I would go selectable, especially since you live up north. A full time locker would get you in big trouble on ice.

 

Do what I did: Buy an e-locked donor rig, swap the entire rear axles out with one another, and then sell the donor rig the same price you bought it for.

Of course in my case I had to swap front and rear thanks to the ratio difference.

 

I purchased both front and rear axles for $300. So lets say I payed $200 for the rear. I could have put it in myself if I had enough time or another car. So I paid a mechanic $200 to swap the axles. https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/4-30-rear-r-p-4-10-front-r-p-80818/

Total Price = $400
Having a locker = Priceless

Good Luck!

 

Yeah, I'll have ARBs and gears one day, but I bought a Lockright and put it in myself, and I've never regretted it. ARBs and selectables are indeed better and definitely worth the money, but IMO you can't beat the price of Lockright, especially if you can put it in yourself.

 

go with the ARB. I want to keep my OEM traction control doo-das for the snow and ice here...and have the option of selectable locking diffs when needed.

It's more money...I have to save a bit longer..but in the end I willl be doing the right thing...ONCE! (instead of constantly changing/upgrading).

-B

 

You should also keep in mind that an auto locker will wear your tires significantly faster. You have MT/Rs so that's a lot of money that you'll be wasting inadvertently that could be spent on a selectable locker.

 

I think I am going to save up for ARB's and re-gear at the same time.
I get really tired of doing things twice.

 

i have a lot of reading and responding to do, but let me just say that when i state i want to do it 'cheap' its relative. im not saying im retarded and dont understand that wheeling is an expensive hobby... nor that i dont know that wheeling a 3rd gen = higher cost of parts in most cases. i know this.

but im looking to improve offroad performance while not breaking the bank. sounds like a detroit ez may be for me since i really cant spend the money on an arb right now.. especially since i want to lift higher, regear and get bigger meats....

ill keep thinking.

thanks for the responses everyone.

 

I can't stress this enough..My ARB failed THREE times, and was broken when I sold it. I'm sure the failures were DIRECTLY related to a crappy, albeit expensive, install.

 

if they aren't installed right, then they will fail - plain and simple...

oh, and lee, before you drop the cash for a lunchbox locker, PM Doc279 about his experience in his 2nd gen on our barely icey east TN roads...

 

I have driven on plenty of snowy and icy roads with my lunchbox locker. As long as you drive with some sense you wont have a problem at all.

 

I adapted my driving style to my Lockright- light, positive throttle on turns, etc. I have rotated my tires frequently (Maxxis Mudders) and I do not think I have caused any more wear than the set I ran before I installed the locker.

I am not trying to discourage the purchase of a selectable locker, because I really believe they are the best choice. I am merely stating that, when driven properly with a full time locker, the vehicle performs very well on pavement. The only time I notice it, is during evasive or non-routine manuvers in traffic, like pulling out uphill in a turn quickly.

As for snow and ice, I have no experience or comment, but I'm sure that icy conditions would be a considerable deciding factor.

 

It will really only wear them faster if you are getting on it too much in turns, otherwise, it will differentiate and you will be fine.

As far as wintery roads, I drove a total of 3 hours in a snowstorm up here a month back, on hardpacked highways, in 4wd, doing 45-50 and I forgot completely about the lock right, it didn't bother me at all, until someone mentioned it just recently, it hadn't even occured to me that I was driving that fast with a locked rear end on hardpacked snow. I think that if you are a little careful and if you know how to drive, you won't really even notice it and any changes that need to be made in your driving style will happen subconsciously.
If the question is selectable or automatic and money isn't an issue, then yeah, go selectable, but since that is never the case, go automatic. If I knew back when my Taco was my dd and my wheeler what I know now, I would have bought a lockright before anything else.

 

You racka disaprin!!!!

 

huh?

 

I speak chinese, let me translate for you:

You lack discipline!

 

 

lee-

I've been in the same boat for awhile now. With 2 kids, I don't get to wheel nearly as often as I'd like, and my '01 is my primary DD. The expense of an ARB is out since I can't justify the cost. A lunchbox has a more appealing $$$, plus I can install it myself. I only question a lunchboxes on road characteristics (clicking, shuttering, etc). Excessive tirewear doesn't appear to be much of an issue with the new lunchboxes.

I've narrowed it to three options:

• Aussie - Not currently available for a 3rd Gen
• Power Trax System (Richmond Gear; a.k.a Lock-Right) - Not currently available for a 3rd Gen
• Detroit EZ
  and an LSD:
• Detroit TrueTrac

Not long ago, I emailed Aussie directly asked if they were actively pursuing a locker solution for a 4 pinion 8" model Toyota 4Runner (3rd Gen). Here's Aussie's Engineering response:
The other thing I've learned is that an LSD coupled with our VSC/A-Trac system may be nearly equivalent to a full lunchbox since the ABS system will automatically engage on the spinning wheel forcing more power to the wheel with traction. I haven't invested much time looking at this yet, but if it does prove to be true, an LSD on road manners are much more appealing than a full locker.

 

If you call Powertrax/Richmond, they will let you know the model number that fits. There is one for the 3rd gen.

 

Not according to Richmond Gear's Tech Support rep. I emailed them earlier this week, and the TechRep who responsed gave me info on a full Lock-Right. After clarifying that I was inquiring about a Power Trax System, not a Lock-Right, they responsed by saying "one was not available for my application." If anyone finds out otherwise, please let me know.