Should i invest in a locker?

Hello, i currently drive a 2015 Taco PreRunner with the 2.7 L4, and wanted to know if investing in a locker would be reasonable. I don’t go off-roading very often but wanted to get out there more and didn’t want to get stuck on a washed out trail (happened before). Was a complete idiot and didn’t turn my “Auto LSD” switch on, want to know how it compares to the locker.

 

Lockers aren't an end all, they can actually cause you to sink and dig in worse. But it would be nice to have when jammed up like that.

 

Get a Torsen LSD

 

Ok cool i’ll have to look into those

 

100% absolutely! The ARB air locker completely changed my truck and I was able to do 90-95% of what my 4x4 friends could do. It let me get to places and feel comfortable going places offroad I would never attempt without. You gotta learn how it can make situations worse (mostly slippery conditions) but it’s amazing, don’t hesitate. Throw a winch on there for your “front wheel drive” and you’re set.

I’m in the process of converting to 4wd, mainly wanted the low gears, otherwise I was content on where my truck had gotten me. Also auto LSD sucks. It’s never done anything for me lol

 

A shovel and a pair of traction boards will be just as helpful, or maybe even more helpful than a locker.

 

+1 on a Torsen over a locker. If you are hard core off roading, by all means go for the locker.

If not hard core and looking for real world performance in daily driving and better traction than you have today when off road then an Eaton truetrac is the ticket. And a couple hundred less than an ARB air locker to boot. Yes, I have one, it is fantastic.

 

Is welding your differential out of the question?

 

This plus a hi-lift, safety equipment, etc... Do this for a while and if you find yourself getting more hardcore, then get a locker. You'll be a better driver for it.

 

Doesn’t seem worth the expense to me. Will it help alittle? Sure. But the end of the day you’re still 2wd and be limited by that more than whether or not you’re locked.

locker is not a substitute for 4wd. I’d agree with everyone else that said get some recovery gear and enjoy your truck as is.

 

Genuine question but how would it be more helpful?

 

Really handy for getting unstuck in a lot of different situations.

 

I think i’ll that direction and maybe in the future if it becomes a necessity i’ll invest in a locker, thank you so much i appreciate it!

 

In 8 years of owning my Taco, I never needed to use my electronic locker. Lo range 4x4 gets the job done. I think of it as insurance though, nice to have an ace in the back pocket if needed.

...and tire pressure.

lower tire pressure + Lo Range gear =

 

The OP has a Prerunner, so low range or even 4WD is not an option.
However, your advice on lowering air pressure in the tires is the single best advice to anyone (2WD or 4WD) to improve traction when climbing, less chance of flats when driving on rocky roads, and floatation in sand. Drop to 10-20 psi in each tire, depending on the surface and your truck weight, tire type.

 

AUTO LSD is an enhanced limited slip system... not as effective as a locker but better than nothing! Press the button anytime you are in a off-road situation and (as I mentioned above), lower the air pressure in your tires!

 

I opted to get an e locker...got ecgs building my differential changing my gearing n add e locker...I have an 07 prerunner with the mechanical lsd. I’m not trying to crawl up rocks, just have a lil more fun

 

I never really needed my locker much until last summer wheeling with my ATRAC not working (turns out the connectors behind the dash for the ATRAC switch and aux plug are the same and I accidentally switched them when installing a new head unit - took a year to figure out).

It made me really appreciate what an impressive system ATRAC is. Without it I was using my locker ALL THE TIME! It was actually kinda a good exercise wheeling without it to remember how annoying fully open diffs can be offroad.

But as mentioned before OP is a prerunner so no 4lo and no ATRAC.

 

Well we've decide. Torsen LSD and lower tire pressures.

 

How's that locker working out for you? Pretty penny but maybe worth it