Hey guys and gals,
Been reading a lot of the info on this forum. Very helpful. I have a 4dr sahara on order and have been playing the waiting game like many of you. Still in BG status after 10 weeks. I just got a call from my dealership that a sahara had come available with everything I want except the Limited slip dif. I live in Ontario, Canada so I'll be seeing some snow and other than that maybe some light offroading. Do I need the limited slip? A quik reply would be appreciated, I wouldn't want someone to snag the sahara that's come available.
Cheers!

 

Well, its a nice feature, but certainly not necassary for on or offroad. especially for light offroading. you can always get a locker at a later date if you wish. i think you would be waiting for some time for a sahara /w locker.

 

Hi RooX, so you don't think it's necessary. What about in the snow? I've read that the limited slip may actually make things worse in snow. It causes the wheels to lock up and swing your rear end out. What's your opinion.

 

I would grab the Jeep. I ordered my Sahara with the locker just because it was cheap. I had one in my old TJ and to tell you the truth it could get a little scary on icy, slushy roads. It is great offroad but you will notice it in slippery on road conditions and it's pretty unpredictable.

You can always add one later for pretty cheap anyway....

Good Luck!

 

My opinion: you ordered it, you must want it. Your spending over 20K on a new vehicle. Wait the little while (I know it's hard) and get exactly the vehicle you want.

That said, what kind of Jeeper are you? An open rear diff is easier to add something to, especially if you go the route of a Lock-Right, or Aussie. But, nobody has them for the "new" axles yet, so you may wait.

If the LSD in the JK's is anything like it was in my XJ, you won't need a locker. Mine did very well spinning both tires.

 

Thanks for the quick response everyone. I'll be leasing the JK so I won't be adding anything to it but like I mentioned, it'll just be a daily driver (a very cool one), I'll see some snow and a bit of offroading. I decided to lease because as with every newly designed vehicle that comes out there's always some bugs that need to be worked out (leaking roof panels for example). I figure I'll lease for 3 years then if I like it I'll buy one.

 

Please, let's not call limited slip a locker.
Personally, I wouldn't worry about switching vehicle orders based on a limited slip rear end, but that's just me. I've heard great things about the brake lock system, and that the LS units do very well in reasonable offroad conditions in these new jeeps. I just don't appreciate their capability, though, even with my sparse experience. They always seemed to give just enough traction to get me to a great location, but not enough to get me out.
The Tru-lok option will be available soon, though, on Sahara's. You could call your dealer about one of those, since you're still in BG, to make your wait a little more productive. That's just my opinion, though.

Edit:
But.....considering your 10-week wait (wow), then what the heck! You could snatch up the one that's available and rock with it! Of course, you'll have to wait just as long or longer for someone to offer a comparable LSD or locker, then pay for the installation. They do sell winches right now, though. Driving with an open diff would hone your driving skills and help you appreciate a locker in the future.

 

I'd go ahead and lease the one on the lot. If you're doing just light wheeling and mostly road driving just be mindful of trail conditions and like one of the previous responders said you'll become a better driver...which is a good thing.

 

I'm hearing that between the ESC (stability control), 4WD, 4-wheel disc brakes, and 4-wheel ABS, the 4-dr JK is TOTALLY fine without the LSD.

The guys out in Colorado were going through 3 foot snowdrifts and ice everywhere with the STOCK Goodyear Wranglers on 17s and never lost traction, let alone got stuck anywhere. No one seemed to mention the LSD, it was ESC this and ESC that.

Lose the LSD, forget it!!!!!! This coming from a fellow Canadian in MONTREAL where no one plows the snow and the whole city is covered in a thick veneer of ice. Take care and good luck!

 

Hey, by the way, check on the thread in the JK Talk section entitled, "History is made on the Hammers." Pictures of an unlimited rock crawling with open axles.

Edit:
Well, he says it does. The pictures don't actually show it.