Opinions... Spool vs. Locker (infrequent “daily” driver)

[B.N.Z.MTNS]

Now if you found an axle that had a spool, but was a good price, then it's just a carrier swap. But I doubt that a 4:10 axle would be the most likely to have a spool.
I will try to ask around.

I actually found a guy with a matched set, 4:88s, spooled rear and discs. I just gotta see if I can beat him up on price a bit so I have any money leftover to swap the spool out without having to wait several months.
I’m probably dreaming... but ya never know.

 

[6872xtc]

It would be really nice if it was a mini spool installed in an open carrier. Drop a Detroit in when you pull the spool!

 

[Bent77]

There’s a few FF carriers that get circulated here

 

[70jimmy]

I agree no spool, selectable is best but I have been running my Detroit since I built it in 2006, and the guy I got the axle from before that beat the tar out of it in a buggy before that. The 14 bolt is one of the few things I haven't had to mess with since I put it in.

 

[6.2Blazer]

Thats what I’m worried about. I love living out in the middle of nowhere at elevation... but when the roads are snow packed and icy for 4 - 5 months out of the year... it could be a bit sketchy heading to town.
So far I have only used my winch to get others off the side of the road... I don’t want to start using it for myself too much.

While I think an open diff is the best for freeway driving on snowy roads, I would take a spool/welded diff over a Detroit on snowy roads any day. At least the spool is consistent in how it handles and you don't have to worry about it randomly locking or unlocking in a curve!

 

[Blue85]

Are you 100% sold on FF? H2 14s/f 8-lug rears all came with an e-locker. I picked up a whole axle for $200. They all have 4.10s but a set of gears is cheaper than a selectable.

 

[B.N.Z.MTNS]

Are you 100% sold on FF? H2 14s/f 8-lug rears all came with an e-locker. I picked up a whole axle for $200. They all have 4.10s but a set of gears is cheaper than a selectable.

I’m not 100% sold on a full floater, but I do like the idea of not having an axle walk out on me if I end up busting something. However, I need to think about the reality of me busting something when I’m not truly rock crawling or doing anything that gnarly.

I’m not even sure why I keep looking around for axles when I’ve got so many other expenses right now, I probably won’t even be able to take advantage of a good deal if I tripped over it.

 

[Blue85]

The disc brakes will be some help in the broken axle scenario, but I've never heard anybody report on that experience. Obviously a break near the WMS would be worse than up by the splines. You get disc brakes and a real drum-in-hat parking brake on the H2. Downside is that it's set up for air bags and a track bar so you have to cut all that off and start over on spring and shock mounts. (Kind of like any axle from the 2000's+). But if you already have a 14B s/f, the H2 axle can donate the brakes and the locker, as long as you want 8-lug.

 

[HankScorpio]

Detroit. They are all over ebay brand new for under $500. Not the greatest on snow and ice but way better than a spool. I have one in the K5, its nice to know the traction is there all the time and its indestructible.