I've found my factory LSD works well too...except a couple of times when I really REALLY needed it. I've tugged plenty of other brands too, so I'd say the factory LSD is pretty much useless for hard core off roading. Even the Ford LSD has a breakover torque limit.

And thats the problem. One persons dusty two track and ankle deep mud is anothers pile of rocks and unyielding and almost bottomless pit of goo. So you have to consider what you'll want to be doing once you upgrade.
My belief, getting/ having a limited slip makes the former more fun, but doesn't upgrade you to the later.

To wit...If you decide you prefer the "street friendliness" of LSDs and you have open diffs, you will notice a difference off road.

But the the day will come when you meet the obsticle that leaves you stuck. Hopefully you will not be in the company of real off roaders. One will inverably ask you what you you have for equipement and when you proudly state you have an LSD, eyes will roll and there'll be snickers a plenty.
At that point, you will know the limits of your truck. And then, like me, you will wish you had a locker.

So... if someone who has a LSD tells you to get a locker, would you take thier advice? Thanks for reading.

There a downgrade to lockers that most young guys don't like. You have to change your everyday driving technique when in rain or ice. Since there's no breakover torque with a locker, applying throttle at the wrong point can find you going someplace you wouldn't want to. You have sorta drive like...an old guy .

 

Both clutch type and the FX4 Torsen (which works like a TrueTrac). Both easily "open up" in pretty mild situations.

 

well obviously lockers are better, but NECESSARY? like you said, depends on what you consider to be "off roading"

and BTW my experience is a muddy field about anke deep as you described... so not exactly rock crawling

 

I found the worse time of a locker was ice. (I'm locked in the rear) It spun me side ways and i wasnt out assing off either just trying to drive.

 

And I have quarrel with with that or you...however if you try the same field with a rear locker equipped vehicle, you will notice a difference. I would guess you may not have to use 4wd.

 

Lockers are predictable, they are always going to spin both tires when you give it gas (and a limited slip will spin both tires are well when on a slick surface), and open diff sometimes spins one or both in low traction situations, you can't correct or compensate for something that you can't predict.

The lesson here? Anything without studs or chains sucks on ice.

 

oh yea for sure. its also the first winter with a locker. but i can push snow pretty good with it.

 

Exactly. Skip the limited slip and go with a true locker



Well thats easy for you to do!!!!

 

your biggest questions are budget and durability.

if you've got $1000 or more to spend per axle - and you want maximum durability, then put a detroit full time locker in the rear. for the front, you can choose between a detroit, or a selectable locker.

for approximately the same price per axle, you can go with a limited slip for a little better street manners and slightly less locked-up digging power.

if you have a limited budget, you can buy a powertrax noslip for about $400 and install it yourself. its not recommended for tires larger than 33 inches or high horsepower. but - for mild offroading, hunting, fishing, etc, its pretty darn good when you put mud grip tires on it. you'll be surprised at how far you go in 2 wheel drive.

 

And I'm so impressed that you got it on the first read! :P Have a good new year my friend!