Everyone on this forum discusses lockers like they are the best things besides Toyota to happen to the world of wheeling. What are some experiences you have had with lockers that have convinced you that they are that great? In contrast, do lockers have any ill effects?

 

selectable lockers dont have any ill effects because they are not engaged when they arent on, meaning your truck still drives stock.

lunchbox lockers might, but as i dont have any personal experience, i will leave that for someone else.

ive noticed that with my rear locker, everything technical has become a lot easier and easier to control.

before locker


after locker

 

i dont have lockers, and they will be one of the first mods i do. go wheeling with someone that has lockers and you will be convinced. if you dont know 4wd, doesnt mean 4 wheels are turning at the same time. usually the two tires that need the traction receive the power. if you flex out one front and one rear tire, you are stuck. i dont know how newb you are, but flex out means the tire is drooped to the point where it isnt touching the ground enough to get traction. with a rear locker both rear tires will turn. if you were flexed out front and rear, you may still make the obstacle because you may have enough traction from the one tire to get you out of being flexed out. make sense?

as far as problems, that all depends on the type of locker. you can get selectable lockers, (arb/e-locker) or lunchbox style. it all comes down to what you use the truck for. strict trail rig? daily drive? too many x factors to have a good answer on that. i'll let people with lockers chime in.

 

put it this way. i climbed and mud mashed through a LOT of stuff in 2wd with the rear locker that previously i would have had to switch to 4wd to get through. having a locker vs not is like night and day difference.

 

cough...search...cough haha

 

Lockers make a night and day difference when wheeling for sure but are only one piece in a big puzzle.

 

Correction: They are the greatest thing to hit the world after Toyota, and beer.

I have two. The best money I've ever spent.

 

Cant wait to install my selectable

 

so if i were to buy an aussie for my 82, would i want to lock only the front if it was my dd? is it better to have a locker front or rear (i do have a straight axle if you didn't already get that and if that makes any difference)?

 

Where do you live?

If you do ANY on road 4wd driving, the front is a no go.

I'd put it in the rear. You can learn to live with it.

If you do go for the front, you'll want to get histeer very soon afterwards.

 

what do you mean by "learn to live with it"?

i heard somewhere else that locking your rear end with a dd is a bad idea, as you cannot turn. is that true, or do newer lockers unlock while turning on the road or something?

also, i live in monroe, WA. excellent mudding and trailing on DNR and stuff.

 

I have never seen a a rear locker change the tread pattern on tires like that before!!

I bet running the locker makes it much quieter on the road now, LOL!

 

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/differential2.htm

Read up. There are links on the bottom that will tell you about limited slips and lockers. You will soon realize why they are so important.

 

No, you cannot turn if they are on the front. They will chirp and hop the tires in the rear, but you can turn. You just have to get used to it.

 

OH that was too funny hahahahahahahha!!


Aaron

 

x2

You will have to pry my ARB's out of my cold dead hands

 

dude, lockers make all sorts of things different...


lol

 

Selectable lockers are the cats meeow.

In when you want it locked, and out for normal differential operation.

I had a Detroit Locker in my old Chevy with a 14 bolt. Talk about burning the rubber off of tires in a hurry. Daily driver, every turn made took the rear tires down a bit more.

The typical rig 4Runner, Blazer, IH Scout, may say 4 wheel drive but in all actuality, their only a 2 wheel drive. It takes a locker in each axle, to make all 4 tires/wheels rotate at the same time.

edit: wording

 

Good answers here. Since I am also searching for lockers.. What's the best bang for the buck? E-locker or ARB? Now that I read this, I'm thinking I'm going to do just one of those in the rear diff.. Or... how difficult is it to drive/get used driving w/a lunchbox in the rear diff? Really.

 

iv posted this link before, its really the easiest way to show someone what lockers do. its a video on ARB's website http://www.arbusa.com/air_locker_video.php
it shows when they don't have the locker engaged and when it is engaged, it does make a profound difference