Buying help TRD OR?-Locker?

Ok, I apologize if these type of posts have been beaten to death here, I did search and have done some reading. Feel free to point me to the thread I may have overlooked.

I'm about to purchase a 08 access cab. I have it narrowed down to an automatic TRD-OR, or a 6spd manual SR5. (leaning toward the TRD auto)

I currently live in SD where the snow isnt thick but blows drifts across the road and gets some nice icy patches. I plan on moving back to colorado where I will actually use the tuck the way it was intended, Lotsa deep snow, trails etc.

My question is, Is having the locking diff right for me?
Why do people say it is bad in snow?
What else should I know about it?

I keep reading if you plan on driving it in the snow, its a bad choice. I'm not a serious off roader, always liked tacos and am looking forward to getting places with a truck.

I can't really afford the '09 with the traction control. And havent seen any for sale.

I was quite sure the TRD-OR was going to be the one I purchase, but all the negativity toward the locking diff. makes me wonder.

So what do you all think?

 

Welcome....I can't under stand why anyone would not want a locker. Its only used if you get stuck, and need to free the vehicle. You dont drive around with it locked. With that said, if you really dont Off Road then a SR5 or a sport would suffice.

 

I should clarify, I plan on doing a hell of a lot more with it than get groceries. If I went to moab, I wouldnt be crawling around on the rocks tho, too serious for me but I do get off the paved roads into mountains and stuff. I was/am driving an outback so perhaps I'm overcompensating for years of being limited where I could take it off road.

I guess I'm not totally clear what some view the drawback of a locking diff. being?

 

factory locking is incredible, i'd suggest it for anyone. it's the aftermarket lockers that are sketchy in ice and snow, especially the ones that try to auto-engage. basically if you're goin round a corner and both rear tires kick in, you're going to spin very easily

 

Lockers aren't going to do much for you in the snow, you're better off with the open diff and 4x4. Having that tracking wheel keeps you in a straight line. Depending on what you're planning on doing with your truck, you may not or ever need the locker. I did not get one with my truck and 3 years later do not regret not buying one. I have 4wd and it gets me through anything I need to go through, snow, mud, fire roads, etc. If you plan on more serious off roading or getting into rocks, the locker could prove very useful.

 

"Snow" conditions vary wildly.

The time that having a locked differential will get you into trouble is when you're driving on very slippery icy/snowy pavement, with all 4 wheels turning in 4hi, but with very limited traction on each wheel. The locker isn't intended for this purpose, and on a factory TRD Off Road setup, can't even be engaged until you switch to 4 lo.

Now, leave the pavement and turn down a snow covered dirt trail. It was kinda rough and bumpy with somewhat questionable traction to begin with, but now it's also covered in snow. Switch to 4 lo, lock the rear, and power down that road going 5mph. That's what the locker is for.

 

4WD... one tire in front and one tire in the rear... both with the least amount of traction will be spinning, if the other two are on firm ground and could pull you out IF they got some torque instead of the free spinning tires.

A locking rear differential will divide the torque between BOTH rear tires, equally... so if one is on firm ground it would be able to drive you out.

An after market add on could be a front locker... making both front tires have equal torque. ARB is very popular for a front locker.

IF you could get an '09+ Off Road 4WD, then you would get A-TRAC which puts torque to all 4 tires without affecting steering ability (why the locker is for emergency use only).

IF only one tire has traction, and it is on the front... only A-TRAC or a front locker will get you going.

GOOD LUCK on you choice!

 

Not your fault... no one knows how to title a thread properly.. then whines about the "search button".

 

If you are referring to me there, you didn't really read what I wrote. I searched, I read. Still got questions. so i guess I shoulda titled the thread "disadvantages of a locking diff"


So sounds like I understand the locker... I don't recall the thread, but there was quite a bit of negativity towards it. What is the disadvantage of it? I'm not really seeing one.

Is it simply the view that their is an advantage of a limited slip in winter driving?

 

The locker is a great thing to have. I can think of plenty of times just on forest roads here in CO when I had one side on snow and the other on dry ground where a locker (or at minimum a limited slip) is indispensible. It's a great tool to have in the arsenal. Plus I prefer the auto over the manual. Not rolling back means better starting traction.

 

no.. not you. I gathered your meaning more or less. Not great, but its not a contest.
I won't bother bringing up specifics but threads like "help!" and "look" and misspellings run rampant. "what do you get when..." thats another good one. People looking for the attention grabber not bothering with the idea that this is also an archive.


Lockers and spools in the winter suck. You're much better off with an open diff 4x4. Like someone else said. Spent some time in the desert and south west non desert.. went on a vacation to colorado with my locker.. oooh.. I had trouble just stopping to get the truck into 4x4 (selector hubs). Headed south as fast as I could .. unfortunately was snowing all the way past san angelo Tx.

 

The "negative" comments about lockers come from people such as myself who have installed aftermarket lockers. E locker was not available in my "02" trd dc as it was the 2.7 automatic.
I chose the powertrax no slip which is a full time locker with street friendly manners. We hardly get any snow here in south carolina so having both rear tires turning at the same rpm is no a big concern.
However if I lived farther north where it snows more frequent, I would opt. For an lsd or open diff.
I don't really care to experiment with the driving characteristics of a full time locked rear end in icy. Or snowy conditions. I think things would be very bad.

 

so matic.. your locker wasnt poppy and clunky and tire skiddy on pavement? I've never had a "street" oriented locker. They've always been pretty rough.

 

No sir. No pops, clanging, slamming or any of that. Doesn't even chirp around corners but you can here the wheel gripping.

 

I guess one thing I'm not understanding is, since you don't really just cruise around in bad weather with the differential locked, Why would it matter? How does the 4wd not locked work.. is it inferior in some way?

Please correct me or explain this if I'm wrong; The impression I'm getting, is that if you have it locked and are driving around you might have control issues if you are just driving around. And the 4wd unlocked... well I'm confused there.


I really cant believe I'm not grasping this, I'm really not mechanically stupid but this differential thing I have been confused about for a long time. Thanks all for the help.

 

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/120643-4wd-simplified.html
Check this out regarding 4wd. Like Matic said, the people who have negativity towards a locker are those who installed aftermarket lockers and had problems with the way they function. I have not heard anyone say anything bad about the factory locker. Your rear end will act like an open differential until you flip the switch (even in 4wd). The locker is like the 'oh shit' button if you will. It comes in handy when your one tires is spinning away on ice and the opposite tire is on dry pavement. Lock the axle and get yourself on your way. Your truck will act like a regular SR5 4x4 until you use your locker. So for normal cruising, there is nothing negative about the locker, you shouldn't even know it's there.

In 4wd, one of your front tires and one of your rear tires (the ones with the least amount of traction) will spin because of the open differentials. When you're in 4wd, you're locked front to back, not side to side meaning the transfer case puts equal power to the front and and rear end then the open differential distributes it to the tires.

ATRAC is a system that puts power to the tires that need it. I believe it's electronically controlled system that uses your brakes to transfer power to the tires that need it. Using braking it compensates for the open differential basically. It is not to be confused with the locker, different uses, different button to engage, etc.

 

there are no disadvantages of a locker, the only thing is though is that you dont wanna use it on snowy roads. it will only make your ass end swing around and get sideways/backwards in a heartbeat. Offroad the locker is great.

 

Good stuff.. thanks. Helps me decide a bit.

sounds like the 09 would be the shit... but like everyone says at the end of 90% of the reviews.... ya can't go wrong with a taco

 

Good luck, man!

 

They're right. You cant go wrong. Good Luck... Post Pics of what you end up with.