Locker in the Snow & Dirt

I've got a prerunner.

I regularly hit up some winding dirt roads nearby, usually traveling anywhere from 15-40 MPH. I hit some steep terrain sometimes and was wondering what the best setting is for optimum traction while on these roads? Would it be my ALSD or could I go the entire way with my locker engaged?

Also, I know that manual states that the locker is for conditions in which you are stuck or need to power traction to both wheels. I'm planning on hitting up the snow soon too. If I were to get stuck, needing traction to both wheels, how do I get my differential to engage when I am stuck? I have had, and know other members here have had, issues with their locker engaging which are usually solved by driving a short distance while turning. I cant really creep and turn when I'm stuck in snow, so how do I engage the differentials?

 

I use my locker all the time. You can go fast to if you want. As for being stuck, try pressing the button, turning the wheel back and fort, and giving some gas.

 

lockers are really only needed if you have a tire coming off the ground...as in rock crawling...if all 4 wheels are on the ground, your auto LSD is more than sufficient in 4 wheel drive.

 

He's got a Prerunner. I've got a Prerunner and it engages pretty quick if its got one wheel spinning a bit. I crawled out of a pretty nasty hole by rocking my truck a bit with the locker engaged.

 

wait im confused, you have a prerunner with locking rear diff. I thought that the locking rear diff was only available on TRD off road 4 wheel drive models.

 

A Rear differential locker comes standard with ALL TRD OR packages, regarless of 4x4 or 4x2.

 

damn i didnt know that. So you can engage the locker whenever you want huh, Thats pretty cool.

 

Alright so AUTO LSD on dirt roads, unless I'm stuck and need traction to both wheels, at which point I'll use the locker.

What about general driving in snow? Best traction for that?

 

4 wheel is fine, unless u have some steep grades..than rear locker should be the way out

 

the biggest misconception about snow and mud, is that 4 wheel and lockers = lets go faster, yes you have more traction to go faster, but stopping is always stopping, and lockers, 4 wheel, lsd, do not give better stopping power, or better turning power on twisty roads. best bet, is to go to a parking lot after a fresh snowfall, and learn the mechanics of your truck and how it reacts to gas and break and 4 wheel and lockers...hope this helps.

ps - the mud will get everywhere haha, but thats what trucks are for

 

I would use the locker BEFORE i got stuck....to keep from getting stuck....

 

I was thinking the same thing but the roads I use are pretty windy so wont this create a problem since the differentials are locked?

 

If you're already using the locker,and get stuck,what would you use to get un-stuck?

 

You have an 09 which has the AUTO LSD. You don't have a mechanical LSD like most people think.

You can add a locker to the rear if you want, but the best ideal options (IMO) are going with an ARB locker in the rear and they are not cheap.

Lockers really shouldn't be used unless you are stuck, lose traction, or if you think a situation would be unsafe for you to get stopped/stuck.

Honestly? If you have a 2WD and your traveling regularly in areas that your worried about getting stuck - perhaps its time to get yourself a new truck with 4WD. Otherwise, get an ARB in the rear and use it wisely.

 

a few guys at work that have tacos, frontys, fjs, etc... all seem to conclude they rarely use the locking rear diff. none of them go off road so... they all seem to agree the locker is nice to have but if they could do it over they would have saved the money and bought one without. as a side note one of the guy destroyed their rear diff by accident so just understand how it works...

i personally would like to have it as i do go off road but i'm not doing anything hardcore by any means. but you never know when it might come in handy...

 

like mentioned earlier, i do wheel with some pretty hardcore people, and you only really need lockers when you are "flexing". The lockers ensure that when a tire slips, the other tire gets power, and not just teh one in the air (path of least resistance) so you can still move, serious offroaders use front and rear, and there are many obstacles you wont be able to pass without front and rear, but on the road, lockers are not needed. on ice, theywill help you, but wthout the right tires, lockers and ice still = not a good situation.

 

one guy with a Taco told me last winter (we got a bad winter) he felt using the locker in deep snow was really not needed. Normally in snow storms (deep snow) he was able to use 4Hi and a few times he needed to kick in 4Lo. Ice forget it. Its just like any other AWD car. If you don't know how to use the 4x4 system you could be spinning all day????

on an incline (hill) with a sheet of ice what is the best way to handle getting up it? 4Lo? and crawl up? Just curious.

 

if your already using it and get stuck im pretty sure your screwed, cause if you went into it without the locker, then got stuck, then tried using the locker you will most likely be just as stuck if not worse than if you attempted it with the locker engaged.

 

absoultely, on a hill covered with ice, 4lo and slow, keep momentum moving.

 

Actually 4WD does give you better turning power on twisty roads since the front tires will pull you in the direction your pointing them.

I don't recommend testing this, but it does work. If it wasn't the case they wouldn't require AWD for rally cars.