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While I don't agree 100% with what is below, felt it was a very well written post by Jimbob on CJ-8.com. It provides a good insight to what the different type of lockers do and which ones should be used where. Made it part of my web page to have for future reference.

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Also consider rockcrawling when you may get one wheel lifted or in a position where it has very little weight on it (hence little traction) thats when a locker comes into play over a limited slip.

Most people assume they have to have a locker. Honestly 9 out of 10 Jeep owners dont (this includes myself!) if you find yoursel going to alot of events and doing true offroading where it isnt a daily driver by all means get locked.

However, even without a locker most of us who should even have a Jeep (i.e. wander off pavement a couple times a week or more) should have some traction beyond the open differential as there is nothing more annoying than sitting in mud, snow, or other crap watching one on the front spin, and one wheel in the back spin (have had to dig myself out of this situation a few times in my YJ, not fun with a trifold).

Moving onto stage two, which after reading all the responses you will get I will assume you will decide I WANT A TRACTION DEVICE!

You have options, first decide what you need and what you want to spend. Ask yourself the following questions.

1. How much time do I drive on the road
2. Do I drive my Jeep in the winter (remember you are considering snow/sleet/ice and everything in between)
3. How much money do I want to spend
4. Do I want to put any more money in the axles I have
5. How much do I offroad and what kind of offroading

These questions along with many others will help you decide what you need/want. If you have a D44 you have alot of choices, if you have an AMC 20 you have less choices (no detroit trutrac). A few scenarios

1. Jim drives his CJ as a second vehicle onroad in the summers and offroad on weekends. Jim spends alot of time in traffic. Jim does not rockcrawl frequently.

Jim (I wonder who that is) would be well served by a high bias limited slip front and rear (such as a detroit trutrac). Jim might be able to compromise and get a powertrax for the rear as it is a fairly soft locker design

2. Jill drives her CJ to the trail and back on weekends and does moderate rockcrawling. Jill does not drive her CJ in the winter.

Jill is a canidate for a full locker, detroit in the rear and with hubs possibly one in the front. However a full locker is not the most pleasant thing to drive in many situation and a manual locker (or twinstick) or LSD might be best for the front.

3. Rick drives his CJ everyday in snow, sleet, ice and other winter weather. He offroads occasionally.

IMHO Rick would be best served by manual lockers and open differentials, or a limited slip in the rear at best. His need for 4wd onroad at highway speeds would make any front traction device fickle at best.

Ok I have been having a little fun with these scenarios but it is something to think about. This said here are some of your choices.

Detroit Locker - Automatic locker, locks wheel 50/50. Can produce some undesirable side effects such as wheel chirping, funny steering, unstability on slick surfaces. LSD (Preferably Trutrac or Torsen gear type)- Provides traction to both wheels but at a torque split as long as both wheels have traction. The design and bias will determine the traction ratios between the wheels that will allow it to function. For example 3.1 one wheel can have up to 3 times the traction of the other and torque slitting will occur. Basically as said above if you get a wheel in the air......... A nice twist on this is that you can buy a detroit electrac which is essentially a trutrac with a locking capability. The basic design is tough but it does add alot of complexity to the situation, these are only available in D44 and D60 applications currently.

Lunchbox- Quick and easy to install, essentially a locker with most designs being somewhat less harsh than a full detroit. Manufacturers claim anywhere from no loss in drivability to some loss in drivability. Usually a good choice for the frontend. Ok choice for the rear. Advantages include cheap, easy to install and replace. Manual Locker- ARB, Ox etc. Open differentials that can be locked. Requires a driver to anticipate when the locker will be needed, as if you lock it after you get "stuck" it may already be to late. Add alot of complexity to a vehicle. Honestly I have thought of this for the rear (AMC 20) just because of the lack of a good gear driven LSD.