How often do you really use your diff locker?

[D-nasty]

For you guys that spend a fair amount of time off road... how often do you need to use your diff locker? I've had 4wd vehicles since I was old enough to drive that all had LSD and have never been stuck due to not having a diff locker and I've gone some hairy places.

Here is the reason I ask... I've searched high and low for months for a clean gen 3 with a locker with the right amount of miles with no luck. It never fails that when I think I have one found, it has either already been sold or is sold before I can pick it up.

I found a 98 limited that has 102,000 miles in immaculate condition with detailed service records for 6500, but no diff locker.

I've started to reevaluate if it is something I really need given my circumstances... minimal rock crawling, mainly just a hunting/inclement weather vehicle.

Just looking to hear first hand experience on the value of the diff locker versus limited slip for me.

 

[2014 Warthog]

For you guys that spend a fair amount of time off road... how often do you need to use your diff locker? I've had 4wd vehicles since I was old enough to drive that all had LSD and have never been stuck due to not having a diff locker and I've gone some hairy places.

Here is the reason I ask... I've searched high and low for months for a clean gen 3 with a locker with the right amount of miles with no luck. It never fails that when I think I have one found, it has either already been sold or is sold before I can pick it up.

I found a 98 limited that has 102,000 miles in immaculate condition with detailed service records for 6500, but no diff locker.

I've started to reevaluate if it is something I really need given my circumstances... minimal rock crawling, mainly just a hunting/inclement weather vehicle.

Just looking to hear first hand experience on the value of the diff locker versus limited slip for me.

1) I've used either the locker or A-TRACK many many times. It is way easy to get cross axeled and without either of those two you can be stuck good. Also good for getting across or out of deep sand and such. I also see other people without a locker or A-TRACK get cross axeled or stopped on steep sandy/gravelly grades quite often...

2) You can always add a rear diff locker

But you can buy it and see how it goes and add one if you find the things your doing warrant it for real...

 

[joshespdx]

For you guys that spend a fair amount of time off road... how often do you need to use your diff locker? I've had 4wd vehicles since I was old enough to drive that all had LSD and have never been stuck due to not having a diff locker and I've gone some hairy places.

Here is the reason I ask... I've searched high and low for months for a clean gen 3 with a locker with the right amount of miles with no luck. It never fails that when I think I have one found, it has either already been sold or is sold before I can pick it up.

I found a 98 limited that has 102,000 miles in immaculate condition with detailed service records for 7500, but no diff locker.

I've started to reevaluate if it is something I really need given my circumstances... minimal rock crawling, mainly just a hunting/inclement weather vehicle.

Just looking to hear first hand experience on the value of the diff locker versus limited slip for me.

If you're primarily using decently maintained/well-used forest service roads while hunting your need for a diff lock probably isn't a requirement. Diff locks are generally only used in Low range and at low speed (under 5mph). I have personally used mine on my 2000 a number of times when I've lost traction without it engaged. Once I've engaged it, I've been able to pull through. It absolutely makes a difference in your level of traction, especially when creeping on a loose surface or on very steep inclines. If you're wanting a rig that you can really explore in, I'd recommend it. Those of us here in Colorado that routinely hit the more challenging trails either have one, or want one badly. If you go without, you can make up for it a little bit with aggressive tires and suspension. But having a system that truly puts power to the ground with both wheels can't be fully substituted.

Evaluate your needs. I will say this, though: if you find yourself with a T4R and get involved in the community, you'll probably find yourself in some places you've never been, and wish you had one.

In the following pic, this was the point at which I had backed down a short ways in order to engage my locker. Dry, loose surfaces can be a killer, especially with my mild Cooper tires. With the locker, I went tot he top. I would have had to turn around without it. This was out of Shrine Pass in Colorado.

 

[Arrowhead]

I used my locker a lot on my 98 when I go wheeling in 2wd. It made a huge difference crossing ditches and going over obstacles. I have a 99 with an elocker and an 02 with center locking differential. The e locker is nice to have when you wheel alot. If you're a weekend wheeler, most 4runners are capable stock with or without the e locker

 

[Run 4 Fun]

For you guys that spend a fair amount of time off road... how often do you need to use your diff locker? I've had 4wd vehicles since I was old enough to drive that all had LSD and have never been stuck due to not having a diff locker and I've gone some hairy places.

