lee

ok i want a locker

im thinking ill go the route of a detroit ez or lockright.

what is the argument for going with a selectable locker? what are the better options? i dont want to go with an airlocker.. too much money and work and too much stuff to break.

any suggestions are welcome and appreciated.

bob200587

OEM E-locker would be the best of both worlds. If you can afford it, I'd do it over anything else.

lee

selectables are SO expensive.

im just not sure its worth the price gap.

Cebby

Selectables are transparent until needed. Lunchbox lockers make your truck squirrelly in the snow.

E locker would be the easiest for you. You could just swap 3rds (a little more to it, but not much) You need to learn more about ARBs though - might be more money, but they are as reliable as the e-locker and operate quicker. If you are planning OBA and a front locker some day, an ARB might be the answer.

Do it once. (FWIW, I spent $2250 on donor 3rds, 5.29's and dual ARBs incuding freight and set up for mine)

bamachem

ARB.

it's more expensive, but it's the best out there. you don't drive a geo, you paid more for the quality of the 4runner - why is a locker that you need to depend on any different?

lee

how much would an OEM locker cost, all parts included?

Intrepid

I vote automatic, I don't mind mine on the street at all and it has given me no trouble in the snow. Not to mention that an automatic you could have by next month, but a selectable would be something you wouldn't have until years down the road.
In a perfect world of unlimited funds, you would get an e locker or ARB, but this is not a perfect world. Everyone always says it is bad in snow, but if there is that much snow on the road, you should be in 4wd anyway and you will hardly notice it.

lee

mike, thanks, thats a good piece of advice.. to do it once.

but wow thats a crapload of money. i want a rear locker only for now, and id like to do it on the cheap.

just because something is cheaper, does not make it inferior in practice. ie, many people have bought and used detroits and lockrights for all types of rigs in all different conditions and have been quite happy with their performance.

im willing to put up with clicking sounds and the like if it will get me what i need.

again, appreciate all info and suggestions.. just wanted to put that out there, because it seems the autos might get a bad rap.

Intrepid

Don't forget, a lockright or ez locker you can put in yourself, minimizing cost, while an e locker retrofit or an ARB install you can't.

lee

exactly.. im pretty much counting on doing it myself.

the other problem is, in my attempts to save up enought to get a selectable, i know i will see these wads of money (lets say $500 after a while) and be like... HMM I COULD USE RIMS! HMMM, I COULD USE MORE LIFT! HMMM, I COULD USE 285'S!

i dont think i could hold onto the money long enough!

bamachem

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=77334

rear locker w/ compressor is $858. you can get one installed for about $250 (you have to pull the third, pull the gears, put the ring gear on the ARB, install the ARB, then re-set the gears - then you have to drill and tap the housing for the air line, then re-install the 3rd). from there, it would be up to you to install the compressor and run the "blue hose" to the locker - the easy stuff. you're looking at $1100 total and the rear would be set except for a future regear for after you go to 285's and then you'd want some 4.56's or 4.88's.

compare that to $400-$500 for a non-selectable locker and even then i don't know that you'd install it yourself.

there's nothing CHEAP about building and wheeling a 3rd gen. if you can't accept that, then it's either the wrong rig or the wrong hobby.

shazaam

go drive a vehicle with a full time locker, if the handling and other nuances don't bother you then go right ahead and drop one in.

otherwise skip the lesson, and get the arb.

check with strap he has aweome prices right now.

mkmarz

But half of that would be a waste, when he gets his SAS

bamachem

1. he'll NEVER SAS a 01/02 runner. NEVER.
2. that's only for the rear locker. a regear would still have value as used...

mkmarz

Well thats my point....
No money for selctables and gears... so why dream
and if he does get the money he can sell his LR 3rd.

Intrepid

and get something good for wheeling.

snap-on

detroit straight up. put it in and forget about it.

second to that a TRD e-locker. more to fool with with wireing and such but i would go e-locker before ARB.

Detroit is probilby the easyest, (just a centersection)... followed by e-locker with ARB being the most complex requireing a compressor, wireing, air lines etc...

99_Runner

Go E-locker. You can probably do it yourself, it's transparent on the road which would be a good thing since you are up in Boston. Auto lockers make the rig a whole new animal to learn how to drive again. Especially the first time on the streets with some ice.

calrockx

just do it right and get the selectables.

i've got front and rear arbs, i'm happy with them. no problems. a proper install is critical tho.

sure it's $$$, but go for quality. besides, you'll make more money.

JHupp

I was stuck in the same position a month ago. I would hate to put an Auto locker in this truck, it is designed with a traction system, that often proves very adequate. By adding an auto-locker you are effectively making th ATRAC useless. A selectable would allow the ATRAC to be used, and when the going gets too tough, you could lock it. On my very limited offroad adventures, I have not found use for a locker yet, the ATRAC had gotten me through some sticky(IMO) situartions pretty well. I know a locker may have made it easier. I would probably do an autolocker if I did not have ATRAC, the slectables are expensive, and I have heard about the same percentage of positive feedback from both the selectable and autolocker crowds. If I ever did a locker, I would do the selectable, so I could keep the ATRAC.