Front or rear locker

[Boatwrench]

Front selectable. That's my recommendation.

 

[NorCalChris]

With my kind of wheeling.... (flexy trails, rocks, logs etc.) Id go selectable front if you have a choice. Just remember, you do have stock components all around up front. If you already have a 29spline 8.25 then lock it first. A front locker will put more stress up front. If you havent seen a xj steering box rip through the sheet metal yet, look it up. It sucks. If you can afford a selectable locker, then See how much youre going to have left over after install. If its enough to cover bracing, extra shafts (inner and outers). Chromos perferably. Then I'd do the front, if not, just go rear.
BOTH will help you out in many different situations.

Also, are you sure youre ready for a locker? Maybe upgrade you steering or something else first?

 

[XJensen]

Front selectable. That's my recommendation.

X2

The front works well for me. Seems to have better control over the rocks. Most if the time the rear is easier to get up once rhe front, heavy end of the jeep is over

That said the only thing i have to show for the locker is dents and scratchs. They seem to make you think you can do any dumb line out there. I wish i was locked at both ends.

 

[Jeep450r]

And now that your front end is up on top of that ledge lets PRAY that you have enough traction with that front locker to help pull your rear end up too.

This is true, however I tend to use momentum in my favor in these situations. Nothing a little bump can't fix!

 

[MaxxXJ]

Also, are you sure youre ready for a locker? Maybe upgrade you steering or something else first?

I could not agree more!! I've wheeled for 4 years with open differentials going from stock size mud terrains to 2" lift on stock MT then 4" lift on 33x10.50 AT's sold that and got one with a limited slip rear, and I wheeled that for a little while with a 4" lift on 31" pro comp mt's. I've been wheeling for about 5 years total and I just barely got an auto locker 2 weeks ago, but I've leaned so much about different lines and approaches that finally getting a locker will make every trail I've taken hardly a challenge. I'm glad I waited and learned The hard way

 

[DirtRoadXJ]

well thanks for the input guys but my locker fund just got tapped out due to an unexpected expense. so no locker yet. or anything else fun for the time being.

 

[MaxxXJ]

well thanks for the input guys but my locker fund just got tapped out due to an unexpected expense. so no locker yet. or anything else fun for the time being.

Story of my life buddy... Only reason I have what I have for my xj now is because I got a $4000 settlement from work, some guy sued my old job for unpaid hours and won, so I bought what I could while the money was available. Otherwise I'd still be broke and wishing I had an xj

 

[Phil]

If you put a selectable in the rear and an automatic in the front, you can disengage the front drive on the street and unlock the rear.

My junk is much heavier in the front than in the rear. I use front drive only more than rear drive only on the trail. I put in a rear locker first but I might do front locker first if I did it again. Unless you swap in a rear axle.

 

[XJ_ranger]

I use front wheel drive only 90% of the time...

I'm happy with 2 detroits, but if I could only do one, then I'd choose the front in a heartbeat.