question he asked was what's the advantage in using a spool rather than weld the spider gears, not what's cheaper. i answered his question, not suggested to do one or the other so if you know a different reason for which a spool is better than welding the diff please let us know
nevermind, in got mixed up - I thought he asked why not weld the spider gears - was you (Torch_Ind) that asked that (didn't notice the rhetorical intent in your post, i thought it was a actual question) - got my bearings crossed so disregard my post above
np was about to ditch this thread soon anyways.
I don't like spools for dd driving. I run the lunchbox locker cause it was less bank to pay and I'm not to thrilled with it for dd driving. off-road is great!! so to weld or spool the rear end would be worse then what I have.
my dad had welded rear en in his old cj-7 with 304amc engine and he would go through a set of rear tires every summer cause it would squeak the tires like you were hot rodding it through lights and corners.
Last post for you all on my opinion and that's all it is. if you plan to daily drive it at all even if you drive it a ways just to get to the trails and can afford to get a selectable locker just get the selectable locker from the start.
if it a money issue cause the spool is cheep well your just doing what you have to do because it's cheep. I couldn't afford the selectable locker and a lockright lunchbox was available for my diff so I went with that cause I could afford it and needed spiders anyway cause they were ready to blow!!
wish I had enough $$$ for a OX locker that would have been my choice if money was no issue.