Running Lockers in 4HI (rubicon)

One "CON" might be an increased likelihood of flipping the vehicle over at speed. That pretty much wipes out any "PRO"s I can think of.

Earle

I agree with Jerry. If you need lockers, you need to be in 4lo. I would not want a front locker engaged at any speed not allowed in 4lo.

Carl

Well first off Scott, I want to start by saying that if you know what you're doing when it comes to wheelin' and/or you live in a climate like I do in Watertown, NY (avg. snowfall for Dec alone = 26in.) then you don't want some factory imposed restriction that keeps their lawsuits down in your Jeep. If you need that extra wheel spin to sling mud out of your "Mud Terrains" than go ahead and make the adjustment you need. The only thing is, you'd be a fool to have them locked up between obstacles; that's when you'll get yourself in trouble. You'd also be a fool to pay for a kit to bypass this factory (lawyer) imposed limitation. There's two ways you can do it. One is safe and costs about $10 and the other is not so safe and I won't even get into it. Here's how ya do it:

1. Buy yourself a good quality switch. I'd recommend an aircraft style toggle switch. You'll be using this switch to "ARM" your lockers. You can write ARM above the switch if you want to look cool.
2. Get to the back of your locker controls switch panel below your air conditioner controls. If you need me to explain how to get there just post a message you want me to and I will, short on time right now.
3. Look at the wiring harness going into the Axle Lock switch and find the red wire with the white stripe and the black wire.
4. Tap the switch you bought into these two wires and mount the new switch in the open space to the right of your Axle Lock switch.
5. Put it all back together and you're done. You'll now be able to switch into locked at 4H, as long as you're under 10 mph. The red w/white wire allows the system to be locked when it's grounded. In the factory setting this wire becomes grounded when you shift into 4L, but now it will also be grounded when you hit your "ARM" switch. Happy Wheelin'

-Aaron

Similarly crossing wider stretches of dry sand where losing momentum can mean a long day towing out.

RoyJ proclaimed:

Come on Earle!

We've been running lockers in 4HI for decades. I have lockers in my CJ that always operate in 4HI.

Serious!

Jerry slipped a cog, lots of guys run lockers in 4HI. I find that my lockers keep me from needing 4LO because I can get through stuff in 1st that would need 3rd in LO Range.

I'm going to sit over here and shut the f*ck up.

I've been running front and rear lockers in my Jeep for EVER. I've never had a problem that can be pointed to the lockers, well besides sliding sideways on the banks of my local creek bed where I probably ought not have been anyway.

The only hazard I would guard against is the possibility of drivetrain damage that results from having too much traction and no wheel-slip.

"Jeff Strickland" wrote in message news:Io6dnZXmysdsJSjZnZ2dnUVZ snipped-for-privacy@ez2.net... : I'm going to sit over here and shut the f*ck up.

FOFLMFAO!!!!!

Kate

: : I've been running front and rear lockers in my Jeep for EVER. I've never had : a problem that can be pointed to the lockers, well besides sliding sideways : on the banks of my local creek bed where I probably ought not have been : anyway. : : The only hazard I would guard against is the possibility of drivetrain : damage that results from having too much traction and no wheel-slip. : : : : : "Aaron" wrote in message : news: snipped-for-privacy@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com... : >

: > s m wrote: : >> I have heard of guys rewiring their rubicons to allow them to use the : >> lockers in 4HI. I see that you can also buy kits on EBAY that will : >> allow you to do the same thing. What are he PRO's and CON's of making : >> this change? Would I be taking the chance of breaking something simply : >> because the vehicle is not designed to run in this configuration? This : >> question has probably been asked a 1000 times on this list but if : >> somebody could give me a link to the information I would really : >> appreciate it. : >>

