yeah, a front locker in 4wd in snow is SCARY.

it can be done, but personally, i stay in 2wd in the snow with my pickup (front lockrite). if it is slippery enough that the tires slip, the truck just plows straight.

locker in the rear isnt half bad in snow. and i think a rear locker helps more anyways.

front lsd is probably ok in snow, but i would be willing to bet that an open diff is still better.

with a locker upfront you need to unlock one hub to keep it in control, i also have a welded front diff in my 85 4runner

I ran a Truetrac up front and in my experience, the front end would wander. Like it would constantly shift power from one axle to other. It wasn't super dangerous, but was annoying. I'm not sure if all Truetracs or LSDs act this way, but mine did. Still, I would put the Truetrac up front before an autolocker any day.

The other problem I had with my Truetrac is that on super icy roads, where you definately want at least one unlocked axle, it would behave like a fully locked axle. Yet, in the snow, when I wanted it to lock, it never seemed to work. Than again, I wasn't really good at using the brake to make them lock up, like others have done.

The biggest problem with LSDs, IMO, is you just don't know how or when they are going to behave at any given circumstance. With or without a locker, you know the axle will either be open or will be locked and that allows you pick certain lines or tackle certain terrain with confidence or avoid the obsticle, knowing that the truck can't make it.

That said, an LSD is better than an open diff off road and they do have advantages on the street, especially in terms of drivability over an autolocker. You don't get the noise or lurching of an autolocker, for example.

If you used this kind of set up with a lockright in slippery conditions, would it keep you more balanced while driving? I notice a biggest difference in 4wheel drive in slippery conditions for me is the steering. I don't fishtail as much; it is still possible but not as easy.

My buddy has a Sami and to keep the sharp steering practical we only lock in one wheel.

I do see the purpose of keeping the front open in icy conditions. But in the last 2 snowstorms the snow has been kneen high. Getting out of the neighborhoods was tricky, but once you got to a main road you could put in 2wd. That is the way 90% of these storms are, you'll have snow in the morning then wet conditions at night. So to say that all of my driving is in slippery conditions is wrong. But for the times I want/need traction I want to have it at my disposal. Also, I can go at the ready, but it is the stopping that takes practice.

GOI

You can get used lockers and lifts pretty cheap, so why not do both?

my truck is locked f & r (lockright r, welded front) and we have had snow here in upstate new york both last year when i came home to visit for three months and this year for a coupla days. if the snow is bad enough for me to be wanting to use 4wd then i am not going fast enough to matter if the front pushes a bit. i don't use 4wd very often. some weight in the back and 2wd works fine, with some good tires (even with the flat bed!!)