So, can I get new auto-locking hubs?

Sure call St. Charles. You might as well put a call into the loan officer at your bank.

Someone must make after market auto-hubs.

No. Why would they when they can sell the more simple working, stronger and more reliable manuals.

Will they be more expensive than their weight in gold?

Yes. Gold will seem cheap in comparison.

Just get the manuals. They can be left in 4x4 mode for as long as you want. At that point it is relatively like SOTF. It is similar to not backing up with autos after you shift back to 2wd.

In fact, we live in the same general climatological region. I have never run auto hubs on anything I own and life is just fine. Just lock them as needed. Trust me, E. Wa winters are not that bad for very long.

Good luck,
Michael