Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ radiator

Locker recommendations for TJ?

Jerry Little

Member
Original poster
Joined
Jul 28, 2018
Messages
73
Location
San Jose
Want to talk lockers. Maybe looking to install lockers during gear change. Verdict is out to not go with lunchbox lockers, or a Detroit, but to go with air or electric. Anything recommended at a good price?
 
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Lunchbox is fine in front, Aussie or No Slip. In the rear I like the Detroit locker personally. No air or electric to mess with. If I was going selectable it would be the ARB.
 
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The final big purchase for my TJ this year will be the Eaton E-locker. I drove myself crazy reading all the pros and cons about the different types/brands of lockers, and just decided that I need to make one of 'em a goal. Eaton gets the nod. Sometimes ya just gotta pull the trigger.
 
Lunchbox up front is a solid plan if you don’t live in icy areas.

Detroit in the rear is basically bulletproof.
 
Air vs Electric... you have everything needed for the e-locker, just add a switch and wires. For air lockers, add the swith and wires PLUS add a relay, airlines, air compressor, mount it all, filter the air, .... e-lockers are just so much simpler.
 
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Air vs Electric... you have everything needed for the e-locker, just add a switch. For air lockers, add a relay, airlines, air compressor, .... e-lockers are just so much simpler.

That brings up the question if e locker was the way to go. Why did jeep use air?

******* damn it i got suck in ******
 
Air vs Electric... you have everything needed for the e-locker, just add a switch and wires. For air lockers, add the swith and wires PLUS add a relay, airlines, air compressor, mount it all, filter the air, .... e-lockers are just so much simpler.
Yes that is what I was thinking too
 
Want to talk lockers. Maybe looking to install lockers during gear change. Verdict is out to not go with lunchbox lockers, or a Detroit, but to go with air or electric. Anything recommended at a good price?
What axles do you have now?
Edit: Nevermind, I see your profile.

What gears do you have now?
 
I want to dispel some rumors. I have always been a proponent of ARB's (air locker) but in my new TJ I decided to try a E-locker because I thought it was going to be easier because all you have to do is run a wire as mentioned previously, and as @Squatch mentioned you have to pull the trigger on something, but the wiring kit that comes with the air locker is way more stiff and bigger than running air lines. Honestly the wire harness is heavy and I plan on running them front and rear so I will have to route two of these. These harness run to switches and relays and circuit breakers. There is actually a lot more than running air lines in my opinion so far. I haven't actually ran the wires yet. I am still in the imagining phase. I mean I have the parts, but my rear end is not installed yet. I am also going to try and convert the switches in my dash to stock like switches which will be somewhat difficult because the harness for the most part is already prewired. I don't have any regrets going with the elockers, but I did think they would be easier, but I think in the long run the ARB's were actually quite easier.

The place that build my rear axle for me this time, said they prefer the ARB because there are parts if necessary and they are easier to obtain., but the eaton parts are quite a bit harder to get, and they don't sell a lot of parts meaning if the locker fails most likely you will be replacing the locker rather than repairing it.

I am not discouraged and plan on putting one in the front as soon as i am done with the rear. But in retrospect, if I had seen the wire harness up front, I probably would have stuck with the ARB, but that said, I haven't heard anything bad about the e-lockers and I am confident I will like them when they are finally in and running. Also the wire harness didn't come with any instructions although most of the wires are labelled.
 
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I want to dispel some rumors. I have always been a proponent of ARB's (air locker) but in my new TJ I decided to try a E-locker because I thought it was going to be easier because all you have to do is run a wire as mentioned previously, and as @Squatch mentioned you have to pull the trigger on something, but the wiring kit that comes with the air locker is way more stiff and bigger than running air lines. Honestly the wire harness is heavy and I plan on running them front and rear so I will have to route two of these. These harness run to switches and relays and circuit breakers. There is actually a lot more than running air lines in my opinion so far. I haven't actually ran the wires yet. I am still in the imagining phase. I mean I have the parts, but my rear end is not installed yet. I am also going to try and convert the switches in my dash to stock like switches which will be somewhat difficult because the harness for the most part is already prewired. I don't have any regrets going with the elockers, but I did think they would be easier, but I think in the long run the ARB's were actually quite easier.

The place that build my rear axle for me this time, said they prefer the ARB because there are parts if necessary and they are easier to obtain., but the eaton parts are quite a bit harder to get, and they don't sell a lot of parts meaning if the locker fails most likely you will be replacing the locker rather than repairing it.

I am not discouraged and plan on putting one in the front as soon as i am done with the rear. But in retrospect, if I had seen the wire harness up front, I probably would have stuck with the ARB, but that said, I haven't heard anything bad about the e-lockers and I am confident I will like them when they are finally in and running. Also the wire harness didn't come with any instructions although most of the wires are labelled.
Very valid points. Wouldnt an air locker setup require a pump? Wouldnt that pump require a wire harness with switches and relays?

I’m a fan of electric and air lockers myself.
 
Want to talk lockers. Maybe looking to install lockers during gear change. Verdict is out to not go with lunchbox lockers, or a Detroit, but to go with air or electric. Anything recommended at a good price?
Selectable lockers are going to be the luxury here. Luxury comes in at a higher price point. I truly belive like most things Jeep related, you get what you pay for and selectable lockers are the top of the list when it comes to performance and ease of use.

Its worth mentioning the Detroit is also a solid choice as it has built quite the reputation for being reliable and performing as advertised.
 
Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ radiator