Lunchbox locker

Rondo

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My other vehicle is a 2014 Jeep rubicon. During the winter with snow and ice on the road I will just pull the transfer case lever back while driving and continue down the road. With my f350 if install A lunchbox locker will I be able to do the same thing? My main concern will be turning corners with the transfer case in 2wd and the hubs locked. I know it says not to accelerate while turning and that won’t be a problem. Does this sound like it is doable without a bunch of problems? I don’t have the funds for a more expensive locker.
 

Clb

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Explain "lucy"?
You mean drive in 4wd on the street in the ford ?right?
Auto hubs?
Or pulling tc into low range 2x4?

Locking the hubs in 2x4 is useless unless you want to wear stuff out....
Lunchbox cross shafts can be finnickie as f@#$
My yota is doubled and locked but all manual.
So I can do voodoo.
 

Rondo

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Manual hubs. Locking in hubs whenever we have snow. Not often but can be several inches. Then if needed I just slip it into 4hi while motoring. All the parts are already turning at the proper speed. Then slipping it back into 2hI when no longer needed. My transmission and transfer case are very tight. The original owner almost never had it in 4 wd. He used it to tow a 5th wheel rv. The transfer case shifter was corroded up solid. I had to remove it and took a little while to disassemble it. A lot of sanding and plenty of lube and it is now working.
 

Clb

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Bad idea, my .02
Lets see who chimes in
 

franklin2

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You can leave the hubs locked in all winter. And then slip it in and out of 4x4 by using the transfer case. I highly recommend this method, keeps you out of trouble when conditions are iffy. With the hubs locked in everything is turning up front, getting lubed at the same time. The only drawback is a little bit worse fuel mileage.

When spring comes, unlock the hubs till next winter.

I drive a 2009 f350 for my work, and while it has the pushbutton 4x4 with the auto hubs, the auto hubs do not work. For the past 5 years I always just go out and manually lock the hubs around November, and leave them that way till about April or whenever I remember to unlock them.
 

DaveBen

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That s how I used to do it when we got rain. Just make sure the driveshaft u-joints are lubed.
 

u2slow

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I put a front lockright in my 95 f350.

With the hubs locked in 2wd, it gets clunky when you steer sharp. That's it. No issues at other times.

I tended to unlock the hubs most of the time just because my CV driveshaft was getting tired and wanted to prolong its life by not spinning it. Pros outweighed the cons though and I left the lockright in there. I proceeded to put a Detroit locker in the rear.
 

Prospect62

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With my f350 if install A lunchbox locker will I be able to do the same thing?

Absolutely. It'll just bang and click and pop, that's all. Lunchbox lockers do that.

Everything mechanical on your F350 is superior (in terms of strength and durability) to everything mechanical on your JK, but if I were you I would go through the F350 front end before the snow flies just to make sure nothing is worn our or failing. Stuff like axle joints, driveshaft u-joints, bearings, seals and the lock-out hub assemblies themselves. Make sure it's all up to par then you can just write-off the inevitable pops and clunks from the lunchbox locker as normal operation.

I do agree with "Clb" above though - yes it's convenient to leave the hubs locked and just use the lever but if it were me, I'd lock and unlock the hubs as needed and not run them locked all the time. But that doesn't mean you can't.
 

Nero

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You can shift from 2 to 4 wheel on the fly, but you have to be at a lower speed (less than 35 is my preference) and you have to be going straight.
I personally leave the hubs free on my pickup, but on my samurai I leave them locked during the snow season, and shift the t case on the fly as needed. All comes down to preference.
 

Rondo

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It would be difficult to leave the hubs unlocked and lock them in when needed. we travel on 2 lane country roads and they are busy. I would get run over while out locking in the hubs.
 

franklin2

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It would be difficult to leave the hubs unlocked and lock them in when needed. we travel on 2 lane country roads and they are busy. I would get run over while out locking in the hubs.
I was in a sticky situation once that I will never forget; Was going down a steep hill in a field, dummy me did not have the hubs locked in. When I went over the hill it started sliding. I hit the brake and it finally stopped, but I was headed for the fence. I needed to get out to lock the hubs in, but I could not. I put it in park and set the emergency brake and once I let my foot off the brake the rearend would start sliding down the hill again. There was nothing I could do but to go ahead and let it slide into the fence, and then get out and lock the hubs in. I try to learn from my mistakes.
 

Rondo

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My daughter slid on black ice and went through a fence. While the officer was there 3 others slid on the black ice and ended up in the field. No tickets given. Daddy brought it home from oklahoma City to south of Houston To repair. She learned that if you can’t afford to replace it, carry full coverage.
 

Clb

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The 5 pppppp's


If wear and tear saves yer skin....
Go 4 it
That is all:popcorn
 
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Black dawg

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Are you putting the locker in the front or rear? What kind of conditions do you need a locker for?

Many people leave the hubs locked all winter........I try to only do it on days, weeks, months that I need to. I have never felt that the spindle bearings (mostly because of grease retention) are up to continuous use.

With hubs locked, transfer case should shift smoothly into 4x4 high at any speed, usually pulling the shifter out of 4x and then putting transmission in neutral will get it out of 4x smoothly.
 
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