Just another opinion, my awd Grand Cherokee was awesome in the snow. As far as the D, I haven't had the oppurtunity to see what it can do yet. I am wondering now about the transfer case selector. I think mine has 4-lock and 4-low, wonder why mine would be different than yours? (different year model maybe.)

Sounds like an lsd is in your future if the problem is that bad, which really sucks if it is....

 

By his description of the way the rear wants to go out, I would guess that there's already a lsd at work in the rear of paddys truck. An open rear diff would allow the tire with the least traction to break free and the other would help retain lateral stability (want proof? Try a Detroit locker in the rear in greasy snow).
I'd try dropping rear tire pressure 5-6 lbs from whats on the sidewall of the tires.

 

I couldn't disagree with you more on this Doc! I've had over 25 years of 4x4 trucks and SUVs. Some with open diffs, LSD's and true lockers. There has NEVER been a single instance where I can recall an open diff outperforming an LSD or Locker for traction.

The OP's fish tail issue will be dramatically improved with a good quality LSD in the rear differential.
Just last week I had my truck up at my farmland in south/central Ga. and they've gotten a ton of rain in the last 6 weeks or so. I couldn't resist some "messin' around" on the soaked, red clay roads. As close as you can get to snow & ice conditions in the south. Every time I started to lose the empty, weightless rear end, I could feel the LSD "hook up" and the truck would straighten right out on it's own, with no steering or braking input from me.

 

I do have the OEM Goodyear tires ("Wrangler", maybe?) on this 2005. There was never this fishtailing, sliding and slipping on the 2001 Durango that had OEM Goodyear Wrangers, which is what made me think it's the 05 D, not the tires. The only other diff. was the 01 D had the 4WD, 4Hi, 4Lo. The 05 only has AWD and 4Lock and when driving in/on snow, there's no diff. w/either of these 2 choices.

I don't give it alot of gas either - I'm very cautious. Just taking off w/little gas from a stop, it fishtails. 2 nights ago I applied the brakes coming up slowly to a light and the car slid (on packed snow) about 15 feet and I swerved into the next lane to avoid rearending someone! That NEVER would have happened w/the 01!

How much (all inclusive) would it cost to have the LSD installed?
Or do you think a diff. brand of tires would be the better bet?

I'm very upset.....I know I'm going to end up hitting someone or something. I feel like the truck has ice skates!

 

N8ECH - I noticed you have 2 Durangos (01 and 05). Which one has the Firestone tires w/the AWD that you say never let you down? My 01 and 05 both had the Goodyear OEMs w/diff. results. (Never should have sold the 01!) Even though my 05 won't need tires till later next year, I may get the Firestones you recommend if they're the tires on your 05.

 

I too have 25 plus years of Canadian winters and experience with Detroit lockers , ARB Air lockers, clutch type limited slips and GM gov-locs. Experience being slow plowing for over 15 years and some serious offroading and normal daily grind of driving in the crap a few months out of the year. Vehicles include 1/2 and 3/4 ton pickups, Blazers, Jimmys and Broncos.
I am not sure how much snow you get in south/central Ga but with an open rear in a AWD or locked 4x4 you have to work at getting the rear to come around but it will be easier for the rear to get happy with a stiff LSD.
That's based on my experience, your mileage may vary..

 

Well Doc, I grew up in the snow belt of upstate N.Y., just a transplanted southerner.

But let me get this straight. What you are saying is that a LSD, or Locker for that matter, long sold for the purpose of providing traction in low traction situations, actually provide you with less traction in slippery situations. Is that about right?

So, basically, you are claiming that an open differential gets better traction than the same differential equipped with a limited slip?

Doc, you ain't been visited by that St. Bernard with the barrel around his neck lately up there in Canada, have you?

 

What I'm saying is that the truck will be more inclined to be tail happy with a LSD than without. The truck with LSD will have better traction but not necessarily better lateral stability. The OP says his friend described it as "It fishtails like a 68 Camaro w/bald tires!' and that's just not going to happen with an open diff.
My suggestion to lower pressure in rear tires was to lower tire height a bit in the rear because there is less weight there than in the front and allow for the fronts to do a bit more work when the center diff is locked.

 

There seems to be some confusion in here between straight line traction, and traction while turning. While you are turning, if both tires receive the same amount of power via a limited slip, locker, spool, whatever, they will both break loose at the same time and you will start to slide. These systems are not designed to give you better traction while turning, that's why most manufacturer limited slips only work in a limited power range. Anyone here ever floored it in a Dodge with anti spin? They both spin for a little bit, but eventually the engine overpowers the system and you get one tire fire. Now, I have the same truck as the OP with the same AWD system, and we just got about 20 inches of snow in the last 2 weeks here in Chicago. Some was wet snow, some was fluffy, some ice in there. I have no complaints with this system, even with my standard Goodyear Wrangler SR-A's. I'm thinking if he's already planned on new tires next year, these have lost most of the little sipes in the tread that bite the snow and ice. Just my 2 cents.

 

Both tires are not receiving equal power in turns that's the beauty of a LSD over a locker.

Edit: I thought about your post and see what you meant now. So nevermind...