Do I NEED Front and Rear Lockers?

[my2302s]

I’m going to be re-gearing my 97’ FZJ80 and adding an e-locker. I’m having a hard time deciding if I should go rear only or front and rear. I currently have a 97’ FZJ80 with a 2.5” lift. I run 295/75/R16 with a winch up front.

I live in western Colorado and do a lot of the trails around here. I occasionally make it to Moab, but not to go rock crawling. I am a former XJ owner. I had a 98’ XJ, I put a Dana 44 in the rear with a Lock-Rite locker. That thing got me just about everywhere I wanted to go. Since owning the FZJ80, I can recall one trail the XJ struggled on with a rear locker and the FZJ 80 went over.

So, is the front locker worth the extra $1300+? I’m having it regeared so it would be the time to do it. However, you guys who have front and rear lockers, how much do you use both?

 

[Indestructible 47]

If you have both apart and money isn't an issue, go with both lockers. Whilst you might be able to drive an obstacle with just the rear, you can go easier on the gear and have greater control with both lockers.

 

[matzell]

I would do both. To take the front axle apart and do it later is about a 8 hour job. This means about $800-$900 in labor alone. If you decided to do it later it would cost about as much as the locker. As said above, you may not need it all the time but you will have more control and can go slower with both lockers. You may not be looking at it but re-sale will be much higher with both installed as well. You may find yourself using it more than expected once you have it and see the benefits of it.

 

[flintknapper]

I'd definitely do both.

With a rear locker only.....there would be situations (owing to the open front diff) where you basically had 3 wheel drive. Both rear wheels always receiving equal power, but the front only applying 'usable' power to one wheel. With a front locker your rig will be as 4 wheel drive as it gets (with respect to power distribution).

I have two vehicles with front and rear lockers and one vehicle with a rear locker only and I can tell you it makes a difference (both diffs locked) in quite a few circumstances. Now not everyone can justify the expense....since some folks don't go off-roading in conditions that would never require the extra traction. AND being fully locked has drawbacks sometimes, but more often it is a benefit.

 

[thatcabledude]

Likey don't NEED it. If I was regearing and adding a rear I'd say screw it and do the front at the same time though.

 

[Ncrunner4x4]

I would do both as above said, would help re-sale value as well in the future.

 

[on the rocks]

Agree with cable dude, wouldn't say NEED in your situation but as other have said it's a do it when your in there cost savings with a value to it if you sell. I don't hard core wheel either and living on the front range I have probably double locked it a handful of times in 20+ years. Most those times I did it just to use them, especially the front. Being closer to Moab and much more technical stuff up I-70 I would say you don't NEED but SHOULD. You didn't say how long you have owned the 80 but with the smaller tires and going up in gears, you might as well go 4:88, at least 35's(very easy to accomplish) if not 37's and just get it over. Likely you will wish you had eventually.

 

[Heckraiser]

No you don't need it. You already answered that question in the first post But since the 80 is such a fanboy vehicle and #OMG3XLOCKEDLOLWTFBBQ I would go ahead and do it in case you ever intend to sell. There are people out there who don't really know what a locker does and have certainly never used one who would still refuse to buy an unlocked 80 because they read it on instagram or some such nonsense.

 

[Atomic City]

I have been kicking around the same question myself. I had a '69 Bronco that I built up that had front and rear ARBs. I never once used the front locker. Hell, I rarely put it in 4WD - but I did use the rear locker quite a bit. So, I initially thought that I would do just a rear locker for the Cruiser. But, after thinking about it more - I am going to do both. Makes it more valuable to sell as the poster above mentioned, plus, I am going to have everything torn apart for the re-gear anyway. Never an easier time to do it.

 

[B Todd]

I have a very similar set up as you. 285/75's though. I live on the other side of the range. I actually do a fair bit of rock crawling on the trails around here. I put a harrop e-locker in the rear and have never felt a need for front locker. Keeping in mind the capability of 33's and a two inch lift. I know my limitations, but I've run ton's of trails confidently with just the rear locker. Just not Holy Cross....yet. hahhaha.

 

[coax]

I'd honestly say it depends on the condition of the rest of your truck and how much spare cash you have. 295's, 2.5" lift and a rear locker will get you a LOT of places. If you've done all your PM and have cash to burn, then yes totally more time and $$ efficient to do front now. But if you are on the fence and other work is needed or whatnot...I'd honestly probably skip it.

I don't rock crawl either ( and would just go out to the desert to tear around, camp etc. I think I used the rear locker a handful of times and never the front and that was with the 285's. 1300 buys a lot of PM, gas, food, or other gear. Plus you have a winch for maybe the 2% of times that a front locker is required to get you through.

 

[flintknapper]

I'd honestly say it depends on the condition of the rest of your truck and how much spare cash you have. 295's, 2.5" lift and a rear locker will get you a LOT of places. If you've done all your PM and have cash to burn, then yes totally more time and $$ efficient to do front now. But if you are on the fence and other work is needed or whatnot...I'd honestly probably skip it.

I don't rock crawl either ( and would just go out to the desert to tear around, camp etc. I think I used the rear locker a handful of times and never the front and that was with the 285's. 1300 buys a lot of PM, gas, food, or other gear. Plus you have a winch for maybe the 2% of times that a front locker is required to get you through.

IF you have something to hook to.

 

[Road Apple]

I’d always prefer the option of having a front locker to get out of trouble. Better to have it and not use the locker, than find yourself in a predicament without the tool that would get you home. “Cheap insurance”.

 

[spazzyfry123]

Do we need ice cream?
Do we need to go back for thirds at Thanksgiving?

Just like F/R lockers... YES.

 

[Dork]

You don't NEED a 25 year old luxury suv to go driving around on dirt, so you don't NEED lockers either.

But, who gives a s***? Get the lockers.

 

[Stevesnj]

Lockers are like First Class on an airplane, once you have them you don't know how you lived without them. You will be amazed what this truck can do with lockers.

 

[tacocat]

No you don't need it. You already answered that question in the first post But since the 80 is such a fanboy vehicle and #OMG3XLOCKEDLOLWTFBBQ I would go ahead and do it in case you ever intend to sell. There are people out there who don't really know what a locker does and have certainly never used one who would still refuse to buy an unlocked 80 because they read it on instagram or some such nonsense.

Man, I’m supposed to have spaghetti tonight.

Now I want brisket!

 

[flintknapper]

Man, I’m supposed to have spaghetti tonight.

Now I want brisket!

I was going to have Chili....but now I WANT BRISKET TOO! Thanks.

 

[Grandlooser]

Yes.

 

[my2302s]

I been kicking this back and forth. I have the $$ to do the one locker now but not quite there for two. I've read plenty of posts about guys who rarely use both front and rear, but I guess there's a lot of factors. The guy from NE who goes out duck hunting and never uses lockers would say its not worth the money and the guy from NE who went 4x4 in CO and looked at the first rocky incline and locked both front and rear would say they are mandatory. I also had a 75 Bronco with front and rear Detroits. I didn't have the lockers in there long before I sold it (Doh! ) so I don't have a lot of time with both axles locked.

Base on what I've done and where I go, I don't foresee having to use both lockers a lot, but damn, I'm right there with re-gearing. Later if I want bigger tires, more lift, ect, I can do that all myself. More lockers though, I would be kicking myself. Basically my wallet wants to cheap out (thin little bastard) and was looking for others to agree. In the end, I suppose this is a go big or go home project and I can go cheap out on a hammer from Harbor Freight.