yeah, it's come on all manuals for years...

 

Hmmm, didn't know that. I thought is was part of the TRD package.

 

Now if you'd have said "TRD vs. 2 - ARB's" things would be different...

 

If you are going to gear anyway, the $3k could pay for two ARB's as stated. I don't think the ARB is any less reliable than the TRD locker. I've seen plenty of people with siezed motors on their TRD lockers. Niether is by any means unreliable if installed properly. I don't think you can go wrong. I've been running ARB's for years though.

If you are buying a new Tacoma, the ARB locker for the front (RD111) is not yet available to the public. If you are buying a used one older than 2004 RD90 is available. The rear would be an RD89 on the nonTRD.

 

Helpful post. I will not be buying a new Tacoma, but rather a used one as I stated in some of my earlier posts. I'm still not sure whether to get the TRD or non-TRD, but I am considering the non-TRD more now than before.

Back to the rear-end question, anybody have any more input on that? Somebody said it's easier to find parts for the 8" TRD one, but the 8.4" is stronger (presumably). Maybe I could do something like this: http://www.off-road.com/toyota/proje...te-axle-part1/

 

Get the TRD, The ARB Bumper, And and ARB locker up front. that way, on board air will be availible...and so on.

 

If you're buying used, I'm pretty sure ARB has F&R lockers for all Toyotas except (apparently) the very latest Taco, and maybe 4Runner.

 

The T100 Axle which is used in the Tacoma, Tundra and Sequoia is slightly larger than the common Toyota 8" axle. It also has trussed carrier endcaps. It uses the same 30 spline shafts as the 8". Sometimes called the 8.4" or 8.25" it really has almost the same size ring gear as the 8" which is really 7.8". Confusing huh? It is also only a 2 pinion carrier vs. the 8"s 4 pinion.

It was originally thought that the 3Gen 4Runner had this axle until I proved many wrong, including ARB. Today there are plenty of gear sets around for this diff but not as many as the 8". The 8" is about as strong as a Dana44.

 

Here is the TRD electric locker 8". It takes all open 8" gear sets except the Toyota factory 4.88's. If you want 4.88's you need to buy aftermarket ones.

As far as doing a custom axle like in the article, that's well beyond your level IMO. Lots of folks run 37" tires on their rockcrawlers and don't break 8" axles. I would say if you are going to do big mods, it won't matter which truck you get. Probably the non TRD would be the better value from the price spread you've indicated. Just figure out the money/value of it. Look at the actual used truck you are going to get as a whole. If you get the TRD you will be able to wheel it a LONG way before you'll starting hurting for mods.

A whole lot of driver skills need to be learned in between too. If you are new to it, don't try to compensate for driver skill by applying lots of fancy parts. Just airing down will double your traction.

 

i dunno im not too happy with the trd locker, my truck is a 99, ive rarely used it, eventually the motor stopped working, i took it apart and came to find it was all corroded inside, i got a quote for around 700 the same as an arb i recall, i just prefer mechanical over electrical in some situations

 

you could always convert it to where it is cable actuated (downey has a kit)

 

i got that too, and what a waste of money that was, i dunno maybe its something else that wrong with my axle

 

Another nice thing about the elocker is you can convert it to cable actuation if you're worried about the motor or electronics going south on you. But for 2-3k less I'd get the base and add 2 airlockers and regear, ARBs are pretty reliable if you don't abuse em or feed em too much air, I'd run the ARB compressor so that way you know you're getting the right pressure to it, the one prob that people think of with arb compressors and solenoids is they tend to be kind of sensitive to dirt/moisture, if you mount em well and keep em protected they last a nice long time.

*edit* was typing when the others posted, what was wrong with the cable actuation? I've only ever heard great things about it.

 

Are you sure there is that much difference in price? When I got mine last January, the difference was maybe $500. With the price you are looking at, you will be very lucky to find a 2000 for under 14k unless it is very high milage.

 

i dunno it was like a year ago i got the price quote, but i mean i guess i kinda look at it as a matter of preferance i think the e-locker is a good thing for preunners in sand etc over the arb. if i had a straight axle in the front i would throw an arb in there and in the rear (if i didnt have the trd), another good thing with the elocker is if u have to repair it, u dont have to take off the 3rd, but just from my usage and where i live, its doesnt like the water

 

My uncle has been a mechanic for over 20 years, and has his own rockcrawler that he built (ARBs F/R). He said he'll do any work I need for free as long as I buy the parts.

Paul H.: As far as the price difference goes, yes I am sure. That is the difference I am seeing in the classified ads and various dealerships in my area. For about 13k I can get a TRD with 90k on it. Dealerships are higher than that, but I know I could haggle them down, and if not, take my business elsewhere. A non-TRD with 90k on it is usually running around 11k

 

Whoops, sorry guys. That is what I get for making an assumption as soon as I saw ARB. Or is it just my lust to fend off "deer" with an ARB/TJM bumper sneaking in subconsciously??? Anyway, I still say go with the TRD e-locker as many others have pointed out already...

P.S. I would like to have the E-locker, too

 

if only i knew the 4runners had one for my year when i bought mine

 

Go with the ARB locker. You'll save money.

Folks, we're talking about saving money. Getting the TRD package for the shocks and the locker still would cost more than buying some shocks and getting an ARB.

 

I say get the TRD package as I would rather trust factory Toyota parts than anything else. ARB's are very nice little lockers, but you do have to deal with airlines possible ripping, or developing holes and not getting enough air to the locker to engage it. Then what do you do if you don't have the stuff to repair it on the trail. Also with the TRD package you won't have to do any mods so soon as you can wheel it stock, learn to drive it really well, then do your mods and be amazed at where this truck will go.