• Notice for iPhone users: DO NOT use the image size reduction option when uploading photos to the forum. This causes portrait images to post as landscape. We have added a warning to the image insert pop-up as well.

AMC 20 traction device options

BDCCLARK

BDCCLARK

Active member
Lifetime Member
City
gravois mills
State
MO
I'm back in the game. I just got my 81 home. It has ARB air lockers in both axles. My axles are 82 wide track axles. Somewhere in transit, someone decided they needed my ARB copressor, wiring, and all the switches and hardware worse than me.

To be clear, I now have two ARB lockers for sale. One for a dana 30 and the other for an amc 20.

I am curious what guys are running in their amc 20s for traction devices. I'm a detroit locker kind of guy typically, but I'm not really sure I'll keep the stock axles under this jeep for that long so budget is a contending variant here.

I have one piece axles in the 20 if that matters at all.

Chris
 
I’d think that a new harness and switches from ARB, would be the cheapest option here. Plus, ARBs are a great product, I have them in my Scrambler.
 
John N said:
I’d think that a new harness and switches from ARB, would be the cheapest option here. Plus, ARBs are a great product, I have them in my Scrambler.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the input. I will be selling mine.

Chris
 
BDCCLARK said:
I'm back in the game. I just got my 81 home. It has ARB air lockers in both axles. My axles are 82 wide track axles. Somewhere in transit, someone decided they needed my ARB copressor, wiring, and all the switches and hardware worse than me.

To be clear, I now have two ARB lockers for sale. One for a dana 30 and the other for an amc 20.

I am curious what guys are running in their amc 20s for traction devices. I'm a detroit locker kind of guy typically, but I'm not really sure I'll keep the stock axles under this jeep for that long so budget is a contending variant here.

I have one piece axles in the 20 if that matters at all.

Chris
Click to expand...
If you are offering them for sale here... you need to list a price/location/shipping costs.

cb
 
I like Detroits and TrueTracs, but they're both expensive.

I don't have any experience with "lunchbox" lockers, but I'd imagine they're all pretty much the same.

In your shoes, I'd probably look around for a used Detroit locker. I found mine on JeepForum.com for about half the price of a new one, and it was in great shape.

Good luck!
 
I’ve had a Lock Right in my AMC 20 for 25 - 30 years and works well. Wish I had one in the front when I was at the National. Didn’t need it in Moab, but would have been real nice in Arkansas.
 
You road driving this? In rain/snow/ice? The ARBs are your best option if so. I had full detroits F/R in mine and loved them offroad (once I had twin sticks), I had the "Detroit moment" in a light snow on the way to EJS coming onto the highway on an on-ramp. The locker "popped" and sent me into a fishtail, kicking the rear end out hard.

I had ARBs installed shortly after I got back. Any automatic locker (non-selectable) has the potential to "ratchet" in low-traction situations and cause you to possibly lose control.

I would never go backwards from ARBs if I had them already installed.
 
Thanks guys for all the good input. I'm gonna see what's really there and what's all gone and then decide. I might end up leaving the 20 and 30 alone for now and put the money in to stronger axles next year. We'll see. Thanks again. for all the input.

Chris
 
STSFCTN said:
Any thoughts or experiences with this locker? PowerTrax
Click to expand...
I don't personally. I know plenty of people that have successfully. I've decided to leave these axles as they are for now. My big picture goal is a chassis cab 14 in the back and a cut down to spring perch fit width chevy 60 in the front.

Chris
 
Those ARBs would be hard to beat in your current setup. Your future plan with tons gives you some options. Detroits are cheaper (than selectable lockers) and very strong. But I personally wouldn't run one in the rear on something that is street driven. I have a friend with a scout on a chevy 60/14 bolt with an ARB rear and OX front. Both have been great for him.

In your shoes, I would run selectable lockers front and rear. If you want a detroit, put it in the front. That way street driving isn't impacted. With either a detroit or selectable locker you will also need to look at hydraulic assist steering.

I run pneumatically actuated OX lockers in my 8 with a dana 44 front and 60 rear. I did have one seal go bad before our Rubicon trip. Popped the cover off, removed a bolt and E clip. Replaced the seal, put the bolt and E clip in. Reassembled and we were back in business. I also have one of their "drive away locks" that will engage the locker full time in the event of a failed air system.
 
sdsupilot said:
Those ARBs would be hard to beat in your current setup. Your future plan with tons gives you some options. Detroits are cheaper (than selectable lockers) and very strong. But I personally wouldn't run one in the rear on something that is street driven. I have a friend with a scout on a chevy 60/14 bolt with an ARB rear and OX front. Both have been great for him.

In your shoes, I would run selectable lockers front and rear. If you want a detroit, put it in the front. That way street driving isn't impacted. With either a detroit or selectable locker you will also need to look at hydraulic assist steering.

I run pneumatically actuated OX lockers in my 8 with a dana 44 front and 60 rear. I did have one seal go bad before our Rubicon trip. Popped the cover off, removed a bolt and E clip. Replaced the seal, put the bolt and E clip in. Reassembled and we were back in business. I also have one of their "drive away locks" that will engage the locker full time in the event of a failed air system.
Click to expand...
thank you

chris
 
I have a Dana 60/44 axle combo with Detroit's in both axles (4.88) and my 8 was my daily driver for almost 8-months last year and I didn't have any banging problems or anything. On the trail, the front axle rarely had any issues with steering stiffness and I simply let off the gas for a second and that let it steer. I think it depends on how you drive it. I like the fact that I don't have to listen to a compressor running and the constant switching on/off with the air locker toggle switches. If I had to do it again, I would still do the Detroits. Maybe it's who sets them up? My were done by Jason Bunch at Tri-County gear in Pomona, California.
 
Looks like PowerTrax has two different types of lockers. One is basically quiet and used for daily driving and more expensive. Looking at the videos online, even though it looks like a pain, it is something I can install without any special tools. I would like to drive it year round and think I will go this route.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top