Hello,

OK her is my dilemma 1984 4runner stock 22r and I am going to be regarding and adding lockers it the next few weeks and need some opinions. Here are my initial thoughts. 4.88 gearing, Detroit locker in the rear and spool up front? I would like to keep this cost effective but if this is the wrong way to go I could afford to spend more. The vendor I have chosen is Marlin Crawler I will be buying there assembled 3rd members unless persuaded otherwise so any comments on their products good or bad will be appreciated. I can say this much on there behalf so far, I have emailed them on several occasions and have never received a response so is this the future of things to come? I hope not.

Thanks
Mike.

 

Is the rest of your truck stock? What size tires do you plan on running?

If your going to do a spool and a Detroit I would run the Detroit in the front and spool out back. With a spool in the front its going to be a bitch to turn and your birfields will go kaboom much quicker. A spool in the back is not bad at all. It?s predictable and the only time I have noticed it to be an issue is in parking lots. You just have to back up some times to make it into a space. It will definitely wear your tires faster.

Have you looked into an aussie locker. A couple of my buddies run them and have nothing but good things to say. They have a lifetime warranty and they are cheap. Probably get two of them for the price of a Detroit and spool.

 

I wouldn't put anything up front other than a selectable unless you plan on upgrading to 30 spline Longfields. Your stock Birfields will hate you being locked up solid all the time.

 

Marlin is great. They have excellent customer service. However, email is not the best way to get a hold of them. Call. They have a wierd phone system, so you may have to call several times, but once you get through, they will take care of you.

As said, spool in the rear, detroit in the front. Upgrade to longfields. Do it once, do it right.

 

FYI - Aussie is backordered until May at least. I ordered 2 a month ago and won't get them until May. It's kinda screwing me up on my trip to Moab at the end of this month