Have a new, base model 2012 two-door. All stock except a set of 265's on 16" rims. V6 & six-speed manual. Have owned 4x4's for over 30 years so I do have some experience.

I don't anticipate doing real "rock crawling" - just using this Little Rascal to get me to and from the fishing and camping spots, and places where I want to hike, mountain bike or cross-country ski. Live in snow country here in Central Washington. I've had conventional limited slips in the past, was very pleased with one from Auburn in an ol' K5 Blazer I had some years back.

The Detroit Truetrac Differentials by Eaton were recommended to me - and I wondered if any of you are running them, rear diff, or front and rear. Thoughts?

Am looking to do minimal mods to the Wrangler, some sort of diffs, a winch, a rack or two to carry my other outdoor toys. That's about it, and about all I've ever needed from my 4x4's - just don't have any experience with the Truetrac diffs.

Ease of driving with one in the front? I use 4wd a lot in the winter on paved roads, particularly when we get a heavy dump of snow overnight.

Thanks in advance for your input!

Regards, CW

 

Excellent equipment. I had a set in my Dana 40 on my Jeep Commandor. It took care of all of my needs (rutted/washed out forest roads/ranch roads etc.)

well worth the $

 

I love 'em in my JK, front and rear.

 

I am also very interested in everyone's experience and opinion of the best use for trutrac application

 

Detroits are awesome lockers and easy to install compared to ARB (which I think are the only thing better than Detroit)... Personally I never run fronts unless krawling or a high pitch approach.

As for the trulocks, I have very little experience with them due to immediate ARB conversion

 

Sorry.. Truetraks

 

You said an all stock 2012... that means stock gears and a truteac will not bolt in, in th me rear. The rear ring gear is drilled for half inch bolts and the trutrac is only drilled for 7/16" bolts.

I have spoken with a Rep at Eaton and they have confirmed this. They also said at a 58-59 Rockwell hardness rating it would be very hard to drill to accommodate the larger bolts.

Why hasn't this issue been a problem in the past? The 07-11 Jeeps were undergeared from the factory and most replaced with aftermarket gears so this is a nonissue.

Bolt in choices for the 2012 rearend are a grizzly locker or zip locker from Yukon. And of course stock traclok.

Hope this helps.

 

Thanks, and yes, I'd heard that about the bolt sizes... Interesting twist on things isn't it?

Of course one workaround would be to drop the gear ratio too... Not a bad thing at all.

CW

 

Under full throttle on an icey/snowy road you can crab walk. Ran front and rear on my old zj. Worked great!

 

Dynatrac said you could drill it out to the 1/2 in bolt size and that it wasn't that big an issue. Especially if you have a drill press. I figured I could order one from north ridge and pay em extra to drill the holes out for me. It is a custom shop