Zybane, Don't give up on the SD yet. I've asked pretty much the same question on this forum and received zero response. I understand your need for the lockers front and rear. I have ARB air lockers on my 05 Dodge diesel and once you have them you never want to be without them. I don't do any extreme off roading but living in SW Colorado you need them. I used my front and rear lockers three time just this weekend. Those who say you don't need them have never driven in conditions like ours.
I ordered a 17 Super Duty and I will be getting a front elocker to match the rear as soon as its available. I can't even get an answer from Dana on whether or not the front diff has changed for 17 but rest assured someone will offer a locker for this front end. I'm sure the Eaton elocker for the 2016 will fit and work but I don't want to do it until I get the green light from the experts. Also, I have a Fab Fours premium winch bumper with a Warn 16.5 winch going on mine. I don't have adaptive cruise so I won't have to worry about it but I'm sure Fab Fours would have engineered their bumper to accomodate the function of Adaptive Cruise. They are the leaders in design as far as I'm concerned.
I understand your love for the Power Wagon and if they made one with the Cummins diesel option, I wouldn't even be on this forum....but they don't. I don't know if you've ever owned a diesel or not but once you have one you'll never go back to a gasser, especially if you tow. If you don't tow or need the power then indeed you should just go for the Power Wagon.

 

There are other places besides where you live that see a lot of snowfall. I'd say I live in one of them with a yearly average of over 100". I've never needed a front or rear locker, just plain 4x4 with good snow tires is fine...even for getting through deep snow.

If the snow is so deep you need front and rear lockers engaged, you should be traveling by snowmobile, not pickup truck.

In my opinion, after years of actual off-road driving as well as tons of snowy conditions driving...if you get stuck in snow in 4x4...engaging a front and or rear locker is probably not going to help that much. When traction is equal under left and right wheels, lockers are pretty much useless. They are useful when a wheel is in the air or traction is greater on one side or the other.

 

Troverman, I understand what you're saying. It's not like I am driving constantly in super deep snow but I have to negotiate steep drives as well and when I get stuck in 4wd I first activate the rear locker and many times this is all I need but I can't tell you how many times this hasn't worked. So then I just activate the front locker and it gives me that little extra that gets me moving again which then I turn of the front locker to maintain steering. This has happened many times with my loaded toy hauler as well just menuvering it in a campsite that may have some mud. I'll take my front locker, thank you. It saves me multiple time per year from winching out of some mud or speading sand on slick snowpack. Bring your rig to where I live and we'll see how far you get up my driveway and when you do get stuck I hope you have a winch to get you out.

 

I think you should try your new 2017 and see how the traction control does. I live north, constantly negotiate mountains, hilly drives, logging roads ect. It really does work well in 4*4 with the rear locker. You literally have to lock out traction control to have ANY fun, as its braking all four wheels separately, to maximize traction.

 

I'm just saying that if you have pretty even traction under each wheel, lockers don't really help because an open diff won't spin much anyway unless you goose it. For example...if you are on all ice in 4x4 high and get stuck...engaging front and rear lockers will not get you unstuck!

So maybe it helps a little, certainly won't hurt...although a front locker can be pretty hard on the front axle.

I'm disappointed you cannot get a locker on a dually - my previous four Super Duty trucks have all had the selectable rear locker. This new truck only has a limited slip. Better than nothing, not as good as the full locker.

With the rear end locked, 4x4 engaged...the front traction control will do a pretty good job of moving the torque to the wheel with more traction. Again, not as good as a locker, but still working pretty well.

I'd take your driveway challenge, but probably do it in my old Range Rover Classic!

 

mhoefer, I'm actually going to be forced to try it without the front locker until Eaton verify's their application so I'll get some real world testing before I actually commit. I do run studded tires in the winter as well. Every little bit adds up in extreme situations. It has not been uncommon that I have to negotiate 18 inches of snow. It may be hard to tell whether or not just the traction control will help unless I actually have the front locker to activate when my truck does come to a hault.

 

Then I'll be a gentleman and winch you out if the old Range Rover can't make it

 

Good info! I've had a Wrangler Rubicon and the Power Wagon now, front locker in addition to the rear is a huge help under a myriad of circumstances. Having all four wheels clawing away at the surface cannot be beat.

So I just got an email from ARB saying that their air locker for previous gen with the Dana 60 front 35 spline will also work on the 2017+. So great news there.

Also found out there is a company that makes a SD winch bumper with a bracket for the adaptive cruise.

The only thing left then capability wise versus my Power Wagon would be the disconnecting sway-bar. Plus that heavy diesel engine up front.

One thing I wouldn't be looking forward to though is that DEF regen cycle, driving at highway distances for certain speeds and duration's annoyance.

 

Thanks! The old Range Rover has had a few mods along the way to help it, though!

 

How bad does it leak oil? Lol

 

Surprisingly, not a drop. I've had several Rovers over the years, and some have definitely had some weepage, but this one was always bone dry underneath.