Trak-lok on Ice

[Chevelleguy]

Has anyone diven with a Trak-Lok in the front axle on ice? I picked one up cheap and am considering installing befor we get a bad front if it will drive ok. Open diff in rear.

[J10/J20 Project]

I have one in the rear of my XJ. Makes for some fun in the winter. not to bad for me just have to know the caracteristics of it after driving a season no problem. I have a EZ Locker up front with mudders if I want to play I will drive that. For safety I will jump in the 88 stock XJ. Open both ends with allseasons.

[Chevelleguy]

Thanks, but my concern is will the Trak-Loc in the front with an open rear steer ok on ice. I know steering and ice don't mix, but you know what I mean.

[Stuka]

trac-locs dont grab near hard enough to make any difference imho. Plus they wear out so fast. Having one in the rear in the winter feels like an open dif, nothing compared to a locker or spool. I think you would be fine with one in the front, because they just dont grab hard.

[Chevelleguy]

Thanks Stuka, that's what I'm looking for.

[kyjman]

I have trac-loc on the rear of my truck and it works very well. Like has been said it dont hit hard. As for wearing fast I do not know. The truck has 172,000 on it and the trac-loc still works. However on ice there is no traction factor. Nil. Nearly zero friction between tire and ice. So to answer your question as to if trac-loc works on ice the answer is no. Nothing works on ice!!!

[Rande]

I had a Trac-lok in my old '72 J4000 and it worked great. Took very little getting used to on compacted snow and ice, but once you learned how it was going to act, no problemo. I also had one the back of my '72 ScoutII. Same thing, worked great, easy to get used to.

They do have clutches and they do need rebuilding occasionally. They are inexpensive and very effective. Added traction without the fully locking quirks. I do, however, question their brute strength. A Power-Loc is very similar (I understand, never had one myself) but are much stronger, so I hear.

[ January 29, 2004, 10:54 PM: Message edited by: Rande ]

[Millerluck]

I have a Trak Lok front and rear. With hubs in the front.

I leave it in 2 wheel drive unless there is more then 3-4 inches of snow.

Here is a run down on ice driving for me.

2 wheel drive gets me around fine.
2 wheel with just the hubs locked. Pulls to the right slightly.
4 wheel drive. Pulls even more. Plus if you give it to much gas breaking loose the tires it goes on a diagnel towards the ditch. :eek:

So in short my Jeep is set up for daily driver, sand dunes and deep snow.

It just feels safer on ice to leave it with open hubs and in 2 wheel drive.

Yep I know 229 and hubs can = boom but I always lock the hubs before putting it in 4 wheel.

Later

Larry Miller

[ January 30, 2004, 12:14 PM: Message edited by: Millerluck ]

[asahilover]

My Trak Lok rear seems to act like a real full-time posi. In 2wd on the pavement it's squirelly as he** on ice and snow (wants to slide sideways.) But when my 4wd quit working (vacuum hose) it sure helped me get out of the driveway!

[scotty]

the trash-lok works well in situations where the traction difference is not too great between left and right wheels. its when you you have a big traction difference(like 1 wheel in the air) that power will spin thru the LSD like an open diff.

the best configuration for 90% of the driving public is ,IMO front wheel drive with an open diff.its impossible for the nim rods that cant drive to spin out with FWD,as long as they allow enuff time to stop ;)

for those of that can drive you can deal with a limited slip rear without much prollem.

like the guys said,puting one up front pretty much takes away the option of 4wd for driving on the street,at road speeds.i have a couple of friends with front traction devices,and both of them stick to 2wd unless the snow is deep,and youre going really slow.

prolly not such a big deal.my XJ gets around just fine in 2wd-ive got smaller tires on the front,so ive not really been able to use 4wd this year.

[ February 22, 2004, 07:00 AM: Message edited by: scotty ]

[asahilover]

Did Jeep offer a Trac-Loc front end from the factory?

[Marvin Gates]

Just to change the subject just a little, a Q/T can not be beat for driving on ice, we get a lot of hard pack snow and ice and with a Q/T and a set of studded tires I haven't found many places I can't go. :D :D :D smile.gif On icy hills when everyone else is doing 360s I just pick my way thru them (come to a dead stop) no problem drive on like its dry pavement.

[ February 22, 2004, 12:11 PM: Message edited by: Marvin Gates ]