Yes. It's getting down to a bone-chilling 52 at night up here in the bay area. It's tropical moisture so it's not that unpleasant. 2 days ago I taped the seams on my sunroof. Just in time. Every year I say I am getting a roll of magnetic vinyl and cutting a piece for this purpose and every year I forget.......

Okay, question time.

Had a customer stop in, she owns Aussie Lockers. Did a bit of reading, sounds like a cool, moderately chap and easy upgrade.

Any thoughts on them, or auto rear lockers in general? The reading I've done says that they are slightly tougher on tires than a true selectable, on/off type (like what the Premium T4R packages come with). With only a few thousand miles a year, mostly road, am I trashing these new tires in short order, for little gain?

Lastly, would these be more beneficial overall than doing locking hubs up front?

Plainly I've been watching too much Matts Offroad recovery...

Also! Just got these bad boys in, they look great!

Hopefully they perform even better....

One kinda discomforting thing though.

As a business owner myself, I'm cognizant of the myriad of lifestyles, religions, political stances, etc, out there in the world, and I am more than happy to respect that.

So I never, ever allow my life choices, to bleed into my professional life, stick to the task at hand, treat everyone with fairness and respect, pretty simple.

There's nothing on the JBA website indicating this, but man, the box was loaded up with far right Christian prosthelytizing propaganda, and that's really unfortunate, as he makes 4x4 parts, not bibles.

Pray to who whatever you want, but on Monday when you show up for work, remember, lot of you customers don't share your views and didn't ask about them either.

I don't buy from Amazon either, preferring to support small, independent businesses. This is along the same lines, just wish I'd known....

Also found a local 4x4 org that does dirt road rallies and such, since we have no legit off road options within a couple hours drive, this sounds like a good next option, and a chance to learn from others.

Spring can't come soon enough!

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There are a number of 'lunchbox' lockers that you can choose from. They all have the same ratcheting effect while 'slipping' so just be aware of that effect. Good for traction in some cases, but the full-lock effect in snow on the street can create some surprises. Basically, it always drives the slowest moving wheel out of the differential. Often, they are used in the front with something more 'street friendly' in the rear, since the rear is always in use and you can drive around in 2WD with no downsides to a ratcheting/lunchbox locker in the front. They will not wear your tires any more than an open diff unless you go around spinning your tires all the time.

Locking hubs just disconnects the wheel from the CV axles up front. They don't aid traction in any way. They are needed on 'old-school' axles to keep the front driveline from spinning and reduce wear when driving in 2WD. The ADD system already on your truck does some of that same function in a different way, so they don't get you much unless you want a way to stop the front CVs from spinning while you are in 2WD. Oh, and if you want to get out every time you want to use 4WD if the hubs are unlocked. (you can always go in/out of 4WD, but if you installed the locking hubs, you want to use them, right?)

-Charlie

Thanks Charlie, bear with me as I process this...

I heard back from an unexpected source, a customer of mine who's an offroad fabricator in CA.

He kinda talked me off the Aussie Lockers ledge, since it does impact daily driver duties notably via noise in turns and more tire rotations. He said if I really wanted the capability, get the selectable type. It helps to hear someone else say it other than inside my head.

I appreciate that, and since that's a lot of $ and I have other fish to fry, thinking I'll leave it be for now.

Now you're making me think the same about locking front hubs.

I've had a few older Yota's in my past with locker hubs, and while I never pushed them hard enough to appreciate their contributions, I did like the "shit's getting serious now" aspect of getting out and interacting with them.

I'm looking to increase the capabilities as much as I can, (for fun and wallet thinning mostly) without adding in stuff that makes the truck act weird when it's getting most of it's use.

I am looking for more off road stuff though. and my GF just said she's excited to come along, so we'll see where I end up by the end of this coming summer.

Again, appreciate the insightful responses!

I'll be more clear on the locking hubs: Your current truck already has 'locked' hubs.

The only way for 4WD to work is if the hubs are locked. If they are unlocked, you are 2WD even if the shifter is in 4WD.

There are a few upsides to locking hubs:
- Less wear on front drive components in 2WD (the stock front end lasts hundreds of thousands of miles as is...)
- Ability to drive in 2WD with broken front CVs
- You can delete the ADD system to eliminate some electronics and a possible failure point (though the locking hubs can also fail...).

Downsides? More expensive, weaker CVs, fewer CV options, more manual operation to engage 4WD

-Charlie

Ohhh, got it, okay, yep, I'm in good shape for now.

Purely conversational, but I've been having fun with Matts Offroad videos, picking up some interesting driving tips etc too.

But I just learned about portals, and went to look up the 74Weld ones that they just put on Jefe's Bronco?

I damn near crapped my pants.

$20K for a set up?

Realizing how rarified the air gets once you go deeper on this activity....

To be fair though, their UCA's for slightly newer 4Runners, are $1350 rather than the $500 and change that my JBA's were.

But they sure did neat stuff.