Hello All,

Does anyone have the Powertrax No Slip Locker in the FRONT? I am wondering how it handles on the various roads and winter conditions we have here in Colorado when in 4HI. I am NOT interested in how it handles in the rear or 2wd.

NOTE -I would like to hear from someone who actually owns and drives this set-up. No third hand opinions please.


Thank you,

Dale

 

You don't need to find a user to know it would nearly render your Jeep useless in snow or slick roads. It's like any other lunchbox locker. When power is applied, it is locked and when turning, it unlocks.

If you have the front tires locked and drive in snow, you'll be in the ditch in seconds. A couple things to consider. 1. There is a reason why rubicons can only use their lockers in 4-low. 2. There is a reason that Jeeps and ARB's air compressors come wired so that the front locker can't be on unless the rear is.

Lunchbox lockers are ok in dry areas. Personally, I'd keep them in mostly trail rigs. For the front, either limited slip or selectable. Jeep also doesn't offer limited slip in the front for a reason, but some people do it.

That all said, try it. Would be fun to watch

 

I have a Lokka lunchbox in my front diff. It is a bit more squirrelly in the winter but it DOES NOT throw you into the ditch when locked in 4HI. Most people who say that are just parroting what they have read elsewhere. I live in Central BC and see snow and ice for probably around 6 months. The improvement in offroad traction is worth it to me. Is a selectable better - of course it is. Can you install a selectable in your driveway for under $200? Nope. Don't drive like an idiot and you will be fine. I got tired of reading the arguments for and against and just decided to do it. I have been really happy with my front locker.

 

So...you don't haveone and have no direct knowledge of driving in the snow with one?

 

Thank you for the reply...nice to hear from my intended readers/users.

 

1 regret while wheeling this year - got caught on a clay side hill. There was NO WAY that jeep was going in the direction that the wheels were pointed that day. So you have your tradeoffs. But if you know what you are getting into and have the correct expectations you should be fine.

 

I have a front locker and live in a snowy climate. I've tried it. Didn't work so well. Maybe in Canada the roads aren't crowned like in the U.S. I also have several friends who run a lunchbox locker. They take them out in the winter.

So, direct knowledge of a locked front axle in snow and indirect knowledge from people I know running them. The Jeeps come with a brake lock differential that works nearly as good, if not as good, as a locker. So, I see no logic in reducing the safe handling of your steering to gain nothing. If you do some serious rock crawling, then I get it. However, at that point, just get a real locker.

Like I said, go for it.

 

No experience with that locker, but I ran front/rear detroits while living in Denver. Great on the trails, and around town on snowy streets it wasn't a big deal to get used to. But with the icy freeways and mountain roads getting up to the ski areas, the front was swapped for a truetrac the end of the first winter.

None of us can tell you how you will feel about the handling, maybe you are one of the exceptions and won't mind a locked front while driving on ice up there.

 

Try it! If you do not like, they are easy to remove yourself and sell it.

 

If you not entirely sold on a lunchbox locker and wanted to try a limited slip locker in the front I would highly recommend the Detroit Trutrac. It's about $400 range but the thing it's pretty awesome in the snow and still works even when turning. You would probably have to have someone install it but the thing is not like other limited slips. It's a gear driven limited slip so no need to ever mess with it or replace clutch plates. Just install and let it do its thing. I live in the northeast and have them installed front and rear. They never have let me down in the snow or any terrain in that matter.