For those of us who are not fortunate enough to own Rubis and are still saving up for ARBs or Detroit LSDs, what's THE toughest terrain you've conquered with your open diffs? And what situation were you in that convinced you it's time for lockers? Just curious. Fire away!

 

I have open diffs and I haven't quite hit the "locker wall" yet. I've plowed thru mud, rutted gullies, plenty of off camber stuff and nice rocks but have yet to encounter a situation where I lost all traction to my tires (aside from high centering).

My open diffs have forced me to be very selective about picking my lines but so far, as long as I don't pick the "show-off" line, I usually do ok.

 

some of this.

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Owned an 07 and now a 12, both Rubi, never "needed" my lockers. I like having them just incase. I dont wheel real hard, so I most likely wont hit the wall. I have used low range many times though.

 

It would be for me!

 

Why do you think I went with 42's!!

 

Well.....since you asked. On a local trail around here there is a steep, deeply rutted, off-cambered hill that poses quite an issue without both F&R lockers. I know this from personal experience because I have on several occasions 'experimented' by taking it on with open diffs. I have done this twice, but each time it took three attempts before just barely making it. The problem is that your front driver tire goes into a large hole (there is no bypass to this hill) and consequently, immediately puts you in a white knuckle tippy position. Just last Sunday I ran this trail with a buddy of mine. His front ARB was out and he had quite a bit of trouble with only his rear end locked. Indeed! He did a massive wheel stand (passenger) in his attempt to bully his way up and over. It was a textbook example of watching all the power go to his passenger front wheel, while his driver would not budge an inch in that deep hole. With my F&R lockers engaged he watched me walk up the hill effortlessly. So, lockers can make things quite a bit easier. I wheeled for years with an open diffed vehicle and learned to wheel that way, so now having lockers is something that I can really appreciate.

With the speed at which you are currently modding, it would not surprise me in the least to see that some ARB's are going to appear in the fairly near future.

 

Im always locked wheeling. Ft. And rear. I fear an open diff! Lockers = traction. Traction makes you always continue to move forward. Open diff in the woods is a ticking time bomb. Peace. Just saying.

 

Hey that's what the Michigan lottery is for, right lol. But you guessed right. ARBs or Detroit LSDs are on my Christmas short list! Christmas of 2014 that is!

 

For real?? Isn't that bad for your rig?