My question is do you REALLY need your locks very often ?
I mean could you manage most of your difficult offroad sectors you encounter without using your locks at all, just let ETC to handle it. Is it worth of to have some extra cash invested into something that makes you know that when a difficult situation arises you have something in your pocket to make it. How many times you just set your locks on and pass this bad obstacle, without giving any chance for ETC to handle it.
If not able to make it without locks, i have a winch at front anyway, and one to pull backwards also.
Driving habits do make a difference. In my previous 3 Defenders i had ETC only without any locks on front or rear axles. And always went thru same trails as vehicles with locks. Never owned any other vehicle with locks, but i have had a chance to drive many vehicles with locks ( no ETC).


This thread comes out of now having some extra cash to invest into my JK, so as to find out where money spent is money well spent.
That`s equivalent 3000 dollars to get something to upgrade my rig now.
Any good ideas if locks are not going to be on my list.

 

Well i know on my rubicon i have used the lockers alot more that i thought i would and went places i know i could not have made it with out them.

Besides have you tried driving a JK in sand with the traction controls on it just does not happen it will bogg it down so much you can't move.

now is it worth 3000 i know i would not pay that just for lockers.

 

I have LSD on my Sahara, but no lockers, and I can get through most obstacles in 2WD with the traction control and LSD... take that for what it's worth. Under some tougher circumstances I switch the traction control off completely (in 4HI), because it does interfere in situations where you WANT wheelspin.

To answer your question, I don't see lockers being worth the $3000 that you stated - that money could be put to much better use, because a Wrangler without lockers is still amazingly capable. Good luck with your decision!

 

Yes i agree that etc can´t beat locks on sand, and this is actually only situation where rigs with locks made it while i got stuck with etc. But we don´t have any sand deserts here, only sandy beaches, so this will be one thing not to invest into locks.
Maybe i should put this money into a new 5.13 gears and stronger shafts to front D30. Or just to wait a little longer to find out what else...
Or to wait until mopar comes out with 4:1 case, which is better for my use than my previous 2.73.

 

Did you turn off your ESP? If the ESP is left on in the sand you are correct, the Jeep will not move. But the the ESP off, the Jeep does very well in sand withou lockers.

 

I drive on the beach all the time, and air down, I usually dont even need 4x4 unless the sand is extremely dry..
when I do use 4x4 I never bother turning off the ESP and never have an issue.

Then again that was always with the OEM Sahara 18" wheels which I believe are better on the sand than my current Rubicon wheels/tires, havent wheeled on the beach since i got them (2 days)

 

Have you tried 4wd in the dry sand (with ESP on)? Mine would not move at all (literally) with the tires aired up and in 4wd. You are exactly right about airing down and in 2wd. Hardly ever need 4wd then.

 

I play at Superlift ORV park in Ark. I traded out of an 06 rubicon for my 07 X ( no lockers only esp with trac control) I run the hard 3's and medium 4's ( called Gorge and Ravine) and walk them like they were 2's . I used to have to run those trails with front and rear locked in the 06 Rubi to walk thru that easily !!

You may want to consider the Mopar Dana 44 front axle it is real inexpensive and comes with elec. locker like Rubicon ( it is a rubicon axle with 4.10 gears)..

Instead of building the Dana 30... This is the path I chose to take .....Just my thoughts...

 

How easy was the front D44 install? Have you priced adding the factory locker to your stock D44 rear?

 

Dana 44 install !!! Dealer wanted 5 hours approx $400 plus tax.... so I did it my self in my drive way from the time I took the new axle off the pallet to the time I picked up the tools===== 6 hours .....just me myself and a miller lite....ha ha ha

I did check with the DEALER when I got my jeep in June 07 and to my recollection it was like $1900 installed..... You can buy the rear Dana 44 with locker for like $1279 ...... and no one was offering lockers YET at the time in the aftermarket I was told by 4wd.com !!

Check around and get some present day prices and then make your decision on which way is best for your budget and time