Someone explain mini-spool lockers to me. I am considering locking the rear and maybe the front, but this is a new area for me. Thanks.

A spool replaces the differential gears in your axle and effectively locks the left and right axle shafts together. This means that both wheels on that axle are locked together all the time. This is great for offroad because you get better traction and can keep going when you have 1 tire in the air. the other keeps turning. This is bad for on road use because both wheels turn at the same speed. This makes turning difficult and drastically increases wear on the axleshafts when trying to turn on road...

A spool replaces the entire carrier assembly. A mini-spool uses the original carrier, but replaces all the spider and side gears. A spool is stronger. A mini-spool gives the same performance, but is enherantly weaker because it uses the stock carrier. Some can take the stress, some can't.

My Sami is going to spend its life on the road--mainly. When the snow flies, I want to be able to GO. Any recommendations for diffs? Limited slip, ARB's, or ?

actualy in the snow a posi rear will want to slide a LOT more, because the locker will notice a reduced amount of traction on both wheels from start to stop, lockers are really good off road, however there are some places in the snow they will help, but i would rather hvae the rear end open in ON ROAD snow driveing, unlsee you are a really good drifter. so i would say ARB all the way, then you can chose when to lockit up or leave it open, that is what is going into mine, soon as the bank gives me the loan i am boing BIO DESIL, have a 5' sus lift for the side kick "i am lowering the diffs" and going to run 33" tires and arb front and rear Maby run 2 transfercases, . I was looking at buying a house the loan officer said you need more credit, get a loan for somthing and pay it off, i said hummm well the kick gets to be a beast.

but with the desil motor, 1.9 turbo desil' i will have intercooled ill be running 125 HP and 150 LB torque, and 35+ MPG or so.  after the lift and tires.