Is a rear locker worth it?

Sounds like Fl except for the hills. My 2wd with locker has been perfect.

 

That's kinda where I'm at with it. Will I NEED a locker probably no, but having it would be nice. I may go test drive a used a 16 DCLB TRD Sport Quicksand this week to see what it's like to get an idea of what they drive like compared to the 12-15 tacos. Which minus the locker/TRD Off Road is exactly what I wanted down to the color originally. But I like that the 12-15 is cheaper. Lol

 

I will also add >> similar situation in snow where your a bit off and only one wheel slips. ADDITIONALLY>> after having lockers here in Colorado. Axel locked and a set of cable chains have been well worth the price paid (read:many stories to tell). . . .Will you use it alot? Sup to you>> question is when you need it what kinda$$ would you pay, do you have any other recovery tools with you? Winch, HiLift (winch kit) etc.

 

Well guys, looks like I'm about to bite the bullet on a Taco! Picking up this truck in a few days, no locker but that's ok. It's got the long box and that's the main thing I wanted.

 

Congrats! Its a lot easier to add a locker after the fact than it is to add length to the bed lol.

 

For the record: in that pictures situation, the reason the locker wouldn't engage is the gears are lined up yet.

To solve that all you nee to do is spin the tires, right? At a different speed, right? So the differential can align? One tire is clean up and one is on the ground it's EASY to spin a tire. Let the rear end rotate slowly and the locker should engage easily in a situation like that. Or: if in doubt, lock it up! Best to not even get stuck, really.

 

Oh yeah at the time I posted that earlier this month, I hadn't yet learned why it behaved that way. After a few regular sleepless nights on TW I was brought up to speed lol.

 

Save the money you'd spend on a TRD off road and get some air lockers

 

This past weekend, we went 4 wheeling in a steep, rocky, muddy OR park. There's one hill that had water running down it. There is a curve in the middle of the hill. Also, just barely enough room at the base of the hill to get turned and start up the hill, so absolutely no running start. A friend tried it 3 times and couldn't make it. I tried 2 times without success, then I realized I didn't have my locker engaged. So I did that next.

I crawled up the hill without so much as slipping a tire....

My buddy had to find a way around it.

Case closed; Locker was the ONLY reason I made it up that hill.

I'm sure this isn't the only place on the planet where a locker made the difference.

 

Just wondering what is it about the longer bed that has sold you (you mentioned dirtbikes but was there something else)? Just a thought there are those flip out baskets for the bed to give length. I use mine for my dirt bike and long boards from Home Depot etc. (look this up>> AMP Research Moto X-Tender HD) works like a charm. There is even hitch hauler option like a friend of mine uses where he can put two dirt bikes on a hitch platform. ( I would add some air bags for the back suspention)
Also, another thought. Yes you could add a locker after the fact BUT is this really something you would spend the money on? Is it cheaper than getting it factory installed? Would you do it yourself? Can you do it yourself??? Ultimately the choice is yours and opinions are like assholes everyone has one.

 

Just to give you something else to think about. If you got a TRD Sport, you will have the Auto-LSD. There's a thread on here somewhere of a guy who put a Detroit Truetrac in his rear end with the Auto-LSD, and it would work pretty much as good as a locker. If he lifted a tire, the Auto-LSD would kick in, and the Truetrac is a gear driven LSD, so with some brake(Auto-LSD), it will transfer torque to the other tire.

 

O/R version comes with a rear locker, that's also slow and doesn't like to work all the time. Better to buy a sport and add lockers if you were going to buy air lockers anyway. Or do like me, swap your O/R rear axle for a sport rear axle and add an air locker

edit: well I am a dummy, I just re-read what you wrote.. and I agree

 

The long bed is nice to have for all sorts of stuff. If I ever haul a street bike or 2 it's nice knowing that all that weight won't be resting on the tail gate, even though most will on the front tire because of the way it's strapped down. I rarely go riding by myself and usually have another rider and bike with me, makes it a lot easier with the long bed. Another plus is that I don't have to find a place to store all the attachments that you described, although I may still get a bed extender because they are nice to have. Could I make the short bed work? Sure, but I haven't found anyone that would rather have a short bed after having the long bed. I would have LOVED to have the locker, but after reading all the responses I found the compromise was better suited for me to get the long bed for its utilitarian purposes, plus I'm unsure where I go that I would really need a locker. I can always add a locker later if I find myself doing more serious off-roading where I need it. I also found that in my opinion that the DCLB rides a littler smoother than the DCSB. I think I made the right choice, we'll find out soon enough right! Lol

 

93,000 miles, a LOT of off road trips, and not the first issue with the factory locker. It works well, as I said no issues, and it makes a huge difference in some situations. No need for aftermarket,

 

Almost a year later, how's your decision working out. I also needed the long bed mainly because I like taking my son camping on last minute, short trips and we sleep under the topper perfect. I hate setting up tents.

 

To everyone who failed to the the TRD off-road, I have a solution:

Buy my elocker axle, 2012, 28k miles, no issues.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/complete-trd-offroad-e-locker-axle-san-diego-800.470676/

 

Lockers are great if you'd actually
Need them. I decided on an Eaton truetrac. Best thing I've done to my truck.
Cheaper, reliable, less hassle, DD friendly. I suggest looking into it.

 

Holy cow, it has been close to a year!! So far I haven't needed a locker, but I would like to have one still. I really enjoy having the long box and really like the color. Now it's on some Goodyear Duratracs. I've been loving those! I want more mods, but I have other things I need to spend money on. Lol it works great for the dirt bikes and is fun off road. I want to find some more off road places locally, but there isn't much besides corn fields around here.

I have to bring it in to the dealer soon. I have some vibration when I leave a stop and from the 1-2 shift. It seems like it's related to the driveshaft carrier bearing, but I'll let them figure that out.

 

Did you get your vibration figured out? I've got a similar problem and can't seem to figure it out

 

I have seen those, I haven't ran into anyone who has really ran them though. Have you had any issues in snow? That's my primary concern. Off road is more secondary.

I haven't figured it out yet, in a few weeks I should have time to take it to the dealer for warranty. I have seen issues ranging from the driveshaft support, driveshaft angle and even some transmission mount issues. Hard to believe a truck with 28k would have those issues, but I feel like they were there before I owned it.