Is a rear locker worth it?

Sometimes it IS all about physical appearance. And I was most physically attracted to the scoop on the hood.. My sole reason for getting a Sport.

 

Heck, my whole reason for buying a Tacoma was physical appearance lol.. Always thought they looked cool. Ever since I saw back to the future.. lol

 

Well put sir.

 

I've never actually needed my locker. ATRAC works very well, but continued frequent usage will cause the brakes to overheat. I think all the 4x4 trucks have ATRAC, so I wouldn't make the locker a deciding factor.

 

Depends on what kind of off-roading you're into, but I will agree that most people who buy Tacomas with the OR package will never actually need the locker. But I have been in plenty of situations where it was absolutely necessary, though I tend to go out and look for them because I find it fun, lol.

 

A limited slip doesn't allow full power to both wheels

A locker and or spool delivers 100% power to both wheels

A test you can do to show the effectiveness of a LSD or lockers is simple

Lift one side of the rear axle off the ground with the other tire on the ground . Get back inside and try and drive slowly forward

With a LSD the tire on the ground won't push the vehicle forward as all power is directed to the tire with least resistance leaving you stranded

With a locker or spool you will be able to pull forward even with one tire completely off the ground

This locker test is what we used in CA4WDC events that required lockers only for the trail and it made sure LSD equipped vehicles didn't go on this trail

 

3 of us took on the rocky Miller Jeep trail in Hungry Valley last weekend, myself and one other were locked and the third guy has a 2016 Sport with the auto LSD. You could definitely tell where our lockers got us through and his LSD had trouble, in one spot he was stuck and the truck just couldn't climb over the rocks with the LSD. It's better than an open diff, but still no substitution for even power to both wheels.

 

Is it worth it to use toothpaste when you brush your teeth?

 

Does a duck with a boner drag weeds upstream? Does the tin man have a sheet metal cock? Sure as gods got sandals bud! I love my locker! I have front and rear and it makes situations go a lot more fluidly. ARB has great lockers

 

I've always been interested in learning more about front lockers, I've never run into a situation where my rear locker couldn't get me up something. How often do you find yourself using it? Do you use the front locker more instead of the rear, or vice versa? Or do you just lock them both when needed for maximum traction?

 

My locker has saved my ass numerous times. It's been the difference between winching/digging out and just hitting the button and crawling out. I'd never go back now, but I'm like you and look for places where I can use it.

 

Lockers can also be used for downhill as well, ARB you can only use the front locker when the rear one is engaged. So I will put the rear locker and try something out, if it is still slippery or I see that my front end is more likely to have the better traction, I kick it in! More often than not I just switch them both on. Why make something that can be easy more difficult? It's there to be used, so I use it. I will even wheel in 2WD and rear lock. When I hit trouble I put in 4x and keep going. Always for big rocky hill climbs. Without a doubt the front locker is worth it

 

This is one of the times my locker saved me. I was hung up on my skid plate and my right rear tire was off the ground. My buddy was getting all excited because he wanted to yank me out, but I engaged the locker and backed right out. Without it I would have had to rely on my buddy and listen to him gloat.

 

^At least it was another Taco. Getting pulled out by a Jeep...

 

My old Jeep Rock crawler had front/rear Detroit lockers and geared at 123.1:1 low range and it went anywhere without any trouble

 

Haha, yeah... Getting pulled out by a taco wouldn't have been as bad... but still, he wouldn't have let me live it down.

 

I got a sport cuz I liked the look and other things. Kinda like how i'm drawn to look at big breast implants. Not functional, but cool to look at.

 

Try driving on the street with a spool and on drag radials !!!! , that'll get the butt pucker going LOL!!!!

 

ATRAC saved me from needing my locker a few times. I think ATRAC is more important than a locker from my experience. I am not sure if the sport has ATRAC, I had a off road. I now have a new 4runner and I made sure it had ATRAC, and 4 wheel drive of course.

 

ATRAC is great, but I'd rather have a locker. I tried ATRAC before I engaged the locker when I was stuck in that creek and it didn't help at all.