My F250 turned F350 (one ton DRW) has a traction problem, or better yet I have a problem of going into places I shouldn't. It gets driven 5 miles on dirt/mud/sand for every mile on pavement. I average about 4000 miles a year on the truck. I have some super aggresive mud treads on her but it isn't enough. I have looked into lockers and they are EXPENSIVE! In addition I have the install cost. I can set up a set of gears for a dirt track car but I don't rely (is that spelled right?) on it to get me and tha family home either. I'm just a little too nervous to do my farm truck. I have found a Lockright Locker Ebay ad that you don't have to reset everything. Its not as bad as say a Detroit but still $350. I've Lincoln locked many dirttrack cars. I feel like it would be ok for my truck since it spends so much time off road. It has 8 lug wheels with huge studs, the axles are about 2", its just beefy. The question I geuss is will I be able to tow. I pull a 16' gooseneck with my tractor on it. Total weight is about 10000. I kinda wonder what will happen if I'm turning the truck around in the pasture with all the weight on it. Will it hold? Am I REALLY asking for trouble? What would you really do, not what should I do? If all else fails I'll support Visa a little more and go with the Lockright.

 

on a one ton rear (dana 70 or sterling 10.25) a welded rear should hold up fine. i would suggest asking this in the offroad forum as many of the guys there are running welded rear diffs and put them through a lot more abuse then it sounds like you would.

FORDS_FORLIFE

 

Thanks FFL. It is the Sterling 10.25.

 

welded spider gears will hold up for a long time, but if it's not done right, they'll break.

As long as you use marking compound and a dial gauge indicator to set the backlash, you should be fine doing it on your own.

If unsure about how to weld the spider gears, or install the locker you're better of paying to get it done.

 

Moved to the appropriate forum.

I don't think I'd lincoln lock that. You wouldn't be able to turn it very much at all (probably not a full revolution of the steering wheel) on dry pavement without putting a lot of stress on stuff. Baiscally, the only way you'd be able to turn it is to have the inside wheel spin and on dry pavement with a heavy truck that's tough (lots of traction).

On dirt and off road it would work alright but IMO it's still kinda tough. I've got the same thing in my truck...it's not lincoln locked but it's got a selectable one.

If all you're looking to do is get more traction, put a limited slip diff in it. Just use a factory version for a 10.25 (might get it off ebay). It shouldn't be that much money and would allow you to have a much easier time turning.