09 Rear Lockers-Necessary?

I am looking at 09 double cabs and the packages that come with them. My friends always talk about "lockers" when they go wheelin, i am thinking about getting 4x4, should i spend the extra money to get them, or should i just say forget it?

 

If you're gunna wheel, the locker can be an invaluable asset. Otherwise, it's completely useless on the street

Also, TRD Off-Road is the only package that has the e-locker. You can always add an aftermarket later (at considerable cost).

 

4x4 is nice if you wheel or live in an area that warrants it. The locker is always nice to have.

 

I agree - I have only used mine once, and that was only to make sure it still worked.

 

Get the locker if you do any sort of 4wheeling. I use mine all the time and it works like a champ. But if 4 wheeling to you is driving down a dirt road and minor rock and mud stuff then you may want to save your money. To me it is priceless.

 

Meh... lockers are over-rated for off-road use. Full spools are the real answer...

 

I like having another tool to use if you wheel your truck its a great tool.

 

I have found the rear locker to be essential for when I get stuck while in 4LO. That is to say I am in four wheel drive low and I get stuck. That's when I have found it to be invaluable. It has always got me out. Sometimes if there is an extreme rough patch going uphill or down I'll engage the locker to get me through and then I unlock when I am out of the rough spot.

I use it exactly as the Toyota manual says to use it. I have used it two dozen times in the last 6 months on trails in California and Nevada.

A-TRAC is nice too. I leave that switch enabled all the time. A-TRAC only works while going less than 3 mph and in 4LO. With A-TRAC enabled and the rear diff locked the Tacoma is a beast!

 

for heavy off-road yes, otherwise no

 

when my locker engages it is basically a spool.
a spool just locks the axles so they both accept the power from the dif....right?

But to the op: it really depends on your needs. i use mine quite often. but i also wheel my truck almost every weekend and i wheel it pretty hard. so yes it works for me and it was worth it.

 

thanks! im thinking about just going and getting it just incase i need it in the futre

 

Got my 2010 Tacoma last month... 4WD DC TRD Off Road.

Just was in Baja for New Years and really put the new system to a test. TRAC in H4 is awesome... no need to deflate tires for deep sand. In deep arroyo sand/ gravel, TRAC pulled us through with no issues what so ever. I dis-engaged TRAC while on the beach and the truck soon bogged down. I engaged L4, A-TRAC and the Rear Diff.Lock and the truck pulled itself out from being stuck!

Incredible... it works... 4WD with TRAC (in H4) or A-TRAC (in L4) is all four wheels working and non spinning useless or digging you into the sand as with standard open differentials (as was my 2005 Tacoma. The RR locker was engaged for max. power to both rear tires to get un-stuck.

 

nice post!

 

Yea but how about people like me who love the look of the Sport? I still haven't bought a Tacoma and this is my biggest dilema. The truck will see 80% on road but I will use it for hunting and trail riding with my Land Cruiser club. I REALLY LOVE the look of the Sport.

 

I like the color matched panels... minus the fake hood scoop. My truck has color matched grill and rear bumper now. Being BSP, the black plastics dont' bother me they're not BSP. :shrug:

 

you can get an aftermarket replacement trd sport hood for 300 and a aftermarket replacement grill surround for 180 iirc and rear bumper then just have them painted...

 

Ok. So what are the cost for aftermarket lockers?

 

LOCKER MOD

 

The fake hood scoop interfers with driver visibility, when doing serious off roading... Get the off road TRD! A-TRAC in Lo4 is more important than the scoop...

 

Yeah as long as you are slippin in sand otherwise they could get you in trouble too - I use mine all the time. I wouldn't have an off road truck with out one (budget dependent).

Regarding 'selectable' lockers that allows the driver to desicide when it locks and when it doesn't you are looking at the Toyota (Eaton) eLocker or ARB selectable air locker. Prices range depending upon who is installing it and if you care to regear at the same time.

ARB Locker itself is in the $700-$1000 range
compressor 200-300
Setup of rear 150-250
Install 150-400

Somewhere around there.