Lunchbox Lockers?

I keep hearing how lunchbox lockers are extremely dangerous on snowy/icy roads. Can someone explain how or why they are dangerous? Like....what are the mechanics behind it? I just dont see how locked rear wheels are bad while driving in a straight line. Also, doesnt the lunchbox locker unlock when turning?

 

Ive had them in the past, only time you really notice them is either coasting into a parking spot, you'll hear them ratcheting, and then gunning it on a sharp turn, it'll lock them up. In rain and snow I didnt notice it at all.

 

Also not sure if these new Tacomas are super sensitive abs/traction control wise, but that stuff might freak out if the tires are locked in 2wd/abs and traction control on. Hence why most people go with selectables

 

What about driving fast on a windy, mountain road? Do they unlock while hugging turns? What if the road is wet and slippery?

 

I never noticed, even getting on the gas and off the gas at highway turns at speed and in the wet. Those turns aren't nearly as sharp as you would take in a parking lot, so its negligible.

 

They aren’t predictable on highways and will lock and unlock sometimes which could create traction issues. Locked axles on ice and snow also can pull a vehicle into a slide when power should be cut to a wheel vs applied and unpredictable locking makes driving characteristics harder to manage.

A fully locked axle with a spool for example is much more predictable to drive

 

I can't speak for a lunchbox locker itself, but you should really only be using a locker if you're doing some hardcore off roading or if you are stuck.

No, I don't believe they disengage until you disengage them. You'll likely see some tire wear issues since your tires can't spin appropriately in corners.

 

Ran one in my old toyota daily driving for 2 years. No issues like I've said above, just a tire chirp here and there in a parking lot. Lunch box lockers are pretty weak too, as the pins will break or wear out eventually. Went to a welded diff instead.

 

Usually the carrier is the weak point in a lunchbox locker depending on the diff

 

But they are relatively cheap and easy to replace, right? Does it damage your truck if the locker breaks?

 

Yeah they are cheap, but you get what you paid for. And yeah, once the pins/whatever breaks in the lunchbox, you now have those chunks flying around in the diff and the locker is useless. Huge upgrade would be a detroit, and at that point you might aswell just spend a little more and get a selectable, either an E Locker or Arb.

 

Old standard non-tacoma 8", the pins/locker break like this a lot. Had a couple buddies get 2-3 wheeling trips on them before they broke like this with 33s lol.

 

Lunchbox Lockers are really only as strong as the carrier. Detroit and ARB have strong reputations because they replace the factory carrier.

Typically you lose your carrier first which requires a diff rebuild and there really isn’t anything cheap or easy about it.

 

Individual results might vary when it comes to driving feeling. I would not run one in a street vehicle. This is based off my short lived experience borrowing an XJ with one. The XJ was way too sketchy unless it was in 4WD, 2WD was just not fun on ice and snow. I'm sure it would be fun in an open parking lot, but commuting just nope.

Just a huge nope from me, there's a reason why e lockers and air lockers exist

 

Ah man that’s super lame. What a pain. Got a lunchbox on the right but different setup.

 

I'm here for the lunch.

 

How the lunchbox got past the NSTB is beyond me. But my guest is that they know a guy

 

I’ve been daily driving with a powertrax for a year now and I don’t notice anything except the clicking while pulling into a parking space. We just got hammered with snow then ice here in Seattle and it never felt unsafe in fact it was awesome. It seems to blend in well with my trucks traction control.