Poll: lockers or lift and tires

[afd516]

Knowing what you guys know now what would you do first? This does not matter what you would have to do to get either one of them done. Tire size or axles don't matter. Lift hieght I do not care about.

Lets keep this simple lock it or lift it. I do not care if you have done either of them or not. Both will be done but what first and why?

BTW my rig has already got axles, tires, lift, lockers, blah, blah, blah....

[Big Red]

For a wheeler, nothing helps you more than having all 4 tires, or at least 3 (rear locked/front open) turning at 1 time. So I'd say lock it, then lift it, then tire it (lock and load). :laugh3:

Troy

[jeannies_driver]

lift it,,

you can't get hung up on what you don't touch ;)

[red91]

Where's the Poll ?



I'm going with lift and rubber.

[2xtreme]

My feeling is that the most important thing a 4x4 needs is an experienced driver. You gain experience by driving Open/Open. You can lift it all you want, but I would not lock it till you know "WHY" you need it locked.

Just my opinion,
Michael

[jrsxj98]

:lecture: hasta

[norcal420]

Lock stock then load with big tires . . .

DR

[KSXJ]

I lifted first and am going to lock it after I wheel with it a while first. That way I know the differnce and why and where it will help my the most.

[jonboy]

where's the poll :confused:

anyways, I say first do lift, tires and front swaybar disconnects. Throw the rear swaybar away or use it to beat up the neighborhood bully.

Then learn to drive tough trails with open diffs (or the factory trash-loc) for a while before getting a locker. While you're learning, you can be saving $$$ for a non c-clip rear axle to put a locker in.

Lockers are almost like cheating, especially if you learn to choose good lines w/o em.

[afd516]

Sorry, I do not know how to set up the poll feature. I guess I should have got on the test forum and see if I could get it to work. Next time, I will.

And for those of you that are doing this, hasta , give me a link, cause I searched for this but came up with nothing. Again, I know what you are going to say "Well maybe you didn't search hard enough". For that, sorry you feel that way.

For the rest of you that are participating in this, Thank You!!! :cheers:


For the purpose of this poll, the vehicle has been drive open on stock height, tires and wheels by an expierienced wheeler.

[Gunner]

Lock it.

You won't have to be as hard on equipment (other than the axles) locked. What you needed a run at, rock stacked, bump up or what ever will be reduced making it easier on the vehicle. Besides getting stuck in snow/mud/ or whatever sucks even more when the tire sitting on the traction isn't helping, it even gets worse when the flexy suspension and $$ tire isn't helping.

[jonboy]

blah blah....And for those of you that are doing this, hasta , give me a link, cause I searched for this but came up with....blah look in the FAQ :kissyou:

[Craig96_XJ]

ive got mine lifted and rubberized open/open... but i would say to lock it first- the XJ is EXTREMELY capable in stock form, and i wheeled it that way for awhile, successfully... the first time you get stuck and notice that if that other wheel was spinning, you could have got out on your own, youll relaize that a locker is more valuable than a lift... ive always said an XJ on 235 muds locked F/R and disco'd is more capable than some HUGE open diffed beast- kinda wish i went with that mentality, but i just HAD to be taller :D

[afd516]

look in the FAQ :kissyou:


Thanks for the direction> I just typed locker, lift, tires seperately and came up with sorry no matches. Do you have any other suggestions to key words or anything. I think it is unusual that I came up with that.

[rangerjoe2001]

where's the poll :confused:

anyways, I say first do lift, tires and front swaybar disconnects. Throw the rear swaybar away or use it to beat up the neighborhood bully.

Then learn to drive tough trails with open diffs (or the factory trash-loc) for a while before getting a locker. While you're learning, you can be saving $$$ for a non c-clip rear axle to put a locker in.

Lockers are almost like cheating, especially if you learn to choose good lines w/o em.

i agree

[mack]

i vote for......wait, where's the poll????

