I have never had any problems without any additives. We started adding the anti jell the past couple winters just for the hell of it to prevent it from ever happening.

 

Actuly i would LOVE a locking diff in the winter. my old daily driver 4x4 explorer had a very tight limited slip diff in it and i would easily powerslide around corners..ect the best part was i would know what the truck would do instantly. i HATE open diffs they suck in the summer and moreso suck in the winter causing more spinning then is needed to get going.

i have a V10 so the gas is great haha i'm not sure on dzl, but from what i understand its not as big of a issue as it is in the north like fairbanks or the slope.

 

Not sure there is a LS that will hold up with a PSD under the hood. I know of one aftermarket gear-type that had a short life in an F250 - it was replaced with a Detroit locker and not a single regret since. My Ex will get one ASAP - open diffs (and factory LS's) suck. I think many of the common auto-locker complaints are muffled by the weight and long wheelbase of the Ex.

In the OP's situation, he likely could have driven out in 2wd with a locker! The only time I find a locked rear is uncomfortable in winter is off-camber situations in 2wd... You quickly lean to change your driving habits to accomodate the other 'quirks'.

4 low has no more traction than 4 high! Where does this myth come from??

 

More traction in 4 Low? That's funny, never heard that one. I think most people get in trouble in mud because they think they need more wheel speed than vehicle speed, so many different types of mud and every rig will be different. Low range just brings the torque into a more usable range for slow speed maneuvers. With my 37" tires I do have to apply some throttle for the transmission to get me moving against large obstacles and low range gets me moving more easily at slower speeds. Makes me wish I had at least 4:10s though most other times I wish I had 3:54s.

I had a Detroit in a Jeep, spool in another. Both also had Detroits in front but the only times I needed the front to be locked was either in deep mud or when I was wheeling with a club. But other folks not familiar with a real 4x4 just couldn't handle driving with a rear locker. The ratcheting on dry pavement from Detroits was intense even with the 103.4" wheelbase of Scramblers. I loved the spool except during turns on dry pavement, tons of fun in snow.

I am curious how much a heavy truck will rock side to side when accelerating with the locker grabbing and letting go. I've read some guys hate lockers for towing but others don't mind. Sled pullers use ARB and I need the strongest locker I can get. I've seen broken Detroit Lockers of various models. I just don't like the air line maintenance and having to have a compressor with ARB, too many issues with the forks on Ox Lockers.

Another thing with a mechanical locker is that when you are rock crawling you have to wait until a tire slips just enough before you have traction and that can shift the weight of the vehicle from the rocking as one tire on each end front or back locks and releases. Can get you into a mess but still way better than being open, just have to be more liberal with the throttle to get the differentials to lock.

I wish more trucks came with true OEM 4 wheel drive options. The electric lockers in the rear of late model Chevy trucks are decent for a factory locker. Ford limited slips burn up so quickly and are almost as expensive as a locker. A limited slip will not last behind a high torque diesel. My tires wouldn't be so chewed up if I'd gotten lockers sooner. I think a selectable on the front is a necessity for hard core off roading. If you come up on a switchback on a tight trail that drops off a few hundred feet on one side and a cliff face on the other you can't get out to unlock the hubs for that tight turn while climbing slippery boulders. But I know of very few Ford trucks that rock crawl.

I've had fuel freeze a few times in Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming. I've been told the fuel in Haines is a blended mix of #1 and #2, not really good winter fuel. I'm told in Fairbanks they don't even get straight #2 in the summer! I was advised that to get good diesel one must drive about an hour and a half to get #1 in Canada. Having so little clearance on the top side of the tank and not wanting to put a hole in the side, I'm giving up on a Hot Fox, I'll just run heated lines on the return side as well to help heat the tank. Fuel is a dollar more per gallon up there than in WY.

 

4WD LOW- Not better traction just more controllable torque, it has worked for me.