Do I Really Need the Differential Lock? -help

GVL

GVL

New member
Hey guys, I'm currently hunting to buy a Gen3 exclusively for off road exploring up at our cabin but I have it stuck in my head that I need the Diff Lock which came on the Limiteds. There is very little mud up there, but I will be doing a lot of off-road snow driving and moderate difficult trails but not rock crawling or anything crazy at this point . I'm not looking to deck this thing out for hardcore wheeling but I will throw some fat rubber on there (Cooper Discover SST maybe?) and possibly a 2" lift if it's not too expensive.

Anyway, I'm passing on a lot of nice SR5's just because of the lack of Diff Lock. Am I putting too much stock in making the lock a "must have" or is it something I probably won't miss if I don't have it?

I'm ready to buy now so any thoughts appreciated. Most of the clean Gen 3's with 150-200K miles are asking in the $4000 a $6000 range which is about what I want to spend.
 
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You can always add a arb diff lock. Say you get a 4runner for 4k without a diff lock vs a 6k with diff lock. Get my drift?
 
If it's exclusively a trail truck, don't bother with the elocker. If you get one and get stuck too much and decide you need a locker, drop a $300 Spartan in there.
 
Get the low mileage, clean, rust free one.

The locker is totally not a major factor. Mine is great blah blah blah but I certainly wouldn't buy a 4Runner with 30k more miles on it just because it had a locker.
 
I had a non-locked tacoma in the past, I hated not having a locker. I would end up beating on it to make it up and through stuff when I could have just idled through with a locker. Sucked.

I would say the opposite of the others. Get what you want the first time. Besides an ARB airlocker is not cheap and you need the pump too. Also you will have to consider labor to install unless you are comfortable working with gears. $0.02
 
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GVL said:
Hey guys, I'm currently hunting to buy a Gen3 exclusively for off road exploring up at our cabin but I have it stuck in my head that I need the Diff Lock which came on the Limiteds.
Click to expand...

The rear diff locker was optional on 4wd SR5's and Limited's, from '96 - '00.

It was even an option on the base model 4wd's for a few years.

When I was shopping for my 3rd gen, I didn't even consider 4Runners that didn't have the rear diff locker, V6 and 5speed trans. Of course that was in '97, and there were a lot of 4Runners to choose from at the Dealerships.

My point is: Buy what you want.
 
I've been driving on a lot of unplowed trails this winter and last with my runner and it's the first truck I've had that has a diff lock.

I've done it in the past with "normal" 4x4 trucks and I would not want to go back. The runner with diff lock engaged makes the job/trip/pleasure cruise just that much easier imo.

Not saying I couldn't do it without, but it makes the trip more enjoyable with less backing up and ramming my way through tough drifts.
 
The search for the elusive 3rdGen with OEM e-locker. The greater the lengths you are willing to go, the greater likely hood of finding the RIGHT ONE. Be patient.

Having said that, since we have an e-locker what I can share is our off road ventures wether it's trail, snow, wet, mud or rock have at times required engaging the locker in each of those conditions. Having the e-locker was well worth the extra time we spent waiting to find the RIGHT ONE.

Hope this helps.....

Regards .... 8sm
 
Is a 2000 4runner put into 4WD from 2WD without a rear locker the same thing as a 4th gen AWD 4runner with the center diff locked?
 
I've had aftermarket lockers on my jeep before I bought my 3rd gen with the factory locker. I personally would take the hassle free approach of the factory setup. It's clean, functions well and with the aging 3rd gens I don't think the cost difference is that much $$ between the two.

Plus it's fun to see what you can get through with just the locker engaged in 2wd.

I second the "wait for the right one" approach. I looked for months a drove a few hundred miles to find mine.
 
adkinsadam1 said:
Is a 2000 4runner put into 4WD from 2WD without a rear locker the same thing as a 4th gen AWD 4runner with the center diff locked?
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No. AWD w/center diff lock is not the same as 4H/4L on standard transfer case, though I believe it's similar. The center diff lock distributes power 50/50 to the front and rear axles, though they still have slip. I'm not sure on the distribution ration on standard transfer case. The rear locker is completely different.
To the OP, I vote and agree with most folks here. I won't even consider a Runner without a stock locker. It does make a huge difference in certain situations. It's one of those "won't miss it until ya need it" things. It's so much easier to just engage the locker before you begin a trail and have the confidence that it brings.
Why go through extra hassle and work later to install an air locker or retrofit OE. Just get what ya want now.
Now a center diff lock and e-locker....
 
