Planning for lockers and hunting trips

Hello all,

Lets start with what I need out of my truck. I am a hunter. I have a hunt club that can be dangerously muddy and rutted up. I drive out of state usually once a year to hunt, and some of the upcoming hunts will include remote places where I cannot afford to get stuck, but I dont expect rock crawling or serious off road type stuff. I expect mostly to encounter mud, loose sand on inclines, and ruts combining those factors.

My truck is a trd sport 6mt, for reasons left out its not a trd OR. Running 265/75/16 at3. I am looking to get my truck ready for the terrain I will encounter. Last week, two tacoma OR got stuck just getting into my club. Both had lockers, but one was 2wd. Ive never gotten stuck, but I have been in situations where I said “no thanks” and turned around.

While I havent needed it, I feel a rear locker is a very smart move. I am debating a front locker since getting both done at the same time would save me some money. The odds are I dont NEED a front locker, and Im not regearing. Id only do it now because it would save me money to do both at once. Id rather not have to do one later, and Id rather not get stuck in a place where recovery is challenging (no trees). I dont have a winch, but it seems the cost of a front bumper and winch would exceed that of a front locker and add a lot of weight to the truck.

I know a front locker on IFS can be a bad idea, and you need to be smart about when you use it. The other catch is, I am on stock trd sport suspension which is stiff. Eventually, Id be looking to upgrade that but the suspension is not my weak point at this moment, and I dont need additional ground clearance.

Thoughts?

 

First off, no offense but when I heard the words hunting club I cringe. I always picture a bunch of grown men not being serious about hunting as individual hunters who gain permission, while getting access to land and generally ruining hunting for others by not respecting land owners and state laws. That may not be the case with you guys, but I’m just being honest with my state and the hunting clubs I know of.

Second of all, I am pretty sure there are very few that have Sports that have done a rear locker add on. You and I both know it’s possible, but I have yet to find much as far as instructions or support is concerned.

Having a locker is a good insurance policy (I have an OR and have used it), but maybe try and add extra weight to the rear also to help with traction since our trucks are so light in the rear.

Whatever you decide make sure the parts will all work correctly and help with your goal rather than give you headaches. I too have heard the same about front lockers in our trucks.

 

In Florida its about the only way to hunt, unless you are really close to a huge tract of state land. And, for most situations you are correct. Most hunt clubs are not serious hunters. We dont have huge tracts of land you get permission to hunt here. We dont have farms, really. We have timber companies who will only do leases which create hunt clubs. Maybe in really rural fl people have enough private land, but we arent like most states.

Manual Sports share the same arb locker, manual has the same rear diff as a trd OR.

 

It can obviously be done and work well, but I am on here all the time and I don’t really see much about people doing it. I would say maybe check out some build threads and I know someone has to be adding lockers to both the front and rear in some cases.

I still think adding some weight will help and if that doesn’t work, then add a locker. Much cheaper to throw sand bags in there than add a locker for now. Once you get more info to feel confident about making the jump then I would try adding the locker.

 

Sounds like you just need some tires and recovery gear. A hybrid bumper would allow for a winch and not all the extra weight. Even cheaper option is the stealth front receivers. Mob town offroad makes a nice one for the tacomas. This will allow you to put a winch in a basket and use it on the front or rear of the truck. A recovery anchor could solve the problem of not having trees close by

 

Already have the cooper discoverer at3, which I love. Amazed at how well they perform.

Ive been looking in to those but I discounted the anchor since I there is a good chance I would have frozen ground. Maybe I dont know enough about them, though.

 

Get some maxtrax. Cheaper than a locker and more useful in the situation you described.

 

Sounds like a problem for a bigger hammer!
Seriously though, it sounds like you're going to spend money on lockers and then realize you still need good recovery gear, and probably could have done without the lockers

 

I think the rear locker is a smart move, but your line of thinking is where I am with the front locker.

 

I’d get recovery gear Maxxtrax and maybe a steel bumper and winch, that’s still cheaper than front rear lockers plus the onboard air. You can also get a 2” receiver mount hitch to use on the front or back.

 

I hear you. And I'm by no means an offroad professional, but I have spent time in very similar terrain you describe, and I've never had a vehicle with lockers. The right tires have seemed to always been the key. A lift can help fit the right tires, but not neccessary

 

OP you want to fully lock both axles running a stock suspension with 31.5”+/- tires?
And state you have no need for additional ground clearance?
What good are lockers when your frame is buried in mud ?
My experiences (opinion) would be to get a suspension lift, bigger tires, winch and a deadman anchor, rear locker and then if money isn’t a concern front locker. All in that order. Happy Hunting

 

This situation to me doesn’t need lockers. Just good tires and and TREDs or maxtrax.

Worst case get a LoPro bumper and a winch.

 

I have the exact same truck as you and am also considering a rear locker. Wouldn’t call myself an offroad pro by anyone’s definition, but I’ve spent a ton of time in the backcountry and had my share of sticky situations. My plan is to install an ARB twin compressor first so I can air down my tires anywhere, and see how far that gets me before dropping the serious cash on a locker. Might not be applicable in your particular situation, but just my thoughts.

 

Eventually, lift and larger tires are in order. I want to avoid going 5100s in the front and blocks in the rear just because its affordable. Our mud isnt that deep, its just very slick and when combined with wet grass, becomes a monster. I feel confident a rear locker is sufficient, and I value opinions by those more experienced. Partly, I was hoping to avoid having a winch/bumper. If it made sense to spring for a front locker now, Id rather save the money. Sounds like that probably isnt needed, though.

 

It depends on the situation. A locker may just cause both tires to spin.

Most people use lockers for off camber situations.

https://youtu.be/4U1SLSV9wNk

 

Maxtrax in snow and ice.

(Not me or my Jeep, but they ARE my Maxtrax )

 

What do you hunt on your lease?

 

Hogs mostly. Our deer are a lot of effort and patience (and tiny), so I hunt them out of state. We have osceola turkey, too.

You are right, most people do want a locker for off camber. I want one for raw traction and mud/sand incline. LSD is not nearly as good as a locker in mud. Mud provides just enough traction to let you bury one wheel before the other one spins to death. Very much like soft sand, the trick is to keep your momentum going - which is where the locker is nice.

 

I’ll echo what others have said. Get a winch. Much more useful and effective.

I’d hold off on the ARB locker idea. Especially if you’re going to be adding a lift and larger tires later on, you may want to regear. You could do it all at once then (lockers and gears).