Lockers

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Mad Garden Gnome

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Welcome Aboard @viperchamps6

I didn't catch your introduction, we could help you more if we knew what your specific needs are. Also, this is one of the better organized sites with some excellent discussion on that is easily searchable.

Take Care

MGG



Quick answer is no, and the second is a question of vehicle and axle.
...and what terrain, and what purpose, and your experience level, and your intent.

Thank you @Truckerbizz for the links.
 

offroadohio

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Advocate II

Depends on the trail you plan to run.

Everything I own gets 2 mods before anything. A winch, and lockers.

Locker gets you in, winch gets you out.

Lift, tires,etc come later

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.shark.

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Lockers are nice but often give inexperienced drivers a feeling of confidence that typically results in getting stuck anyway. I think depending on goals and intended use of the rig you can argue either side...If my vehicle wasn't equipped with a rear locker and I was in the market, I'd go with a winch before a locker. That being said my goals aren't to build for rock crawling. As an adventure / overland rig I don't typically take lines that look as if they'll require me to lock up.

IMO -Self recovery and experience < lockers
 
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boehml

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You haven't specified your vehicle type. If you're running a JK model Jeep your vehicle has BLD, which stands for Brake Locking Differentials. These work awesome, so if you had them and you were an Overlander I would tell you lockers aren't required. Your vehicle might also have a limited slip differential, so check about this first.

If used incorrectly lockers can cause damage to your vehicle, so unless you plan on rock crawling or traveling through a ton of wombat holes lockers are not necessary.
 
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Zargon

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You haven't specified your vehicle type. If you're running a JK model Jeep your vehicle has BLD, which stands for Brake Locking Differentials. These work awesome, so if you had them and you were an Overlander I would tell you lockers aren't required. Your vehicle might also have a limited slip differential, so check about this first.

If used incorrectly lockers can cause damage to your vehicle, so unless you plan on rock crawling or traveling through a ton of wombat holes lockers are not necessary.
Along the same idea of vehicle specifics, installing lockers into a stock discovery 1 or 2 is risky business, if you bind up one tire and give it all the torque of the engine in low range it can, and will, snap an axle shaft. So in addition to adding in a locker all the axle shafts should be upgraded to HD shafts etc
 
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The_Just

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Also, depending on your vehicle, some come with lockers from the factory. If you happen to be rolling a Mercedes G wagon, you'll already have 3 lockers from the factory. LR3/4 with HD package will get you two lockers. Corolla? Maybe no lockers. [emoji3]
 
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RSO_Tyler

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Personally I would rather have them and not need them then need them and not have them.

A winch is also a must. I'd have that before lockers, but I have yet to use my winch because I have lockers.

Good driving and knowing the vehicle the vehicle is best. If you've wheeled it enough you'd be able to answer this question.

As for what kind? E-lockers or Air-lockers are favoured because of the on-off feature. I run mechanical lockers which click while turning but have no out side forces that can fail I.e. Air compressor, air lines, leaks in anciators, faulty electronics etc. They've proven themselves time and time again. But I don't wedge myself in anywhere and stomp on the skinny pedal, so I haven't broken anything. Still running stock axles as well.


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gandrimp

Rank III

Advocate II

Wife and I just got back from nearly 5000 miles with no lockers required, I then went with my buddies around 600 miles and lockers could have been helpful. Winch and lunchbox sitting in the corner waiting for the time to install both.
Overlanding is something different to each person and mode of transportation. We have all seen groups of 20 - 30 bikes, they are not all hells-angels. How about a pack of Miata's. Sure they most assuredly are credit carding their way motel to motel, while I credit carded my way from gas station to gas station 50 gallon at a time.

Short answer: NO
 
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Zargon

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Also on the note of a winch though, keep in mind a winch is only as good as your anchor Point, so if you are planning on heading to a desert or planes without trees or rocks it would probably be wise to invest in a land anchor

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boehml

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Also on the note of a winch though, keep in mind a winch is only as good as your anchor Point, so if you are planning on heading to a desert or planes without trees or rocks it would probably be wise to invest in a land anchor

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Unless you want to dig a 4ft hole and put your spare tire into the ground. But you make a very good point on winch vs locker.
 
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RideFlyDiveJeep

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Started out Jeeping with no lockers and learned a lot. Good tool to have in your arsenal, but not always needed. Now I have 2 lockers (JKRubicon) and with smart driving I hardly use them.
 
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9Mike2

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A little info for you non-Jeepers. The lockers on a Rubicon only work in low range and below 14 Mph. Self installed lockers will work beyond those parameters....
 
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