You say "diff lock" are you talking center diff lock or rear locking diff?

They are two completely different things.

The 4runners that have a center diff lock can be driven on non-slippery roads un-locked (there is a diff in the transfer-case that can be locked) and locked to positively lock the front axle to the rear axle. Locked center diff makes the vehicle act like a conventional 4wd.

If you are in slippery conditions and have the center diff unlocked, you could have one wheel spinning and 3 stopped and be stuck. This is due to the open front axle diff, the open read axle diff and the un-locked (open) center diff (transfer-case diff).

The 4runners that don't have the center diff lock, if driven on non-slippery roads and trails, will have drivetrain bind. It's not suggested to drive on dry roads when 4wd. (this is how a center locked vehicle will act too)

If you are talking rear axle locking diff, that locks both rear wheels together.

A warning on locked axles. If the road/trail is off chamber (leaning toward the edge of the road/trail) a locked axle will cause the vehicle to slide sideways/down hill. This can get you into trouble quick. I rarely snow bash with my rear axle locked. Mainly just to get thru the deep snow. I'm very aware and use only when safe.

If I was snow wheeling by myself like you are talking, I would invest in a winch. Personally more important than a rear diff locker.
 
4wd with a center diff (to allow some slipping) is nothing like a true AWD vehicle. AWD senses wheels that have traction and don't and sends power to the wheels that have traction.

In a 4runner with open diffs and an un-locked center diff will send Power to the wheel with the least resistance.
If you are in slippery conditions and have the center diff unlocked, you could have one wheel spinning and 3 stopped and be stuck. This is due to the open front axle diff, the open read axle diff and the un-locked (open) center diff (transfer-case diff).
 
Gerdo said:
In a 4runner with open diffs and an un-locked center diff will send Power to the wheel with the least resistance.
If you are in slippery conditions and have the center diff unlocked, you could have one wheel spinning and 3 stopped and be stuck. This is due to the open front axle diff, the open read axle diff and the un-locked (open) center diff (transfer-case diff).
Click to expand...

But a 99 or 00 4runner engaged in 4WD is NOT an example of this, correct?
 
Thanks for the great info. I've been stuck in thick snow before and it's not fun. Those are the situations I was thinking it would be handy.

Question: how do you know if it's center diff lock or full lock? I just keep seeing the button next to the dimmer and thought that was the same thing.

I have never bought a car from a used dealer, but this thing looks pretty clean and appears to have a lock of some type - 1998 Toyota 4Runner 4x4 TOW PACKAGE VERY CLEAN
 
That's a lot of miles. That would be a rear diff locker button. They didn't offer center diff lock until '00.
 
On '96 to '00 4Runners, the center diff is only applicable on Limited models with the multi-mode transfer case which has the button on the side of the transfer case shifter. Pressing this puts it into full-time four wheel drive (some people call it AWD). This operates the transfer case with the centre diff open. You then pull the stick into 4WD Hi to lock the centre diff out.

The rear diff lock will be a button to the left of the steering wheel and says "RR DIFF LOCK".

For the record, I have the rear locker and I wouldn't trade it. To be honest, in most of my searching for a 4Runner, most of the people that had one with the locker had no understanding of the value of it and so weren't asking more for the vehicle because of it. I wouldn't trade it after coming from a truck with limited slip. The open rear diff does sometimes require a bit more go pedal on some obstacles and thus more strain on the vehicle.
 
Gerdo said:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...rs-3rd-gens-transfer-case-awd-multi-mode.html
Click to expand...

So let me make sure I understand this:

I have a 2006 4Runner Limited. It is all wheel drive all the time. When I go off road, I lock the center differential in 4LO.

I also am getting a 2000 4Runner SR5. When I go off road I will switch it from 2WD to 4LO.

So... The 2006 4runner in 4LO with the locked center differential is going to be essentially the same thing as the 2000 4runner in 4LO. Is this thinking correct? In both circumstances, if ONE wheel loses traction, you will still be moving, but if TWO lose traction, then you may get stuck. Am I understanding this correctly?

So in the 2000 4runner, shifting into 4LO locks the center diff when it goes into 4WD, correct? This is why it can't be driven on dry pavement?
 
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