Here is the reason I ask... I've searched high and low for months for a clean gen 3 with a locker with the right amount of miles with no luck. It never fails that when I think I have one found, it has either already been sold or is sold before I can pick it up.

I found a 98 limited that has 102,000 miles in immaculate condition with detailed service records for 6500, but no diff locker.

I've started to reevaluate if it is something I really need given my circumstances... minimal rock crawling, mainly just a hunting/inclement weather vehicle.

Just looking to hear first hand experience on the value of the diff locker versus limited slip for me.

For what its worth, I didn't get a e-locker when I purchased mine. Down the road I invested in a ARB rear locker. I haven't needed it yet in the year I've had it. I will tell you though, when I went on a family on a 100 mile bike trek and my runner was 1 of 3 support vehicles in which we all took turns driving; my niece(age 22) taking a turn driving my runner came upon a section that was somewhat sleep and had mild rock ledges, was half scared and half excited about it. I merely flipped the ARB on and told her to go nice and slow. Watched her crawl up and over it and she got to the top and jumped out with the biggest grin on her face. The same trip my mother in her late 60's did something similar.

Before purchasing the locker I couldn't imagine being put in a situation like this and it was very rewarding to see both my mother and niece having the biggest grin on their faces. I probably wouldn'tlet them drive that section if I didn't have a locker. A locker wasn't needed, but for them it was insurance. They didn't need to power over it like the two other support vehicles.

My point is you don't know what sort of situations you'll be in, but I am glad I had the locker at the time. In my opinion, if you off road a lot I think its a worth while investment. It allows you to go slow over obstacles and not have to power over things. No harm in getting a low mileage runner and invest in an ARB locker. My vote is for locked and loaded. :bluejump:

 

[AZBub]

I have a 2000 with the E Lock, with the saggy stock suspension and street tires I surprised people with how my 4runner managed to climb over just about everything. I thank the E Lock for that added confidence. Now if I just had a button that would install a 3" lift and eject the trailer hitch that catches everything.

The way I look at it is that its there when you need to throw down aces.

 

[A.Wilson013]

Offroading I find that I use it quite a bit. Do I NEED to use it? Probably not. I just go with the "better safe than sorry" approach. I'd probably poop myself if I started spinning all the tires on some of the steep inclines I've been up.

I used my e-locker once while hunting. Parked at a gate earrrrllllyyy in the morning, hours before daylight. It was VERY dark. In order to allow for log trucks to get by I parked off of the road, kinda in a ditch.

Well, when it was time to leave that evening, still some daylight, I noticed that I had parked about 1ft from the edge of a 5-6ft drop off to the front, and a BIG rock behind me. With the elocker I was able to execute a 10000 point turn and get out. Without the elocker (tried for about 10 seconds) I just spun the tires.




All of that said... the 4Runner that usually joins me while offroad doesn't have a locker and I have never had to pull him out of/over anything that I can remember. In fact... I think I have only every winched Tacomas on the trail. No idea why that is.

 

[02SE]

Just about the only time I drive my 4Runner these days, is to go drive some trails. I use the diff-locker on most trips.

 

[D Farms]

the e locker is nice to have, but its a bandaid for bad flex and not having the ability to pick the right lines. I would put the locker behind ground clearance(which includes bigger tires, any kind of lift, and high clearance bumpers). having more clearance will make it a lot easier to pick the line with the best ammount of traction and not worry about damaging your vehicle. if you have the elocker and havent increased your ground clearance, you may find yourself scraping or even getting stuck on the frame pretty easily. the truck has good suspension geometry but it still sits close to the ground, espescially the gas tank, rear hitch and lower control arm mounts.

 

[MyHigh]

I find that when just trail driving on dirt roads my e-locker allows me to just cruise over the dam washboard. I have stock saggy suspension so I lose so much traction on those speed bumps in the dirt, also I did the grey(blue) wire mod that allows one to lock while in two wheel drive, not just four low how manufacture designed it.

 

[KidVermicious]

OP, if you haven't needed a locker previously and you don't anticipate anything changing in the future, then don't worry about the locker. You can always swap one in down the road if you find you'd rather have one later.

Myself I use the locker about every time I take the Wiferunner out, but that doesn't mean I need it. I'm not allowed to dent or break her truck, so I engage the locker early and often to keep myself out of trouble. I've probably only tried to tackle two or three spots where the locker was actually required to get through, and even then I was with other trucks or had a bypass available so it still wasn't strictly necessary.

