Automatic or selectable locker for front axle of a expedition truck

[hidesertwheelin]

I'm getting ready to build my front Dana 60 and can't decide if I want to with a automatic locker or selectable? It's going to be for a expedition build suburban. I live the Victor Valley in So Cal, so I only have to deal with icy roads a few days a year, and hardly any snow. I've been looking at the OX locker and also just a lunchbox locker like a Lock-Rite or something. The rear is a 14-Bolt Ff w/ a Detroit if it maters.

 

[Stomis]

Personally you should have a selectable outback and a cheapy upfront. That's how I did my truck after driving my old one double locked for years on the street. Having a locker in the back is in no way shape or form a good thing driving around like normal on the street. You want a selectable out back so when you're just putzing around your ass end doesn't go out around turns, suddenly lock violently, etc. I had all these problems in my old truck, granted it was a lock rite and they are a little more harsh than detroits but friends with detroits have told me they do the same thing and its a bunch of BS those that say they have no idea its there.

Detroits aren't bad. For a trail rig that gets driven to and from the trail they're totally live-able. If you adapt your driving style to them you can easily daily drive with them. Its much harder to get them to play nice with a manual because there's no cushion to absorb the ratcheting in the drive-train w/o a torque converter.

But you did say this would be an expo-rig and that means heavy travel time. I would go cheap up front, cash out on the detroit (you'll probably just lose the shipping money), and pick up an OX or a ARB. Then down the road do the same up front.

 

[sweetk30]

i have done open / locked / gov-loc 14ff and lots of street / trial / mud / snow .

that's why my dd gets a gov-loc rear and my off road build project got arb units front and rear .

snow and ice you kick the rear out so easy full locked . I had to use 4wd over 1" of snow or the rear wanted to meet the front.

also the locked rear eats tires faster with all the turning.

 

[ccarley]

Have you considered the True-Trac? I've got one in the rear of my Suburban, and absolutely love it. I want to put one in the front as well... but that's looking like a $500+ situation.

The True-Trac has worked for us very well in mud and snow. It's super predictable, and adds a whole bunch of traction quite smoothly.

Just a thought
Clay

 

[hidesertwheelin]

Have you considered the True-Trac? I've got one in the rear of my Suburban, and absolutely love it. I want to put one in the front as well... but that's looking like a $500+ situation.

The True-Trac has worked for us very well in mud and snow. It's super predictable, and adds a whole bunch of traction quite smoothly.

Just a thought
Clay

The few places I look online the tru-trac was almost as much as an ARB. I'd rather spend a few hundred more and get the locker. Granted, I only looked at a few places, so my price comparison maybe off.

 

[Mastiff]

I've got Detroits on both my trucks now, in the rear, and it doesn't bug me. For city driving on ice, that may be another story, but I did that for years too without much trouble. I'm also wondering what the best option is for the front. For city driving with the front locked out, it doesn't matter, but I wonder if the auto lockers would be a major pain for steering off road in rocks and places with good traction. Getting out to unlock the hubs all the time would suck. At the same time, I like the simplicity of an auto locker.

 

[sweetk30]

my buddy has 1ton k30 with 38" swampers . Detroit rear / lockright front. he said his next mod is hydro assist steering as the front full locked now its harder to turn wheels.

 

[Stomis]

The few places I look online the tru-trac was almost as much as an ARB. I'd rather spend a few hundred more and get the locker. Granted, I only looked at a few places, so my price comparison maybe off.

ARBs are like $900+. Tru-tracs are in the 500ish range. Just remember, a tru trac might be the best posi money can buy and work in situations where other posi's dont, but its still a posi.

 

[blazinzuk]

I personally think for an expo rig that is gonna be in 4wd for extended periods I would go selectable up front. Only engage when needed. I also think the Detroit rear is fine. I ran one for several years in my daily and once I got used to it I never even thought about it

 

[Blue85]

The biggest drawback to selectable is the cost, especially if you have to add a compressor. Since it's a spool when activated, there are times when steering can be tricky. I can't see too many situations where you would have to turn off the selectable to make a turn and then get stuck, where the auto locker could let you turn and give traction to the inside tire. The other drawback is reliability. Lots of stories of ARB hoses ripped off and OX cables not engaging when you need them.

But for lots of street time or even high speed trails, I would think an auto would get old, especially if you ever see snow/ice. For expedition I would run a selectable or Tru-Trac.