I just became a member of an offroading club up here in AK, and all the trails pretty much require at least one locker, (all the FUN trails anyway). Winter is trail time up here, and I went on a ride a week or so ago to check it out. The guy I wheeled with had front and rear lockers, and a detroit locker, (he had a TJ). Recommendations for JK 4 Dr with 3.5 lift and 35s? Thanks much.

 

Front, rear '&' a detroit?? That's one serious off-roading rig there to be running 3 lockers.


You have an X, so front D30 and rear D44. Will you be upgrading to a front D44? Regearing and strengthening the 30?

Looking for auto lockers? Or selectable lockers to keep some road manners on the snow and ice up there? Any particular budget in mind?

Hard to beat a pair of ARB's. Or an eaton elocker up front in the 30.

Read the posts by Dynatrac in this one for some good info, then ask all the new questions you come up with.
https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/show...28-best-locker

 

Since you're in AK your choices are much more simple.

No auto locker up front. Your best bet is an Eaton Elocker up front with an ARB close behind. In a compact snow and ice condition, an auto locker may not unlock and cause the rig to understeer. People do it and don't always hate it but many don't like the feel. It has been my experience that part time drivers (think significant other) that don't spend much time in 4WD HATE an auto locker up front (ask me how I know).

For the rear (especially in an Unlimited), a Detroit isn't bad (don't go with a lunch box in the rear as their durability isn't great). In a longer wheelbase rig like a 4dr, the Detroit can be very good and even better if you have an auto trans. That said, an ARB rear may be the best bet for your environment. Unlocked, it will drive like a stock rig and can be locked as needed when the roads or trail get bad. Your choice should be determined by how much street time (in snow) the rig will get and who drives it.

 

Any specific reason to run a combination of electric and air actuated lockers?

 

The D30 eLocker is a very tough 4pin design (equal to ARB in strength), without the drawback of air lines.
The D44 eLocker is a 3pin design, which is inferior to ARB's 4pin. (will it make a huge difference to you or the OP? Dunno... )

Just depends on what you want and how you use it. ARB's front and rear would be great. Or eLocker/ARB. Or eLocker/Detroit. Or ARB/Detroit.

 

Right, but if you are going to run an ARB in the rear, why not run them all the way around?

 

Less fail points = greater reliability?

ARB's front and rear would be great...

 

Not really. I guess you'd benefit if you lost your air supply you'd still have one locker.

I'd do either ELocker/Detroit or ARB/ARB.

To correct nthinuf (sorry Buddy )- The Dana 44 Eocker is a 2 pinion design. The Dana 35 is the only 3 pinion design. I'm NOT a fan of the 2 pinion Dana 44 ELocker. If I have something break it better NOT be the locker.

 

Doh, my bad. Thought I had memorized your other post on it, but still got the pins wrong.