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One Locker - Front or Rear?

4x4 Locking Axles
Posted February 15 2008 10:01 AM by Phil Howell - 4WD and SU Editor-in-Chief 
Filed under: Editorials, Offroad Observations, Tech Talk

Locking Rear Axles

There's been a lot of talk lately around the web about lockers.  Specifically, if you can only have one locker, should it go in the front or rear end?


I'd like to state categorically that if you can only get one locker, put it in the back!  For those who think the front is better, I'd like to ask if they've ever broken a rear driveshaft and had to drive out in front wheel-drive?  This has happened to me a couple of times over the years and I remember well the hassle of trying to climb hills with only the locked-up front pulling.  

The front would unweight and the tires would spin, supplying no traction.  Of course, with a broken rear driveshaft, the rear locker won't be doing you much good, anyway, but I hope you get my point.  The rear is the place to be locked up on the trail.  While having lockers in the front and rear is better, if you can only afford one, put it in the back.

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