I have a 77 4x4 with 33s that I drive 5-6 times a year on the road to tow my stand to the track or go to the dump (I dont really off road cept on the farm working a little). I have one wheel drive most of the time which means I get stuck a lot. I have a spool that I want to install. I understand that I need to be careful in the rain and not punch it in the corners but...

Other than that... would I hate it or what? (experienced folks please chime it here)

 

Get ready to be stared at in parking lots a lot & possibly stopped & questioned by cops.

Since the spool locks the wheels full time when you turn the tire inside the turn will be turning at the same speed as the outside tire & will squeel or chirp a bit. It draws attention which much of the time is unwanted.

That is one of the major drawbacks of the spool on the road.

 

That and it does have a tendency to brake axles. Will be ill handling even when you're trying to be careful with it.

 

Yeah they can break stock axles if you throw larger tires or a big motor at them. If the remainder of the truck being stock this wouldn't be as much of a concern though.

 

Stared at. Yes. Broken axle. Very possable even with stock motor.
Poor handling can be overcome with sway bars and a little right foot.
In the wet it's ok but you have to be extra carefull.
For a stock truck you would be better off going for a LSD centre.
Don't get me wrong, i love mine but for a stock truck, probably not so much.

 

Don't forget wheel bearings going out frequently. Very dangerous on wet roads too.

 

The benefits out way the risks in this case .

I have run mini spools on daily drivers with 265/70/16 and smaller with no problem other than the chirping in the parking lot . Since you seldom drive the truck you should have no real problem with the big tires and a lot of useful traction .

 

wheel bearing and ax
les huh?

 

I wouldn't... look for a limited slip but no spool. Good lugged tires would help also.

 

I used to roll with a bunch of drifters who would weld their rear diffs... even on some of their daily drivers. Lots of the guys ended up eating it during rain storms. Locked on the street is no good. Its noisy, harsh, and a mini spool is just as prone to splitting carriers as it is breaking axles. Do they not make the lunchbox locker or whatever they call them for the 9"?

 

I drive 5-6 times a year ......I get stuck a lot. I have a spool .....


I did not see if it was a 9" or Dana . A spool thats paid for on a truck that gets used on the farm should work fine .

How much are posi's selling for these days ?

 

I've got a spool in my 77 SWB it has a mildly built 390, auto, 8 inch lift, 36 inch swampers, & 4.11 gears. the two major things I notice when driving on the street are that the tires wear out twice as fast & it push's when I turn. oh and yes it chirps the tires a lot when making those turns. But on the other side of things I can't remember what "STUCK" is. LOL

 

I have a question about spools after reading this. If you have a longer wheelbase, like a Supercab longbed, are the side-effects less noticeable? I would think so as the turning radius is bigger, but thought I'd ask.

 

probably, but the difference would be pretty negligible, a supercab is only a couple feet longer than a RC. The curves in the road are still the same radius, the wheels still have to follow the same arc through them, and therefore still have to spin at different speeds.