Topic: Ox locker in a D35

[dexetr30]

Let's say I wasn't going to go any larger than the 29's I have on the Jeep now. Would the D35 hold up to an Ox locker? I don't get much time for trail use right now and I have scrapped my plans for more lift and larger tires for at least another two years... minimum. And even then I might just end up getting a sport or a rubi and modifying that. As for wanting the Ox... it's main use would be for the snowy conditions we get up here. There are times when the area is shut down but my wife still needs to get to work regardless of the conditions outside. So, would the D35 grenade under just snowy conditions with the Ox?

[Jeffy]

Let's say I wasn't going to go any larger than the 29's I have on the Jeep now. Would the D35 hold up to an Ox locker? I don't get much time for trail use right now and I have scrapped my plans for more lift and larger tires for at least another two years... minimum. And even then I might just end up getting a sport or a rubi and modifying that. As for wanting the Ox... it's main use would be for the snowy conditions we get up here. There are times when the area is shut down but my wife still needs to get to work regardless of the conditions outside. So, would the D35 grenade under just snowy conditions with the Ox?

Do you think 29's and a locker will get you further then 31's and open?    I can't see a locker getting you any further then some decent driving and 31's.  31's are 10.5" wide and will give you move traction and ground clearance when airing down then with 29's.  Even with a locker you still might get cough up on stuff because of a lack of traction or a lack of ground clearance.

[lanulos89]

why spend that much for a locker for a d35 find a cheapo locright and throw it in, it doesnt affect gas mileage and its real cheap compared to an ox  my 2 cents.  and like jeffy said its all bout driving skills...  last winter when everything was closed down i still got round to places and everything open diff an 31's  get a decent set of tires and ave your $$

[dexetr30]

Guess your both right. As far as the driving goes... it would be my wife driving back and forth to work not myself. I could always take her out and show her a few things. She catches on quick and has always done well with the things I've showed her as far as off road technique goes. As for 31's... it's a dog with 29's. I don't think I want to step up to 31's.

[Jeffy]

it's a dog with 29's. I don't think I want to step up to 31's.

Wow, and I used to drive around with 32's and stock gearing.  I never found 31's to be a dog.

[dexetr30]

Don't forget, I'm running 3.73's and an auto trans. In northeast PA everything is a hill or a mountain. Just heading out of the valley on the interstate can be a chore. Top speed up the mountain is 60 m.p.h. in a 65 zone and sometimes I'm lucky if I can hit that. Coming back home from the Hershey area is even worse. It's a 7 mile pull up hill (both ways, lol) as soon as you get on the interstate.

[chrisfranklin]

Most of the time, 29s and a locker would get your further than 31s and open if you were talking a mostly stock YJ. 

But it sounds like you are on a TJ.
TJs flex better.  31s and maybe a sway disco setup would work well for you.  Course, with the auto, all bets are off. 

[dexetr30]

Most of the time, 29s and a locker would get your further than 31s and open if you were talking a mostly stock YJ. 

But it sounds like you are on a TJ.
TJs flex better.  31s and maybe a sway disco setup would work well for you.  Course, with the auto, all bets are off. 

Yup, it's a TJ and I have discos. Why are all bets off with the auto? I prefer it for driveability on the street and for the occasional off road use. If the 4 banger had a bit more power I really wouldn't mind it at all. But, it's a big ball of mush behind the 2.5.

[Jeffy]

Most of the time, 29s and a locker would get your further than 31s and open if you were talking a mostly stock YJ. 

But it sounds like you are on a TJ.
TJs flex better.  31s and maybe a sway disco setup would work well for you.  Course, with the auto, all bets are off. 

Where's that BS flag when you need it?    Traction is what helps keep you moving.  The wider footprint of the 31's will be better then 29's.  When you consider airing down, your 29's are more like 27's and your 31's are more like 29's.  That's 2" of clearance you have lost but you have gain more in traction as the tire is now able to swap around the terrain.  If you can't give up the 2" then you have to trade traction for height.  Even if you have a locker, you still don't have the footprint of the larger and aired down tire.  If you're airing down 29's then you probably don't need a locker unless you're looking at mud or sand where you can sacrifice ground clearance.  In which case the larger footprint tire would still be an advantage.  With techniques like using the E-brake or riding the brakes to slow a low traction tire, you can usually get by without a locker.  Although this comes down to knowing of those techniques and how to implement them properly.  This just takes practice but it will make you a better driver.

Flex is another can of worms.  Flex is good but you need weight on that tire to be able to use that traction.  If you're just teetering with little or no weight on the tire, it will do you no good.  It looks cool to have all 4 of your tires all touching the ground but unless you can get some weight on there, you could be stuck.  This is the main issue people have with Revolver shackles.  Although this could also apply to coil sprung suspensions but no one likes to talk about that.

As for an auto...  An auto will be smoother overall.  The auto will have torque multiplication which helps in the overall gearing.  Less jerking will mean less of a change of slipping and losing traction.  If auto's were that bad, you'd think all of the top rockcrawlers would be manual instead of automatics.  Although this again goes back to having better driving technique to work a manual smoothly.

I really wouldn't spend any money on a locker,  If you plan on selling, you will not recoupe the cost of the locker and labor.  It's not an item most people will care about so you can look at $0 for it in a trade.  Tires can always be moved and don't since they are a wear item, you will need to buy them again eventually.  Really, though, unless you're getting stuck a lot as you try to push you and your Jeeps limits, I wouldn't change anything.

