I found a great looking 2001 Sport 4x4 but naturally, no rear locker. It has the center locking button beside the steering wheel in the rear locker button location...

I was wondering in practical uses, how does the rear locker compare to a center locker? I have a rear locker in my truck and I love it...but never experienced a "center locker".

The 4Runner will be daily driven and rarely taken off road. It will get used as my response vehicle for the Fire Dept. also, so it will have to be trail capable. I would also like the cabability to pull someone out of a ditch or mud hole if the opportunity arises...

So, that leaves me with the question...should I go with the great looking 01 Sport or hold out for a 99-00 Limited/Highlander with both the rear locker/center locker (which will be hard to find) for my application?

...If I go for the Sport (I may go tomorrow if I like what I see), I'll probably just trade in my 98 SR5 4x4 and get raped on the value of it, but oh well.

Thanks for the input guys!

Well, the 01-02's never came with a rear locker, so you won't find one with a rear locker unless someone has done some serious work to it.

Both are quite trail capable.

locking center diff is only used on trucks that have awd. otherwise in trucks with just 4hi/4lo the tcase is locked and in 2hi its unlocked.... having the truck in 4hi with the tcase unlocked just makes the truck capable of being driving on dry rodes powering both front and rear wheels (only avaliable on 99-00 limiteds or 01+) so the center diff lock doesnt help offroad, just allows these trucks to have a 4hi/4lo and not just AWD

the rear locker will def help more offroad but you wont have any capability problems with what you plan to do with the truck, it will get anywhere you need to go and pull anyone out (in 4lo) thats stuck (heck my only 22re with 33s and stock gearing could yank people buried up to their frame in mud)

if you want to locker you can do what im doing, through an autolocker in the rear (lockrite, aussie, powertrax) so youll always have it working and not have to worry about the elocker motor getting banged up, the only downside to these is driving in the snow but from what I read an autolocker with awd is actually better in the snow

just me .02, please correct me if im wrong anyone!

The center locker locks the transfer case. And on any 4runner that came before 2001 (96-2000), the transfer case is automatically locked when you shift into 4hi. So when you get a 4runner with a rear locker, you already have a center locker too, you just cant unlock the center diff. It is always either locked and in true 4wd, or just in 2wd.

The advantage to having the option to unlock the center diff (also known as 'multi-mode' 4wd, only available on '01-02) is that when you are in 4wd with the center diff unlocked, it acts as AWD. And AWD is safe for use on dry pavement, where regular 4hi (t-case locked) is not. Good for roads that may have some icy spots or something.

So to answer your question, It would have to be your opinion. What would you prefer; a rear locker, or the availability of AWD?

Of course you could always find an '01-'02 and retrofit a factory e-locker into it and have the best of both worlds.. like having your cake, and eating it too!
That's what i'll be doing this summer.


For more info, see this thread:
T-case Differences (all years of 3rd gens).. transfer case, AWD, multi-mode

As people have said, what is it that you are going to do? A rear locker will help you off road and the center locker will help you in on road situations. A truck that has a center locker is no better off road than one that does not have a center locker. However its the opposite for the rear locker.

Average Joe will find the center more useful for its AWD benefits. More trail oriented preson will want the Rear differential lock for its actual lock of the differential. 0.02

'99-'00 Limiteds are the only ones that did have the best of both worlds.

i knew someone was going to correct 4-Ripcord before i would! haha

True, but then you get the horrible automatic A/C and leather...and that's not the best on any world..
I'd rather just retrofit. So to save the OP, I opted to leave the '99-'00 limiteds part out haha.

I would rather have my rear locker than the center locking diff.

Me too!

I've got an 01 with the center diff lock. I like having the AWD function. If your driving on wet roads or partially snow covered roads it helps out. I've only had the 4runner for a litle while but i use the awd pretty often. I think a rear locker would be cool if i was a hardcore offroader, but i just like to play off road , nothing too serious. The center diff locker is more practical to me. If you will spend most of your time on road i would go with one that has the center diff locker as opposed to the rear diff locker.

Ok seriously? You dont prefer a rear locker for offroad.. Listen..


A center locker is what makes 4wd (2w drive)otherwise your in awd (1w drive).

A rear locker makes the back differential lock. This way you will have two wheels that WILL spin with center unlocked or in 2hi.
If you lock the rear diff and center you have 4wd (3w drive)

So a center locker will give you two wheels spinning (one front one back) a rear locker will give you two wheels spinning both rear

I think everybody is on the same page. I read it through again and I don't think anyone was arguing that.

I updated the thread that I made on this topic yesterday with this info (the one that 4-Ripcord linked to earlier). Here's is that updated section:

4HI Center Diff Unlocked... a.k.a. AWD or Multi-mode (if equipped): This feature is best used on wet roads or roads with patchy snow/ice when your vehicle has full traction most of the time, but may loose traction at random points on the road. This feature allows the t-case to slip when it would normally bind in standard 4WD. You may also travel up to ~80 mph in this mode and shift on-the-fly at any speed. This mode can also be used in any conditions or on any type of road surface (dry or wet), but it will use more gas so it's better to use 2HI unless you need the extra traction.

THE CENTER DIFF LOCKER DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY MORE OFF ROAD ABILITY THAN A NORMAL 4X4!
Why? To get the most traction on dirt or other surfaces that already allow the tires to slip, you would want to have the center diff locked. The trail provides the slippage, so the "diff" inside the transfer case doesn't have to. This is the same exact thing that a standard 4x4 t-case does. So..
CD Locked = 4x4 (good for off road or consistent snow/ice)
CD Unlocked = AWD (good for slippery conditions on road ..wet, patchy ice, etc..)

And the thread:
T-case Differences (all years of 3rd gens).. transfer case, AWD, multi-mode

me three and my 5spd