But for most of the recreational wheelers on this board, we use our trucks to get into trouble on purpose. If yours will be more of a hunting/camping rig and you're looking to stay out of trouble instead of get into it, skip the locker and invest in a winch.

 

[T4R2014]

Whenever I feel like showing the ricers that a 4Runner can drift too.

 

[JayRolla]

My buddy's FJ is locked and I dont have one. We wheel together a bit and he is always using that thing. I dont need it but I know if I had it, I would use it to just make things easier. I have to change my line sometimes when he can just power through.

 

[JohnMc]

It's really good in certain situations. Where the car is diagonally loaded (angled ledge) - where the opposite corners are basically dangling limply in the air. Suspension flex is a good alternative there.

But also when the car is leaned over to one side significantly - this unweights both tires in the 'uphill' side. Suspension flex won't help you there, both tires on one side will just pin with little effect.

I'd almost say that having a locker in the rear by itself (2WD mode) is *almost* as good as having no-locker 4WD, at least on a 4runner (vs. a Taco's lightly loaded rear axle). Locker: good. 4WD: great. Locker + 4WD: super great. It's just a lot more surefooted with 3 tires guaranteed to be pushing the car along at all times, vs. just 2 (reg 4WD, or locker alone).

I did the gray wire mod on my '99 (or whatever the wire color is on a 4Runner) and can use the locker in 2HI/4HI/4LO. It's a fun stupid car trick to use it in 2HI in the rain to kick the rear end out around corners. DOOOOORIFTOO!!!!!

 

[cashmoney]

Given the cost of adding one in aftermarket versus the cost of the vehicle with one already installed, I'd go aftermarket.

 

[JWaldz]

When I go on trips I usually engage my elocker and leave it there.. No point making my truck work harder and get into a position I don't want to be in (sliding around, sideways, loss of traction unexpectedly, etc etc). Of course I'm not your typical log trail rider. I'm known for putting my truck in places most on this forum will not. That's not to say I need my locker for everything I do b/c honestly, I don't. If I know for a fact I'm not going to need it, I wont use it. If I'm doing expo trips I wont use is until needed.

As far as needing it, I didn't have one when I first started using my truck and I still do some of the same trails now that I did then without it. It's a good way of learning your trucks boundaries and how to drive in those kinds of conditions. I could definitely still do a lot of the trails without the locker b/c over the years I've become so familiar with the abilities of my vehicle. Having the locker is just a perk to allow me to do harder trails if I wanted to and making it easier on my truck on trails I know I can do (whether I've done them previously or not).

 

[AZBub]

the e locker is nice to have, but its a bandaid for bad flex and not having the ability to pick the right lines. I would put the locker behind ground clearance(which includes bigger tires, any kind of lift, and high clearance bumpers). having more clearance will make it a lot easier to pick the line with the best ammount of traction and not worry about damaging your vehicle. if you have the elocker and havent increased your ground clearance, you may find yourself scraping or even getting stuck on the frame pretty easily. the truck has good suspension geometry but it still sits close to the ground, espescially the gas tank, rear hitch and lower control arm mounts.

You know you want one.:nod:

 

[drodandsrod]

I've got a '99 with the e-locker and I've owned a number of 4x4s with various combinations of open/limited slip/locked diffs and open/locked tcases and in every instance I've done some surprisingly good things when my head's outta my rear and some impressively dumb things when it's not. I love my elocker and I use it frequently, but I wouldn't let the lack of one keep me from buying an otherwise nice rig.

 

[RedSled]

I've got a '99 with the e-locker and I've owned a number of 4x4s with various combinations of open/limited slip/locked diffs and open/locked tcases and in every instance I've done some surprisingly good things when my head's outta my rear and some impressively dumb things when it's not. I love my elocker and I use it frequently, but I wouldn't let the lack of one keep me from buying an otherwise nice rig.

Very well said.

 

[BrianSD_42]

ound a 98 limited that has 102,000 miles in immaculate condition with detailed service records for 6500, but no diff locker.

Buy it. There are lots of ways to add a locker.

For me, (legit) low mileage, clean service record, and a clean exterior/interior are far more important.

I've gone on dozens of trips. I rarely ever use the locker.