[dexetr30]

Here's the deal... I have never been stuck in the snow with the Jeep. The only time I get stuck is when the plows come down the street and throws all the snow into and around the Jeep. Even then, with a little pressure on the break peddle and light pressure on the skinny peddle while turning the wheel back and forth, I can get out. I asked the question because I wanted to know if the D35 would grenade under semi stock form with the Ox. It would be nice if the wife could just engage the locker if she was stuck on one of the days I didn't feel like driving her to work. I do get lazy now and then. Anyway, I've decided to just upgrade to 31's when the time comes to get new tires. I don't plan on ever selling the TJ but I would like to add another Jeep to the driveway in the next few years. Like I said... I'm thinking either Rubi or sport. I prefer the Rubi (TJ model) and in a few years from now I should be able to get a pretty good deal on one and mod it instead of the SE.

[Jeffy]

I asked the question because I wanted to know if the D35 would grenade under semi stock form with the Ox.

OK, the answer is no.  A OX in of it self wil not cause damage to the axle.  It's when you start bouncing that things go down hill.  Typically a tire will loose traction then spin freely.  If it hooks up while spinning under power, it will put a shock to the axle and that's when axles, side/spider gears break.

You need to take the passenger seat and let her get some time behind the wheel though.  That will build confidence and help her get to know the Jeep.  One of my friends wife drives better then he does.  I'm sure she had fewer habits to unlearn.  She's recently been getting some time behind a YJ desert racer.

I think 31's would be the better path.  I've seen some impressive driving from those running 31's.

[chrisfranklin]

Jeffy you know your vehicles. But the last time you had a relatively stock Jeep YJ was in what, 1993?      

Look, you lift your wheels on the rocks, with no locker(s),  in a stock YJ -- and you will because, stock, the YJ suspension is about as loose as Mother Theresa in a straight jacket  -- you are dead in the water on a climb.  It doesn't matter what aired out 31s-37s MT you're YJ is wearing.  If both of them, probably in the rear, aren't on the ground, then you're over.  

I have seen guys -- 1 that used to use the 4bangerjp site and 1 that still does -- driving TJs, no lockers, with 31" and 33" inch tires make the climb because they simply had the traction enabled by their TJs' suspension flex.  Their TJs were able to keep both tires on the ground on a rock climb -- the climb weighing down their TJ's rears -- and they were able to proceed forward.  

If I did this on my stiff, stock YJ, even with 31s or 33 MTs aired out, I'd be stranded if it weren't for driver-induced momentum and a locker in one axle that was managing to pull me up on the one front wheel that was getting traction ).

If you want to smite me, I understand.

[dexetr30]

Thanks Jeffy. 31's it is. Besides, the wheel wells look a bit barren since I added the Rubi suspension.


chrisfranklin, a stock TJ is virtually an unstoppable machine with a set of discos on it. Even with the small amount of mods I have done it's a blast on the trails. Honestly, I have more fun driving a near stock SE than I had driving my old 2000 sport with 33's. I've learned some lessons driving my nearly stock SE.

[chardrc]

i agree with what chrisfranklin said. but in this situation it is a tj which changes it and with snow it doesn't matter as much... but ya with my wrangler completely stock it was way to easy to get stuck sniping 2 wheels on a hill. vus making you have to hit it faster and harder vus stressing things more. but with a lift or just throwing out the track bars you can get the suspension to move.

[Jeffy]

Jeffy you know your vehicles. But the last time you had a relatively stock Jeep YJ was in what, 1993?     

Look, you lift your wheels on the rocks, with no locker(s),  in a stock YJ -- and you will because, stock, the YJ suspension is about as loose as Mother Theresa in a straight jacket  -- you are dead in the water on a climb.  It doesn't matter what aired out 31s-37s MT you're YJ is wearing.  If both of them, probably in the rear, aren't on the ground, then you're over. 

I have seen guys -- 1 that used to use the 4bangerjp site and 1 that still does -- driving TJs, no lockers, with 31" and 33" inch tires make the climb because they simply had the traction enabled by their TJs' suspension flex.  Their TJs were able to keep both tires on the ground on a rock climb -- the climb weighing down their TJ's rears -- and they were able to proceed forward. 

If I did this on my stiff, stock YJ, even with 31s or 33 MTs aired out, I'd be stranded if it weren't for driver-induced momentum and a locker in one axle that was managing to pull me up on the one front wheel that was getting traction ).

If you want to smite me, I understand.

So you're saying if they has 29's and a locker it would be cake?

If you take a YJ and a TJ and lift them to the same height with proper lifts and configure them exactly the same otherwise, they will perform the same.  Problem is, most off the shelf leaf springs just plain suck.  But the you don't have to buy off the shelf.  These day's with all the choices of parts, it doesn't matter what you start off with anymore.

BTW: I've driven a YJ with 31's and no lift before.  I've also been on the Rubicon when the Jeep Jamboree used to run YJ's with 31's for their dealer runs.  I've also been there when they ran TJ's with 31's in more recent years.  Last group I went with over the Rubicon we had a lifted YJ (Pro-Comp 3") with 31's, a TJ stock with 31's, a lifted TJ with 33's, a YJ with 3.5" lift and 33's and a Detroit, a YJ with 33's and Detroits, an XJ 4.5" with 31's and a Lockright. and a 3" lifted XJ with 32's and a PowerLok.  The TJ with 31's got hung up a lot but still made it.