Well I helped my son put a Aussie(lunch box) locker in his 2 wd 4.9L Manual long bed pick up. It took about 2 hour with just the rear of the truck up on jack stands. (Would have been much easier if we had a lift.) It was really pretty straight forward, not to hard, just make sure to read the instruction completely perhaps the night before hand(which I did). I did buy new thrust washers from the dealer but could not use them as the new washer were thicker than the original ones and would not allow the pinion shaft to be inserted. I used the original ones which were still in great shape. (wanted to be prepared)
You have to make a few measurements so have a pair of dial calibers on hand. (Make sure you use the minimal amount of grease when assembling.)
Anyways, here is what I can tell you after he has been driving the truck for 2 month in mixed weather(snow, ice, rain typical Michigan weather).
Traction is better however, try not to over spin the tires as it will walk on you just like a Limited slip will on ice/snow. When one wheel has traction, your off and a way again (don't over spin or you'll walk). Rain no issue unless you try to spin. Braking on snow is interesting. If one real wheel stops turning the other is forced to stop as well or the wheel that has tried to stop is forced to roll (no tire can turn slower then the diff housing) Cornering slow like thru a subdivision with yield signs (not having to come to a stop) It's best that you either coast thru the corner with the clutch pushed in or power thru slightly. Taking it slowly with the clutch out sometimes makes the truck buck a bit due to the additional backlash in the locker.(this has to do with the cam gears I'm sure) One tire can turn faster then the other just that no tire can turn slower then the diff housing. I think it is locking and unlocking as the pinion shaft is forcing the cam gears against the driven gears then releasing when after it catches up then locks again as the axles try to overrun) and I think it would not be as noticeable with an automatic but with a stick and in 1st or second the drive line is fairly ridgid. However if you are slightly powering thru it dosen't happen as the inner wheel is driving and the outer wheel is rooling faster than the driven wheel. We learn to push the clutch in an coast no big deal.
Highway speeds, city traffic no issues.
After 2 month my son says he would not drive it without the locker. Most of the friends he hangs with live on dirt roads and he was constantly getting stuck in small pot hole or dips after stopping, most of the times one wheel would have traction but as you know with a open diff the tire without traction spins.(really embarrassing to have his friends push him out). We have had snow falls of up to 8" after the install and he goes pretty much everywhere he needs to.
We live on a hill and only once since the install did he have to make more than one attempt to get up. Before he parked at the bottom and walked up.
All in All if you take your time and use common sense driving with a locker you'll have no problems , just experiment a little and you'll find the do's and don't s.

And this is his daily driver. I have driven it as well and it's more fun then scary as other people have commented on. I have not had any issue with parking lots either, just push the clutch in and out a little and no worries.

Now that the muddy season is upon us he is ready for the two track and fishing & camping.

Oh by-the-way the ratcheting or clicking sound is barely noticeable and only when the radio is off, window down and making a sharp turn in a parking lot.

 

Interesting point of view, and a good article. We hear from many how dangerous a locker in the back can be on slippery surface, (which I do not agree with, I drive and tow with a spool).
Guess it boils down to driving style. If you know what the characteristics if a locker can be, we can find that they are very drivable on the street.
Thanks for the read.