lock outs vs. automatic hubs
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Junior User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 50
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lock outs vs. automatic hubs
My 1996 powerstroke has the independent suspension with automatic hubs. I would like to put lock outs on it but I was wondering which is better and how hard are the lock outs to put on.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,305
Likes: 0
From: Wisconsin
id say manual 100% i just like the fact that either there locked or there not. a simple turn of the hub and you dont have to sit there and wiat for them auto hubs to get locked in and dont really have to worry about electronics in the autos going bad.
Just my 2 cents
Mitch
Just my 2 cents
Mitch
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,756
Likes: 38
From: Nampa, ID
I have a '97 with manual hubs. Much better on the fuel mileage. Mine were already on (their Warn manual hubs) when I bought the truck.
There haven't been many situations where I got caught and had to lock in the hubs after the situation went from bad to worse, requiring locked hubs.
If I'm in an area and I expect road conditions to worsen to the point of needing 4WD, I lock in the hubs prior to getting there. Generally, any off-roading area that I'm not familiar with is enough reason for me to lock the hubs before going off-road. If I get into a nasty situation, I pull the lever and I'm in 4WD. If I don't need 4WD, no problem.
I'd much rather need 4WD and be dry and comfy inside the truck, than have to get out into whatever I got stuck in, lock the hubs, get back in the truck, THEN pull the lever, and continue (hopefully) on my way.
There haven't been many situations where I got caught and had to lock in the hubs after the situation went from bad to worse, requiring locked hubs.
If I'm in an area and I expect road conditions to worsen to the point of needing 4WD, I lock in the hubs prior to getting there. Generally, any off-roading area that I'm not familiar with is enough reason for me to lock the hubs before going off-road. If I get into a nasty situation, I pull the lever and I'm in 4WD. If I don't need 4WD, no problem.
I'd much rather need 4WD and be dry and comfy inside the truck, than have to get out into whatever I got stuck in, lock the hubs, get back in the truck, THEN pull the lever, and continue (hopefully) on my way.
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,658
Likes: 0
From: Ellensburg, Washington
Man hubs son! Autos are problems in a case. Ford used some type of molded plastic rings in the autos that go out almost 9 times outta ten. Its better to have the mans cause you know when you engage it that its gonna happen, where as the autos can be a toss up if they're gonna work or if they're gonna puke out. Irregardless, Warn is the best way to go. Some guys go with the premium man hubs, I went with the Warn quarter turns. I like them alot more then the premiums.
Cowboy Steve
Cowboy Steve
Senior User
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 204
Likes: 0
From: U.P of Michigan
Had Warn manuals on my 96 f350 for 5 years without any trouble at all. Only thing I don't like about manuals is in the winter I need 4wd quite often and just end up leaving them locked so the front end is always spinning. For that reason I wanted auto's but only if they would be reliable which I always heard they weren't.
