Lockers and Tires Oh My...

[catfish]

My little XJ has 235/75/15's on it, and a 3" lift.
I'm musing on dropping Sparten Lockers front and rear in it, D30/D35.
With the front and rear locked and loaded is there really any reason you need 31/32/33/35 inch tires?
I know with a 3" lift that 31x1050 is the max without cutting metal. My 87 is nearly rust free and nice and straight so that is not an option.
Its also a daily driver, so the little in MPG with large tires is not acceptable either.

Short of high centering a diff or axle in a mud hole is there any reason?

Thanks

 

[bob91yj]

Not if you don't need them to get where you want to go! Build your rig to meet YOUR needs, not what someone else thinks you should do.

I've seen too many monster Jeeps built only to have the owner hate driving the rig when it's all said and done.

 

[rikinwyoming]

Not if you don't need them to get where you want to go! Build your rig to meet YOUR needs, not what someone else thinks you should do.

Great response...Let me add that you need to look around your area and see what you feel the terrain will be that you will need to traverse... Setting up a vehicle for offroad use is very personal, taking into consideration terrain, your driving style, your expectations, and how "hard core" you really think you will be.

If you are light on the "skinny pedal" and you stay with stock tires, for light to moderate wheeling you should be just fine...adding bigger tires, roof racks, and lots of heavy equiptment will start to strain your axles, especially the D35. That being said, it sounds like you should be fine.

I've seen too many monster Jeeps built only to have the owner hate driving the rig when it's all said and done.

I have seen this as well. My 94 2 door xj is more heavily modded with a 3 link front suspension, full width axles, lifted, geared, welded rear, cut and full cage,,, and it rides nothing like stock and doesn't get the mileage. I considered long and hard before I built a "toy", but I wheel it hard on the Wyoming rocks and had to build something to withstand the abuse...

 

[shovelbill]

do you NEED bigger tires? of course not.......especially if you're not going to do whatever else is necessary to run them effectively.....

a locked XJ on 31's and 3" will go just about anywhere you'll dare go.....also depends on what gears and tranny you have.

 

[Steve F]

I've run 225/75/15, 30x9.5, 31x10.5, 32x11.5 and for the last 6 months 35x12.5

I find that the bigger tyres just make it easier on the Jeep as a whole. I could do plenty on 32's and locked but with the 35's it's all easier and safer. I say build the rig to make it as easy and safe to travel the terrain you need to/want to, if 31's and lockers will get you there without bashing the crap out of the XJ then that will work.

Of course this only applies for an expedition rig. When I go for a days play I find terrain that pushes the XJ and me much harder

Cheers
Steve

 

[Bigjerm]

I would lock the front first and go from there. I have read many stories about the rear auto lockers change your daily driving habbits. Must of it seems to be dealing with making turns and the gas pedal. I also say lock the front first because why waste the money to lock the rear if 1 locker is all you need? When I had a 4 door Rubicon 90% of the time if I needed a locker I only locked the front and I did a lot more of the crawling stuff where lockers are needed.

Or use the money you would on a rear locker on a winch instead. Lockers will just get you stuck further off road :victory:

 

[wjeeper]

If you have a D35 i would strongly recommended putting a later Cryco 8.25 in there. As I am sure you already know the D35 has a bad reputation.......and arguably for a reason. Locking a D35 can work but I have seen them fail a few times once they are locked. If Arkansas is anything like Utah you can hardly throw a rock in a junkyard without hitting a Cherokee. I think the last one i pulled at a yard was like $95 complete hub to hub.

I am sure the terrain where you live is different from the desert I live so my $.02 on lockers vs tires may be mute......i lean towards larger tires. However I avoid mud like the plague and I am sure mud much more common where your from. For the wheeling I do I don't feel the need for lockers. However my buddy turns his locker on frequently to get through the same terrain. Difference in driving style and personal preference I believe are the reasons. Its really a matter of opinion, in the end its really up to you, your driving style and the terrain you wheel.

 

[catfish]

Arkansas terrain, (Ozark mountains for me) is varied, from muddy, to sandy loam, to loose rocks. No granite slabs for the most part like Moab.

The worst is the mud holes that ATV's tend to turn into bottomless muck.
The muck I try to avoid and stick to a little firmer stuff, or skirt the edges of it.

Thanks everyone.

 

[bugnout]

Lockers well help you keep from getting stuck, provide traction at all 4 corners
Larger tires get you over bigger obstacles.

A winch will get you unstuck.

