Harris Eaton Elocker 2nd gen

Came back from florida last night and this was waiting for me:

 

rAmen brother! You're gonna love it!

 

@Cruiser Brothers
What gear oil do you recommend I run after installing the locker? I'm only swapping the carrier so gears are already broken in

 

Here ya go

https://www.cruiserbrothers.com/wp-content/themes/cruiser-bros/images/Harrop_Installation.pdf

 

What sort of switches seem to be a good fit?

anything else of note on an installation?

 

It comes with a switch but I'm gonna use the factory e locker switch.
Anyone have a download of the electrical wiring diagram for that? Looking for the pinout

 

Going off that attitude, by getting a new car you have to deal with the possibility of faulty electrical connections, potential of being left stranded because of said faulty electrical connectors which then get eaten up by rats (because new wiring is soy based insulation) while the truck is stranded, then while you are walking around to try and find a tow truck you get mugged by a gang of homeless people of all your savings in the bank.

 

i have had a4x4 since 1978 ( i am 63 )and my first front traction diff was the new just relist in i think 1979 true track . and ever 4x4 i have owned got a front true track & rear but the front is my main one . if i could choose it would be a true track . i have a 2005 Tacoma i bought new and waited for 5 years for the true track to be designed ,and just gave up. i have ARB and its been very good no problems yet . but TRUE TRACK is my first choose

 

I am interested in the Harrop, but the price is higher than needs to be. I get a business needs to make money, but good grief, lower the price and you will sell more (Ford and the Model T ring a bell). High prices are what drives people to find alternatives and find a home fix for a 1/4 of the price. Innovation I guess. I do own a small business and I am well aware of price points and cost of manufacturing. There is a balance and to make money I have found keep the price realistic.

I am looking at the ARB, but my previous experiences with them have kept me from getting one. Every friend that has had one had issues with the air system; seals, lines, compressor. A vehicle I used overseas had an ARB, yep had issues with that one. All of the issues are the airlines and seals, the actual locker is rock solid.

Can Harrop get a realistic price point and get more buy-in or do people go with ARB and spare parts for trail fixes at a lower price point.

If the Harrop was around $1,000 I would not question buying one. Currently they are listed at $1,395... ARB is looking like a better deal. Even with a $100 discount the ARB is way ahead.

 

You have to remember that these are imported from Australia in small volumes, Harrop doesn't distribute them directly so a lot of the cost is shipping and tariffs. Also with the ARB you have the added cost of a compressor to deal with.

I've been very happy with how they have performed and would absolutely do it again even at the newer higher price. @Cruiser Brothers runs specials occasionally and may have friendlier pricing available than what is listed on their website.

 

I don't doubt the capability of either locker or the views of those that use them. I have experiences with ARB.

Yes there is added cost with the compressor. If I already have a compressor there is no added cost.

FYI: ARB is an Australian company as well. Take a look at their website, they have a US ARB as well, but in the USA webpage it states: Designed and manufactured in Australia, ARB Air Lockers® will enhance the traction of your 4×4 in just about any terrain, whether it’s rock, clay, gravel, sand, snow or mud. Now with a state-of-

From ARB in Australia
https://www.arb.com.au/air-locker/ From their website: Designed and manufactured in Australia, ARB Air Lockers will enhance the traction of your 4×4 in just about any terrain, whether it’s rock, clay, gravel, sand, snow or mud.

 

i was told buy Eaton they would have a TRUE TRACK ,in 2006 WAITING ?for my 2005 Tacoma 4x4 i bought new

 

subbed

 

Yes, while ARB has a US subsidy, my point was Harrop does not have one. I believe @Cruiser Brothers is the sole US importer.

 

For those that are waiting on the Eaton Elocker, Harrop worked with Eaton to build the Elocker. From their website: In collaboration with Eaton Corporation we have developed the Harrop Eaton ELocker Differential for a range of popular 4WD vehicles.
https://www.harrop.com.au/shop/4x4-performance/elocker/

It is not difficult or expensive to get parts into the US from Australia or many other countries. One state side supplier, customs or tariffs are not the issue.

ARB set a great price point ($990, not sure if shipping is additional) and will include with a free compressor until 03/30/19.

I am looking at putting a FJ full time front axle (getting rid of ADD) plus changing out gearing and addition of a locker. Not that I am a cheap, but I do look at value or bang for the buck. My goal was to install the Harrop Elocker up front, but not at their current price point.

I am glad you have one and I am sure it works great. Unfortunately the price pushes people towards other manufacturers.

As a business you have to make money to stay viable, if you have a choice of selling 5 at $1,400 or 15 at $1,100 and say your expenses were $500 per piece based on design thru manufacturing on 1000 units, where do you stand to make more? Plus, at $1,400 and 10 sitting on shelf, you are losing money as you are out $500 per piece until they sell. Do the math

Sell more faster to cover the initial cost and get a start on your returns earlier vs loss due to slow movement. Why do you think there was mention of a group buy? More units sold = better returns plus others will follow.

 

Just an FYI, but down here is Aus we are seeing some of the 8in Hilux Harrop elockers fail...

https://www.newhilux.net/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=4521&start=200

Also seen one of these fail in a Nissan Patrol.

 

Thanks for sharing. Can you take it apart and post pics? Is it material or design that is failing?

 

It's uncertain what the cause is but the retaining screws on the pinion shafts come loose. It may be that the axles rub on the retaining screws as no thread locking compound seems to solve this problem.

 

Would be interesting to get my hands on one. It does look like rubbing when you zoom in. Is it possible the axles have slight movement in and out and rub up against it at critical moments. As for the retaining screws, maybe a reverse thread to prevent from walking out and trim the ends of the axle shafts and/or reduce the thickness of the plate it is rubbing on to include a different shoulder height on the screw?? Or am I completely off the mark?

 

Harrop doesn't care about the US market, these were not designed with us in mind, they just happen to work on US-spec trucks. Because of this they are imported in low amounts instead of a full shipping container so economies of scale don't help spread the cost over many units. For such a niche product it doesn't make sense to invest a lot in inventory.

This isn't the light bar or wheel market where you need to compete on price. If you want a selectable locker in a Toyota 8" IFS clamshell you have 2 options, ARB Air locker or Harrop E-locker. Both have positives and negatives, for me, the positives of the e-locker exceeded the negative of the cost.

While you aren't wrong that more would sell if they were cheaper, would the extra inventory costs make sense? It's not Harrop, the manufacturer, selling it here, it's an importer that has to buy goods at the wholesale price and then wait for them to be shipped from Australia on a ship, clear customs and then warehouse them until they sell.