Spartan Locker on 4th Gen, Opinions?
Like it says I'm gonna be purchasing a locker tonight and I'm leaning towards the Spartan, I just don't see much on 4th gens using automatic/lunchbox lockers. Or detroit,lockrite,lokka,aussie,yukon,truetrac...and financially the ARB is out of the question.
So if anyone has any personal experience with on or another I would apppreciate it.

I had one (Aussie) on my first generation 4Runner. I didn't love it. The on-road manners were poor. Every time you go to turn sharp under even moderate power the locker engages. Slightly annoying in parking lots, super annoying on curvy mountain roads. I wouldn't ever dare put one in my 4th gen. With ATRAC you are 75% of a locker's capability. If this is your daily, I'd recommend going without until you can afford a switchable air or electric locker.

i don't see the point in living with the pain in the ass of an autolocker. if you keep track of ebay adds and stuff you can find good deals on Toyota OEM elockers. i got mine off eBay with a perfect actuator for 330 bucks. then spent like 200 on the new studs and harness. i did do a full rebuild on the elocker third so that was 400 bucks but it still came out cheaper than the cost of buying an arb alone.

You might even look into a FJ cruzer wrecked. There elocker rearend is the same housing as ours, you might have to see if the gear ratio is the same. Still might be a cheap hook up option.

Depends on your priorities. If wheeling is the name of the game, a Spartan is absolutely the most bang for your buck in terms of increasing the truck's abilities and well worth the minor annoyances. But you do have to learn how to drive on pavement with it (i.e., don't try to accelerate while you're turning sharp like Arunner ), and if you're not willing to change your driving style to accommodate it you'll probably end up hating it.

Rear lockers on the street are horrible, always. In my opinion, the best thing to do is to get a Tacoma Elocker from an 05+ and put YOUR gears on it. That way there is no break in period and you don't have to worry about buying new gears. That is what I have on my 05 and I love it. Its just too nice to come off the trail and unlock it from inside the truck and drive off...

I can't agree that they're all that bad on the pavement, just require a bit of re-learning to drive as @KidVermicious said. I also don't think they are worth it since our trucks to pretty damn well as is.

If you feel the need than an elocker like @duffdog mentioned is the way to go.

Thanks for all of the replies and opinions you have got me thinking and looking all over the place making comparisons before a final decision, as to what the hell i'm gonna do ..lol.

Have experience with an ARB that is a dream.

Experience with FJ cruiser elocker, works well enough. Sometimes it has a mind of it's own and you typically remember the frustrating instances when it doesn't engage right away and not the 99% of the other times where it does just work.

Experience with a welded rear on a an older truck, equal to a spool or lunchbox when on the gas. I never had any horrible experience, a bit embarrassing as the truck sounds like an old clunker chirping and squeaking around corners. I'm not sure I would daily drive it. There is always a chance of spinning out, I do need to reduce my speed.

I wonder what effect a lunch box in the rear has on VSC if the brakes can't properly slow down one wheel if it needs to correct a slide on road.

I wonder what a lunch box in the rear has on VSC of the brakes can't properly slow down one wheel if it needs to correct a slide on road.
@CAN-03runner

I actually never thought about that.

Well I ordered the Spartan for my 03. It's a DD for the fiancé since she can't drive our 96' 5 spd man. 4Runner too drive to work which is 10 miles from home and she in no way is an aggressive driver. I havent told her about any of the possible clicking or bang that may happen, I think as a test I'm gonna she if she even notices anything after I install it this Sat. She knows I got a locker but doesnt know anything about it except that it is something to help with better off roading ..lol.
This will be interesting actually since she wont be listening or trying to feel for the new changes like myself.

She'll notice.

LOL. She will notice. It doesn't take aggressive driving to notice you have one. It just takes driving around corners with torque applied. Anyway - let us know how it goes for you.

Are you still running yours? Any issues since your install?

Nope. It just sits back there and does it's thing.

Here's the best way to get along with an automatic locker in the rear - first, have a long wheel base, automatic transmission, and a light foot. Second, don't throttle aggressively through tight turns (hard right from a stop, parking garages, etc) - feather the gas and coast through the sharpest part if you can. No big deal if you can't, but be ready for the rear to buck and chirp a little bit as the inside tire skips. Third, don't change throttle in the middle of sweeping high speed turns, steady throttle there is the key because if you abruptly get on it or let off real sudden the throttle steer will make you shit your pants, no lie. And be ready for the rear end to break free a little sooner on snowy or icy pavement.

That all sounds more intimidating than it is. Near as I can tell, the Spartan is the most forgiving of the lunchbox lockers, it seems to be less sensitive to torque than the Aussie or Lockright so it's not as quick to lock up. And in a couple of days your driving habits will change to accommodate it's quirks and you'll hardly notice it's there. Or your habits won't change and you'll hate it and you'll end up pulling it out.

thanx man,
eXactly what I have read from others and your install post and comments. It's funny your the reason I even went with a Spartan after all the research I was doing on lockers.
And once again your words are just what I wanted to hear. Once my chick says what the hell is that, I will have her read your last comment so she understands it and not just coming from me. lol
Thanx brotha