trail and then fall back to the lockers as needed. He said it's a better way to learn than being overly dependent on the e-lockers. Anyway, I thought his (and your) suggestion seemed like a really good one. Thanks again.