[jonboy]

Thanks for the direction> I just typed locker, lift, tires seperately and came up with sorry no matches. Do you have any other suggestions to key words or anything. I think it is unusual that I came up with that.I thought you were giving us shyte for asking "where's the poll" -- Instructions on how to post a poll is in the FAQ. As far as people telling you to search...fawk-em, but you can try using the "+" sign as a connector between words when you search.

As to your question about lift or locker first, my experience is mostly in the rocks out west and I say lift/tires first. I've led groups with stock TJ Rubicons that get hung up on the rocks because they're just too low. F&R lockers didn't help when they're high centered on a big assed rock.

A good lift (4.5"- 6") and 33's should keep your tires on the ground most of the time, minimizing the need for a locker. In the rocks, a stock XJ with lockers is likely to get high centered far too frequently to be any fun.

If you already had 3" lift and 31's, I'd say get a front locker, but do not put a locker in the c-clip rear end unless you just like burning money.

[afd516]

I am not trying to give anyone crap. I am just looking for opinions and this is a great source for that.

I hate pissing people off. But, sometimes you can not help that. I guess in a way this is a way to relieve stress for some of us. I say, take it out on the trail. Not here, on new guys trying to learn the forum stuff.

The search and FAQ features are nice but sometimes, they just plain suck.

[mikecooper]

This would have to be progressive, but most people lift it, then add tires, then decide they need lockers bc they didnt want to spend the money all at once. But the way it "usually" goes: lift it and get bigger tires to match, then lock it but WAIT after a year or 2 the lift's too small bc you want bigger tires so you lift it some more and get bigger tires then all of a sudden your tires out perform your axles then you have to upgrade. If it purely came down to money and a well thought out plan for the life of the vehicle, id have to say get axles that would support the biggest tires you want & lock, then get the lift big enough for the tires you want then get the tires.

[cLAYH]

I think it depends on how experienced of a driver you are.

Most peoples driving skill advances with their rig's capabilities. You learn how to wheel with a stock vehicle and increase your skill. Then you mod and and learn all over again.

For example a buddy of mine went from wheeling a Chev truck with 31"s off road to a Rubicon. He was very frustrated at not being able to keep up with my XJ which had 31s and a rear locker. He drove the Rubi like he did his old truck, full throttle straight down the trail. Once he learned to slow it down and pick his lines he did much better. He got stuck in some huge holes cause the lockers gave him too much confidence.

If you are already experienced in wheeling and are starting a new rig then you probably know best what you need, but for a beginner I would say lift/tires then lockers. I cann't see lockers doing much for a stock XJ with 215/75/r15 Wrangler RT/S tires.

[JohnX]

Lift it.

Tire it.

Lock it if you need to.

[HEP111]

What I did:

1st 89 XJ: swapped axles, geared,locked at same time. Ran that way for 6 months or so before lifting. It was an interesting time.

2nd 99 XJ: up to now it's on a lift, tires, no lockers or gears till I find time to swap em over/in.

Mmmmm I'd do it like I did it with the first Jeep. I plan on keeping my 99 for the next ten years or so with that in mind I build it to last.... I was already into wheeling so the expirience part wasn't as much a factor as I keep a light right foot and take everything slow and easy. Just my thoughts....

[logdog]

Lift it first. You should always build it as your wheeling experence grows. Nothing will teach you to be a better driver than going through the tough stuff with open diffs. You'll know when you're ready for lockers.

my .02

[Chero-King]

Lift and tires........then lockers if needed. Because of like the earlier posts said..if you can run difficult lines open and not get stuck then you can run with anything.

[Jeffro600]

Since you say you already have a lift, tires, etc, go with lockers...with a mild lift, 31-33's and locked F/R, there will be VERY few places that you wont be able to go. Lockers will let you go places that open diffs cant do or wont do without some serious luck, good driving skills, or a little of both. The off-road difference is night and day. If your running huge rocks, go with the lift and bigger tires(and eventually lockers)...everything else, get the lockers.