aktmboyd

I guess all I can says is because of my location in the Arctic we have extreme snow and extreme rocks and extreme mud. I am going to include my 2 atv's for comparisons sake due to their differences in technology and abilities, but which directly applies to this/my idea


2014 Honda Foreman
Locked rear axle, open diff front axle, locked hubs
Capabilities are moderate
when stuck you get a three wheeler and when in the rocks flexing the suspension to full articulation if you lift a wheel all forward momentum stops and the machine starts to bounce from side to side or more like from front corner to the opposite side rear corner. It is a little spooky at times but it is what it is you learn to bash through sections with much greater speed and much less control because of the lack of the selectable front locker.


2010 Yamaha Grizzly
Locked rear axle, selectable E-locker front diff, locked hubs
Capabilities when you push that little yellow button are extreme.
It turns your Grandpa's atv into a mountain goat.
When stuck in the mud you have full 4wd capability and when in the rocks if you lift a wheel it just keeps on going.


Those are the capabilities that I want in my truck. But what I don't want is another piece that wears out stuck away up under skid plates and motor and caked on mud and wires or pull cables sticking out and an extra $1000 and all the extra weight that the selectable locker adds to the rotating driveline. I would rather have a full locked front axle via a spool with the factory vacuum actuator which would be the selectable part with control hoses which are tucked in behind the tires protected from virtually everything and which are a breeze to service with simple hand tools.


But I am thinking also of the downfall to having both front and rear axles locked and if you have ever been in a 4X4 with lockers when you are on a slippery side hill forward momentum usually ceases and you are on a downward side slide to the bottom. I have had many Very capable CJ7 Jeeps in the time that I spent in the south and know first hand how unnerving that driving experience can be. And an icy snow covered side hill would be nothing short of a stinky smell emanating from your pants after, but hopefully the tire chains would solve that.

EBC-150

Sounds like you have it all figured out, so I say go for it!
You're asking for opinions on what is outside the realm of what these trucks are intended to do, so I doubt you'll find many who will agree with your thinking. My personal vote is for a truetrac rear and an e-locker front. Spools have a tendency to kick out sideways on the slippery chit.

aktmboyd

Yah! I know I want a tractor but dammit I have gotten soooo! attached to a heated cab, ac, stereo, also bringing the kids along for the joy ride is awesome, plus these trucks are just bloody cool looking lifted. I kind of figured I knew what I wanted to do with locking the axles but I still have to research 28 spline spools for the front axle. I guess you could say I was being a little lazy and poking the fire with a stick siting in my office chair rather then getting up and pushing the log in the fire all the time hoping someone else knew the answer to the spool viability in the front 8.8. The main decision I still have to make is 4.88 or 5.13's. With the 5.13's and in 4X4 low the brakes might have a hell of a time holding the torque back. Plus I don't want to build an exploder axle. But that just might be the nature of the beast with a flimsy aluminum axle and parts will no doubt ably be broken. Oh by the way cheers to the slippery chit!!

Hunterh04

Do they make "lunchbox" lockers for these? I had one in my Toyota and LOVED it?

Hunterh04

Such as yukon, spartan, aussie etc....they are auto locking lockers they are open and automatically lock when slip of a tire is detected. They are noisy but for what you gain it's worth it to me. I daily drove mine also

aktmboyd

I have thought about all of the automatic lockers and the selectable lockers and even the different soft lockers out there but I always come back to the spool. I don't need the luxury of selecting the locker and the auto lockers like a Detroit are good and tough but seem more geared to a mud racer or drag car, great for hard straight line launches but need to be driven with care every where else due to the erratic engagement. The lunch box style or a locker that retains the stock carrier and replaces the spiders are good but still rely on the strength of the stock carrier, plus I have read all the problems that people have had with these styles the broken springs chipped and chattering forcing cones and teeth. which in all reality isn't a big deal but that's just more wear on items that I don't want. Some are great some are POS's, again it all brings my ideal locking device back to a spool, tough as nails, light as a feather, strong as an ox, usually if some thing breaks it is an axle or ring gear or pinion I personally have never seen a broken spool.


anybody out there have any experience with 5.13 gears and 35" tires ??

Dirttracker18

Avoid the spool in the front, in fact, as an ex-racer, I would avoid spools in general.

Your idea of switching will not work as unlocking one side would send all power to that side essentially negating being in 4 wheel drive.

Go with a locker in the rear and air locker in the front. This is the only way this will work well for you.

You are correct that steering will be a problem with a locked front end. It will be no fun at all. I would NEVER use a spool in the front unless it is a dedicated off road vehicle. Even then I would prefer something else.

For what you are looking at spending I would go air lockers front and back. Include an on board compressor and you have a sweet set up.

As for gears, use a gear calculator and figure out what works for you.

I made the assumption that your stock tires are about 31". Going from that to 35" tires starting with 3.55 gears gives you 4.00 or about a 4.11. You could go deeper and get something more like 3.73 stock giving you 4.21 or about a 4.33. I would not go deeper than a 4.56 at best. Anything more will be too deep.

aktmboyd

Sound advice, but I disagree with you on unlocking the front hub. With a spool in place of the front diff, all power would be sent to the locked hub side not the unlocked side completing the 4 wheel drive hook. Now if it was retained as an open diff (which it won't) then I would concur with your point.


Basically the truck is a true ORV and as I pointed out before there is no asphalt or highways that this truck will ever see, due to the fact that they don't exist here.


Is your 4.56 at best based on highway cruising? I have a max posted in town speed limit of 30 KPH and it is too damn rough anywhere else other than our towns airstrip to go any faster

Hunterh04

Idk abt with these trucks but I know with manual locking hubs you can run a spool up front with only one hub locked easy. I know a guy that daily drove his like this for years. Yea it's not as ideal as a normal locker but it works. And really the op is talking about a spool and you recommend two air (I'm assuming arb) lockers and on board air 😂😂...I don't think he wants to budget for that

PerryB

Actually I think you'll find the Foreman has a limited-slip in the front. They're set up fairly loose so you can steer, but I'm pretty sure it has a L-S.