I apologize if there is a thread already out there about this and if there is please point me in that direction but I tried searching and couldn't really find what I was looking for. Currently I have a 2010 Wrangler Unlimited Sport with the 3.8L and 3.21 gearing. I have installed my lift kit and am planning on running 35" tires. I have read just about every thread I can find on re-gearing and have it narrowed down to 4.88 or 5.13 gears. But what I am wanting from this thread is some suggestions from people running lockers and what locker you guys would recommend to actually go with. I know this is kind of a loaded question because it is all opinion based but I figure I am gonna be re-gearing anyway and I am building my jeep to take it on trails and hopefully some rocks and was wanting some recommendations on lockers and some war stories and problems you may have had with certain brands.

Again sorry if this has been already asked but any help would be much appreciated.

 

I have an 07 JKU manual. Regelated to 4.56 and very happy with it. If you have an automatic, the trend is to go with 5.13 but I don't see any issues with my buddy's' rigs running 4.88. You'll be happy either way. As for lockers... There are a MILLION threads out there. Go explore :-)

 

It is going to depend on if you want a selectable, one you can turn on and off or if you want an automatic that locks when you get into slipping situations. Selectable tend to be more expensive and require an air compressor, electrical hook ups or a cable to turn them on and off. Something like the ARB or Yukon Zip locker will cost you somewhere around $2000 while an aussie locker can be done up front for a couple hundred. My recommendation based on where you are and your use would be a selectable, but it is your money and it needs to fit your budget. With the crappy winter weather in Illinois I would think it would be a safer way to go when you need to drive in 4wd on the ice and little bit of snow you get there. Take your rig over to Badlands park a couple of times and see how it does with the limited slip and you will find you can do most of the trails over there except the straight up cliff climbs. Tapping the brakes while on climbs will give you a bit more traction as well with the way the JK traction control works with the limited slip.

 

This is a decent overview: (The only update since it was posted, that I know of anyway, is the rear Eaton E-locker is now the stronger 4-pin design.)

Project-JK.com - Jeep JK Wrangler Resource » Dynatrac Presents - Lockers 101

If you want to be up the 2k range, hard to beat a pair of arb's or e-lockers. If you don't want to spend that kind of money, a front lunchbox may be an option, depending on your feelings about a front auto-locker and snow/ice. Or, do a quick search on the detroit Truetrac, a pair of them will be less than a single arb.

 

Here is another good read.

Locking Differentials 101 - 4 Wheel & Off Road Magazine

 

Thanks for the quick responses, the people on this forum are awesome about that. And I was leaning towards the selectable lockers in the beginning and after reading through the two articles you guys posted links to it pretty much made up my mind totally that selectable would be the way to go despite the cost up front being higher. I'm gonna keep looking around for opinions on what people seem to like better the air or electric, from what I have read a lot of people really like the ARB with the air actuation I'll just have to hold off on my re-gear for a little while longer to save up the cash for the parts. It's pretty flat here where I am from so that shouldn't be a problem just so long as I can re-gear and get out to Colorado and a couple other places some time next year before winter.

Thanks again guys, you've been a lot of help