: >>

: >> scott : >

: > Well first off Scott, I want to start by saying that if you know what : > you're doing when it comes to wheelin' and/or you live in a climate : > like I do in Watertown, NY (avg. snowfall for Dec alone = 26in.) then : > you don't want some factory imposed restriction that keeps their : > lawsuits down in your Jeep. If you need that extra wheel spin to sling : > mud out of your "Mud Terrains" than go ahead and make the : > adjustment you need. The only thing is, you'd be a fool to have them : > locked up between obstacles; that's when you'll get yourself in : > trouble. You'd also be a fool to pay for a kit to bypass this factory : > (lawyer) imposed limitation. : > There's two ways you can do it. One is safe and costs about $10 and : > the other is not so safe and I won't even get into it. Here's how : > ya do it: : > 1. Buy yourself a good quality switch. I'd recommend an aircraft : > style toggle switch. : > You'll be using this switch to "ARM" your lockers. You can write : > ARM above the switch if you want to look cool. : > 2. Get to the back of your locker controls switch panel below your air : > conditioner controls. If you need me to explain how to get there just : > post a message you want me to and I will, short on time right now. : > 3. Look at the wiring harness going into the Axle Lock switch and find : > the red wire with the white stripe and the black wire. : > 4. Tap the switch you bought into these two wires and mount the new : > switch in the open space to the right of your Axle Lock switch. : > 5. Put it all back together and you're done. You'll now be able to : > switch into locked at 4H, as long as you're under 10 mph. The red : > w/white wire allows the system to be locked when it's grounded. In : > the factory setting this wire becomes grounded when you shift into 4L, : > but now it will also be grounded when you hit your "ARM" switch. : > Happy Wheelin' : > -Aaron : >

:

Doesn't your state have the highest death rate in 4WDs in the country?

Apparently you folks don't understand the meaning of "increased likelihood" as a statistical probablistic term, as I used it. LSDs are dangerous too, but the danger is less, and most people who use them understand that. The ones who don't, are in the ditch. That does not mean, that everyone who has an LSD installed, wrecks his car as a result. But the car is inherently more dangerous, less easily controlled, after the operation. I wouldn't lock up all four wheels in 4HI, unless I was on terrain that really needed it, had studied all the alternatives, and knew how to drive in deep mud, sand, deep snow or whatever I wanted it for.

Now on the trails near where I live, you probably wouldn't want to run in

4HI with axles locked, unless you wanted to die. Or unless you had good sense enough to turn it on and off only as needed.

Earle

I've read all the posts and feel that being able to engage lockers in 4H would be a nice additional tool in my kit. And, Aaron, thanks for the information on how to do it.

It will be up to me as to how to wisely and safely use that tool. Most tools can be dangerous if used improperly or unwisely. Winches, for example, and also jacks, chain saws, shovels and tow ropes.

I sometimes get into long steep uphills where there is quite a bit of loose dirt and sometimes across stretches of soft sand. No need for 4L but it would sure be nice to kick in the rear locker, and maybe the front, for a little bit.

I'd also like to think that most serious 4wd'ers have the common sense to use their tools safely but then I also believe in the tooth fairy, the Easter Bunny, and Santa Claus.

Happy Trails, Ralph

04 Rubicon

A rear locker in 4hi is fine. I'm just saying that if you forget to disengage the front locker at 35mph and you go to make a turn, you are going to be one unhappy dude. So I suppose it would be safe to have it as long as you made sure to turn it on and off at the correct times.

Carl

If I put a locker into my CJ7, I would fully expect to be able to turn it on and off in any range I was in. Up here in Canada it is common to be running at 60+ mph in 4x4 for extended times. I really don't have issues with my open diffs at those speeds, she tracks nice. I wouldn't want to be locked then, but sure can see some times when high and locked would be handy.

Mike

86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail >

Actually, I think that San Miguel County, just to the west of here, has that honor.

Earle

Good Point!

Where I would envision using lockers and 4H would be where I probably wouldn't get out of 1st gear anyway. Maybe 2nd, max.

Pumper Hinkle proclaimed:

On some heavy but not deep snow conditions, with caution that in the hands of an unskilled driver it is a great way to quickly explore the ditches. Also on really dry sand where again there are no severe corners or ups and downs to worry about.