Well, with all this snow we just got, me, my wife, and our 2 year old niece decided to go out in the field and just put around and enjoy the scenery as usual. The kid loves to see the cows and pond. I may be turning her into a country girl, but eh, nothing wrong with that :-)

So, it was very, very slick. About 6-8 inches of snow, and it was more slick than anytime it had rained out there. But, that wasn't much of a problem. I live in east Tennessee, which is known to be 'hilly'. So, long story short:

We were on the way back to the gate to go back to the house. There was a hole in the field that was completely covered with snow. It's about a 2.5-3 foot deep hole, and just big enough around to completely sink my whole tire into it. As soon as we hit it, I knew I was screwed. I couldn't budge an inch forward or backward. My front bumper was on the ground, and my door wouldn't open all the way.

Thank god my wife's sister is a little ho with a different boyfriend all the time. (or every 2 weeks). This one happened to have a Dodge 2500 with some decent mud tires and a flat bed loaded down with farm gates. He came and got me out the next day. Yes, it was quite a feat even for that heavy truck with probably 1500-2000 pounds of steel on the flat bed. Took about 6 good tugs. I told him to just jerk me out.

My main thing of the story is, I noticed the only 2 tires that would turn while I was stuck there in 4x4 was the tire in the hole (driver front) and the other slickest tire (passenger rear). Now, normally in 2x4, it'll swap between the driver and passenger rear, or kick both in on occasion, but not this time. I can get both rears to spin if I throw it in 3rd (hi 2wd) and can do some donuts, but otherwise, it's a one legged bandit.

Now, I know this is normal, but it really irks me. The only other time I've been stuck was on a road. There was a 12 foot drop next to railroad tracks, it was dark, I didn't know the road, and I thought two vehicles could go over the tracks at once. The only 2 tires that would spin were the 2 with the least traction in this situation.

I guess I'm just venting. So... come income taxes, I already was planning on some TrXus tires or something like them, and now... I want to have all 4 tires spinning when needed. Any recommendations on brands, etc?

BTW, the truck is fine, no steering components bent or anything. Thank god this guy is country and didn't mind to come pull me out. Was a really cool guy with a nice truck. I knew it'd take a truck with a lot of weight, and he had just the recipe for that.

The tires I'll be getting will still be 31x10.50's. I know, sissy talk to a lot of you guys, but I don't want to be geared any higher than I am with my 3.50 9" rear. So, 31x10.50's it is. Not to mention, I have the TTB D44 front end, so 31" tires seem to keep it invincible. So, I'm hoping that with some much better tires (mine are 100% street tires) and all 4 tires spinning, my truck can "be all that it can be".

 

Selectable lockers (ARB of E cted) since you have the snow, or a Detroit in the back and selectable in the front. It can be a pain at times driving with the front locked.

 

Tires are not going to help you get them all spinning. Like the other poster said, you will need a locking mechanism in the front and rear diffs, and they are not cheap. A stock limited slip in that situation would be a joke, don't let anyone tell you a stock limited slip would have pulled you out.

 

decent tires and a locker in the rear would help greatly for off roading.

 

My personal opinion is actualy a good limited slip in the rear with a selectable locker up front. The reason why I say that is the limited slip will help deliver great traction year round, even when you dont need 4.

And in my experiance, trxus tires aren't worth the price. I'd personally go for the new Slim Line Swampers. Same basic tread pattern as boggers, but in smaller sizes.

 

what he said.....^^^^^^

 

I meant I wanted some better tires, and I want to have some selectable lockers or something so I can make them all spin when needed. Mis-communication :-) And yeah, the hole I was in... tires and and lockers would have still left me stuck.

I'll look into those.

 

Another thing I want to bring up to make sure we are on the same page, don't confuse the factory limited slip with a manual selectable locker. The factory system are just clutches with springs, that put drag on the spider gears and "limit" the slip, but they do still slip. The expensive locker rears really do lock the wheels together when you flip the switch.

 

are all lockers switch opperated? i did find some for around 200 bones, but i was concerned they were all the time lockers, i imagine that would just be a PITA.

 

those 200 dollar ones are lockers that go in place of the spider gears.you remove your spider gears and install these little lockers.and yes any locker can be a pain in slippery or wet conditions.my limited slip in my 81 is a pain in slippery conditions.but cool when you light the tires up on dry pavement.2 black burnouts.LOL

 

I have had some of the drop in lockers. I have one in my front Dana 60 and it has been pretty good. I had one in my rear Dana 35 (not in the same vehicle) and it went out on me, so I am a little leery of them. It was also out of warranty.

Most selectable lockers are either air, cable, or electrically operated. A full time locker, while the most dependable, takes getting used to and chews up tires quicker.