How much does differential locks help with off roading and what is another way to stay "unstuck"??????????????

Question

I own a jeep cherokee sport 2wd. im tried of being stuck and plan to get diff locks i just want to know how much better it will be before i spend the 200 dollars... also im 16 and there is no chance of me trading it in for a 4x4 so thats out of the question. ive put more agressive tires on but there no chance of doing anything serious with limited slip. also what are other ways to make it better off road???

Answer 1

A differential locker is a great investment for off roading and it will help you in 2 wheel drive by putting torque to both the rear tires
for added off road ability with your 2 wheel drive truck I would put on a lift to give you more clearance and allow bigger tires and tire travel in off camber situations the biggest problem you have is still that it is 2 wheel drive but it can still be trail worthy by also putting wider tires on the rear and narrower tires on the front
so when you get into mud or sand you will not gain any resiatance from the front tires being to wide and getting you stuck because the wider front tires will cause you to have more friction and slow you down you'll see a big difference like that look at the baja cars how they run in 2 wheel class narrow tires front wider in rear also narrow tires will grip better for turning
with the rear tires pushing you you can match the tires pretty easy just look for something like a set of 33 inch tires in size and keep the front as narrow as possible when buying them
it is probaly going to be a problem lifting a 2 wheel drive also so maybe be creative and mix and match lift kit parts
also bushwacker fender flares will give ya some added clearence for bigger tires with out lifting the truck
but definetly yes to the locker if you are going to be going off road
will save ya some headaches but remeber you will still not have
a 4X4 and drive accordingly if it is just a beater truck you are taking into the woods you could save the money from the locker and just weld the spider gears in the rear and that is a locker and cheaper thats what I do to my beaters but if it is your everyday driver dont do that also if ya put in a true hard core locker like a dayton or detroit locker you will get a bang as you turn corners dont let that alarm ya its normal just the locker banging from the tires scrubbing on the pavement Also your rear end will get very loose on wet and snowy roads so be carefull
good luck with your choices

Answer 2

A locking differential is a HUGE asset in the realm of off-roading. It will get you through obstacles and terrain that otherwise would be impossible. The only way to be "unstuck" and to stay that way is to have the proper recovery gear. As a good friend of mine told me years ago when I first started Jeepin'......"A locker will get you into trouble, but a winch will get you out."

So, the true way to stay "unstuck" is to realize your current limits. Just because you have a locked rear diff does not make your Jeep invincible, just more capable. It is up to you to know how far to push it and to have a plan for situations where you may get stuck. The best advice is to go out and have a great time with your new locker, pack a tow strap, have tow points, go with another vehicle capable of pulling you out of a mess, and BE SENSIBLE in your line picks.

Other ways to enhance the off-road ability of your Cherokee are to disconnect your front anti-sway bar, which will allow the suspension to flex a little bit more. This may or may not be beneficial to you depending on what size tires you have. If you have installed larger than stock tires you may just end up stuffing them up into the fenders and get a lot of rubbing. Additional traction can be gained by airing your tires down to around 12 psi. This will give you a wider contact patch on the ground and not be aired down so low as to risk losing your bead.

After you save some money, I would advise getting a 4x4 Jeep.......in the meantime watch ebay for a good deal on a winch rated to at least 8000 pounds (I personally recommend a Ramsey). Good luck, and happy Jeepin' !!!!!

Answer 3

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Answer 4

Wider tires, Locker and more speed. Get a Hi-lift jack and a long cable with hooks and a pull strap.... at least when you get stuck you can get unstuck.

Protect your gas tank! Skid plate

Learn to drive a good line through the rough stuff so you keep both rear tires on terra-firma as much as possible.

Yes a locker will help big time!

If you can't trade up to a 4x4 make sure you make friends with someone who can and never go wheelin without his 4x4 there to pull you out! Then you don't even need to worry about upgrading your Jeep just get tow hooks! Joking :)

Answer 5

If you Already have limited slip then its not goint to make that huge of a diffrence. Carrying recovery equipment would probably be the best and learning how to dig your rig out. You can get a manual winch for cheap and invest in a shovel.
Try carrying your speed though the obstacles. You cant get stuck if you dont stop. And if you still get stuck maybe you should do easier obstacles.
My first jeep was 2wd too and I figured tring to go up things wont get you stuck as often becuase you can just reverse it.
4wd is way better for offroading and if you buy a junker then youll have even more fun cause you dont have to worry about scratches or dents.

Answer 6

Shamoe, you don't know what you are talking about.

Take your 200 bucks and start saving. You want an off road vehicle right? Find an old heap and build it. Look in classified adds or the local mule trader. I promise that it will be way more fun and you won't have to worry about getting it against trees or rocks or anything. Look for an old jeep, scout, or something short wheel base and 4x4 (you should be able to find a beater for about 5-600). You and your friends will have much more fun trashing it.

Answer 7

Well, considering that most 4x4's are really only 2 wheel drive, the locker will help a lot. I suggest either a detroit locker or ARB air locker. These will give you the most traction you can get out of the rear end. Ground clearance and tires will be another issue to face. I guess you need to really research out what you are looking at putting in the rear. I cant imagine much being in the $200 range. Most lockers are at least $400.

Answer 8

there will be a major improvement with a rear locker, but which one can you get for $200? Another idea is to try un-hooking the anti-sway bar (front and rear) and lowering the pressure in the tires. both of those will help and they are cheap to try.

Answer 9

Stay on the road. I'm tired of pulling 2WD's out of the mud holes where I live. 2WD's weren't meant to be used offroad. Differential locks help dramatically on 4WD's but there's really no point in wasting the $200 on one for a 2wd. Also you could mount a winch on your truck, which only works if you have something to attach the cable to.

Answer 10

I'm kind of asking a question and trying to answer one!
I did'nt know their was such a thing as diff. locks for a two wheel drive? I had diff. locks on my 90 Jeep Cherokee but they were on the front wheels and mine was a four wheel drive, But anyway manual hubs are better for four wheel driving.