welded mine and its the only reason i go places imo if your on the cheep and can weld its a good option but prefer to spend more on an arb or such i just didnt have the funds and my truck is a weekend toy that only needs to drive to/from the trails dats it so a little welded/spooled action is no big deal imo its money i can spend on big tyers or a winch or bar work what ever for me its grate i think ive got 2 other cars for dureing the week

by the way ive never had anything except an open and a welded and for me the welded is like light and day in terms of traction in mud and in rocks where you pick up a wheel it just pushes over the hump a lot on my wheelin is in 2x4 now vs 4x4 with open so seem a good inprovment for the 3 hours to pull, clean, tig weld, assembl it so almost free and its let me 2x4 most of the places i had to 4x4 so i get stuck a lot less and im not revving the ass aout of the truck to make it climb