Locker and snow

Hey everyone,

Noob with off roading and tech. Is a rear locker like on the OR or an aftermarket ARB beneficial for riding in the snow and slippery conditions? Seems if you’re sliding, making both tires spin will just make them both spin out, no? Is regular 4x4 without a locker just as good in the snow? Where exactly does the locker really shine?

 

Locker shines in off camber situations when one rear wheel is off the ground and soft sand like the beach or river washes.

 

4x4 with no locker is the way to go in the snow. Only use the locker if you get stuck or are in a ditch.

 

You can turn the locker off and on on demand...

 

Thanks guys. So why in sand then? Wouldn’t that be similar to snow?

 

Same with 4x4...

 

If your stuck in the sand.

 

next time your in the snow, try your locker and see what happens! Seriously though, I did. It sucks! Lockers in sand on the other hand CAN be good!

 

I don’t have a lot of experience in sand, but that type of situation is essentially bottomless if you get stuck. You want to keep all your tires moving to avoid sinking in the sand, and turning is more forgiving.

 

Lockers+snow+chains on the back=win though, for the deep stuff.

 

What type of snow/sand driving do you do or plan on doing?

 

Right but 4x4 are on both trucks, we are talking locker vs non-locker.

Edit:
Completely separate and unrelated comment directed to OP's original comment below.

Acting like having a locker is somehow a hindrance is incorrect. There's times where it's helpful, like climbing, and times where it's not, like on a sidehill. I don't understand the thought that having more tools at your disposal somehow makes something as useful as a tool with fewer options.

 

Yes I agree lockers are great tools, I have used mine plenty of times. The point I’m making is that for regular driving in the snow using a locker is not the best idea and that using 4x4 only will get to where you need to go safely.

 

A locker alloys you to transfer power evenly between the tires as opposed to sending power to the wheel with the least resistance. It depends on what situations you’re discussing. If you’re saying driving on roads that are plowed, then I agree in saying a locker is not optimal because you will more easily break the tracking of the rear and loop out of not careful.

If it’s thick powder and there is lots of resistance, unplowed or undriven snow, then I would think a locker would be beneficial due to increasing the surface are of the power to the ground.

We categorize sand similar to snow, but there is a lot more resistance to sand and you use a lot more momentum in your benefit. Your not as worried of looping out the rear as you are just keeping your momentum going. It’s really the opposite if you think about it.

A locker REALLY shines when you have ares with strange cambers. When a wheel leaves the ground in an open diff you’re screwed. With a locker the power is still transferred to the wheel making contact with he surface.

Not necessarily. The OE lockers that are on the OR is only usable in 4 LO unless you do the mod.

 

Just so we are clear, I'm not advocating using a locker on the road in the snow, I'm saying using it where you need more traction than 4wd provides. Which happens sometimes.
Also most of my reply wasn't in context to a comment of yours, I should have made a second post, sorry for any confusion that caused.

 

No such mod for the third gen.

Edit:
I just saw this thread.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/lock-stock-and-2wheel-low-3rd-gen-diy-mod.536677/

 

I didn’t get that same analysis from his post. I don’t disagree that more tools that are available can be very helpful when used correctly but if we are just discussing if a locker is beneficial in snow to let’s say, buy a new truck to drive to work where snow is common, then it may not be the best option.

 

Well that really limits that option then. I though someone figured that out already?

 

But either way, 4x4 in any snow is still better than 4x2 correct?

 

Undoubtedly.