If you have a hitch receiver front or back, you can have a temporary setup.

 

[jeffy]

Arkansas terrain, (Ozark mountains for me) is varied, from muddy, to sandy loam, to loose rocks. No granite slabs for the most part like Moab.

The worst is the mud holes that ATV's tend to turn into bottomless muck.
The muck I try to avoid and stick to a little firmer stuff, or skirt the edges of it.

Thanks everyone.

If you're not getting stuck and your bypassing obstacles then I probably wouldn't bother with lockers at all. Better tires would help. Not necessary bigger. If you're running 235/75/15 in a street tread then you might want to try something a bit more aggressive. It doesn't have to be a MT either. Maybe something like a BFG KO. You might want to check and see what locals run. Although since your Jeep is a daily driver, you'll have to compromise a bit, I'm sure. What someone runs on their dedicated trail rig would be little help at all for you. If you want a bit more clearance I believe 30.9.5R15's fit on an XJ without trouble. Going big can be a double edged sword. Figure out what you need. This might not line up with what you want but in the end will probably be much cheaper and a simpler solution.

With that said, I might recommend a winch. Maybe a portable so you can run it on the back or front and just remove it completely when not using it. That will give you the extra insurance that you seem to want.

 

[catfish]

If you're not getting stuck and your bypassing obstacles then I probably wouldn't bother with lockers at all. Better tires would help. Not necessary bigger. If you're running 235/75/15 in a street tread then you might want to try something a bit more aggressive. It doesn't have to be a MT either. Maybe something like a BFG KO. You might want to check and see what locals run. Although since your Jeep is a daily driver, you'll have to compromise a bit, I'm sure. What someone runs on their dedicated trail rig would be little help at all for you. If you want a bit more clearance I believe 30.9.5R15's fit on an XJ without trouble. Going big can be a double edged sword. Figure out what you need. This might not line up with what you want but in the end will probably be much cheaper and a simpler solution.

With that said, I might recommend a winch. Maybe a portable so you can run it on the back or front and just remove it completely when not using it. That will give you the extra insurance that you seem to want.

I'm running GoodYear Wrangler Radials, they're fine if you stay out of the mud.
But since I avoid the getting side of things its not a real issue, but I'm planning on upping to a more mud worthy tire.
Maybe the TreadWright retreads I hadn't decided for sure yet.

You learn your limits and seek the alternate route. Sometime this summer I'd to get out to Colorado and run some of the passes etc. So its going to be an upgrade regardless for future use.

I would really rather see a Posi/Trak-Loc in the rear diff and the locker in the front to retain better drivability.

Thanks

 

[jeffy]

Goodyear Wrangler Radials are street tires. If I was going to go a little more aggressive I'd probably look into the Dura Trac's. I'm not really a fan of retreads but that's another thread entirely.

I think installing a Track-Lok is a waste of money. They are the OE LSD and were marginal at best even when new. The clutches wear out fast and the LSD is no better then a open differential. Although, if you're actually needing lockers then get lockers and not a LSD. If you're worried about drive-ability then get a manual locker like as ARB. With stock axles, I'd rather be stuck then broke and stuck though which is why I'd recommend a winch.

 

[Brandon Libby]

Whenever you are building any vehicle, begin by thinking about what you plan to do with it in the present, and consider how you might modify it in the future (so that you don't end up purchasing things twice).

Start with tires. What environment will you be driving in (mud, rocks, sand, tarmac, all of the above)? Next determine the size tire that you will be best suited in this environment. Ask yourself: Do I need tall tires, wide tires, both, neither, etc.?

After you have decided on tires, you can start modifying the vehicle around them (suspension, lockers, etc).

I would start by wheeling what you have and then upgrading as you see fit. Not only will you learn more about driving, you will also pick components that fit your needs rather then what everyone else thinks you should buy. I prefer a less is more attitude when purchasing parts.

$0.02

 

[Metcalf]

I was always pretty happy with the performance of the stock .gov blm and FS rigs I drove around back in the day...

Lockers just get you stuck farther from home The only situation where you really NEED large tires is in deep deep snow. Automatic lockers have a learning curve. I wouldn't suggest letting just anyone drive the vehicle in adverse conditions.

 

[XJINTX]

I am not familar with the Sparten Lockers are they selectable? I assume your 87 has vacuum disconnect? If the front locker is not selectable than I suggest the posi-lok cable replacement for the disconnect. It can be a PIA locked in the front in tight situations that still require 4X4.