Diff lock or suspension upgrade? NooB needs help!

hey everyone i am pretty new to the tacoma world but im very eager to start modding my truck and get it ready to handle some of the rugged North Carolina terrain. my predicament is whether to purchase the difff lock as my first mod or to go with a full suspension kit from dsm. i plan on going with icon resis front and rear with deaver leafs and total chaos upper a arms.


http://www.marlincrawler.com/differential/complete/toyota-electric-equip-8-v6


marlin crawler has this diff here. However i dont know jack about gear ratios. i underr stand what a diff does but when numbers and ratios come into play i get lost easy. its a real PITA searching the forum for info talked about 3+ years ago.


which mod seems more practical? and or beneficial as a first major mod?
If you can break down gear ratios or send me a link to something explaining them thatd be friggen awwesome!

Thanx for reading and sorry for the noobish questions.

 

Locker with a good set of tires will take you farther than a lift will.

 

My opinion, do both and throw in some sliders. Either route you listed there is spending way too much on each item. In North Carolina you aren't going fast off road, so just get a more simple suspension setup that will suffice just fine. Tundra struts or OME struts are my personal choice on IFS with stock control arms. No issues with leaking on a DD or having to be rebuilt, I had 70k on my OME struts and shocks and they were still kicking when I got rid of my IFS 4Runner. Throw some All Pro leafs in the back with 5125's and call it a day. Yeah CO's are sexy, the adjustment is nice and they will ride somewhat better if properly valved, but from a value perspective you are better off saving that cash and....buying a locker at the same time. Go for an Aussie or Spartan till you are ready to re-gear and then sell the locker and buy a new third built with an ARB. A mild lift, sliders, and 33's with a locker will amaze you if you have never really been off road before.

I'll prolly get lit up for this but I believe that this is the best route to building a capable IFS trail truck on a budget.

 

If you must choose between the two, lock the diff. Dudes are right, locker and good rubber will get you further. They aren't icons, but If you find you really need the extra clearance, maybe a set of 5100's and an aal will fit in your budget for now. Just a thought

 

Given yours is 4wd I would go with lift/tires first and diff second. I don't see a point in buying new tires now if you plan to lift later.

 

Don't have a first gen but:



Good mid-grade lift like OME or Billys and locker FTW

 

ya, 5100's add a leaf and cheap rear shocks with a basic rear locker and call it good. icon's are triple the price of a lunchbox locker like aussie, lockright and so on.. so if that is your budget you could possibly get both for just a bit more cash. just remember the locker is great when not lifted but if you have no skids you will be risking some damage from being so low.. either way you are going in the right direction.

 

Im going to throw a curve ball at you, and suggest some other options and make the decision harder.


Normally I would say a rear locker if you have the option, because that alone will make the truck twice as capable. BUT if you plan on going full MT set up at once then the high speed stuff you will be able to do with the truck will be a blast for you. Your choice for suspension components front and rear is pretty darn good and you will have a lot of fun with it. Just be sure to talk to deaver and icon personally so they can help you select the correct pack and shocks. And if you are new to wheeling maybe you arent doing the challenging trails yet that truly require a locker. However having a locker on any trail is nice just because it gives you that added assurance.

Another thing to consider, and I dont think anyone has caught it yet...if if your truck didnt already come with an e locker buying an e locker third WILL NOT BOLT RIGHT IN TO YOUR TRUCK. If this is true, and you do not have the e locker already thank me, because I just saved you from making a 1000 mistake. The TRD OR has a different axle than the open diff. (8" and 8.4" respectively, thought the ring gears are basically identical).

This is a good thing though, if you are going to foot the cost for a new third anyway getting and ARB locked 8.4 third is better than the e locker because the arb is stronger. You will have to get a compressor but its essential to have anyway if you plan on off roading. With that though, if you ever plan on running bigger tires and adding armor and a ton of weight a regear might be in order down the road, and you dont want to pay for the ARB and then pay the full price AGAIN to send it back to be regeared. Doing the gears and locker at once is always the best option. However you also have to do the front and rear at the same time, which essentially doubles your price for gears.

So in your situation. I would say get the full suspension set up, front and rear have fun with it, and see where you want to go next when you have another chunk of change to throw away. That Is really the best way to do it so you are on the right track! Do things in chunks, but big chunks so you dont have to go back and redo it later when you upgrade something else, because usually everything crucial on the truck ties in and plays off everything else.

I spent a while typing this novel up, to take it to heart haha. If you have any questions shoot away. Ill do my best to give you a no nonsense answer or direct you to someone who can

 

Just my opinion here, but I would lock the front with something like what I have, which is an Aussie mechanical locker. I have a locked front and an open rear (until I get the electrical done) and it makes a WORLD of difference. Here is the concept: Locking rear is great for traction, but it still makes the front end spin if losing traction, and will cause the tires to plow the mud, or not pull at all. Locking the front is akin to creating a front wheel drive vehicle (And face it, we all know a front wheel drive vehicle does GREAT in lower traction areas) with power to both front wheels. This allows the truck to grab, bite, and pull the truck, with the added umph of the rear driving it forward. Since an Aussie locker is not that expensive, it gives you the opportunity for a decent lift and tires as well. And an Aussie installs EASY.

Just my opinion.

 

If I go with the all pro leafs and bilsteins, what shock body would I go with for a moderate lift with a good amount of travel? I am yet to tow anything so I was opting for the standard leafs. or would I be better off just running a ome kit from all pro?

Locker is now on the back burner since I want to get larger tires in order to make good use of the locker once I finally decide its time. right now I want clearance/ flex and more up and downward travel. I figured CO's bc they are adjustable. would I need uniball upper a arms with the ome kit?

 

I'd get Total Chaos uniballs on any new front suspension.

As some others have alluded to, I would get a more practical lift, save a ton of money, and get the locker with it all. Unless you're a millionaire, race your truck competitively, or have a small penor complex, a fancy high dollar icon set up etc is overkill. You'll love having the locker, especially when you pay less than half on a solid suspension lift.

 

bleh

 

^^how do you quote someone without doing what I just did at the bottom of that?^^^^

 

Both would be good options and be beneficial to whatever offroading you plan on doing. Open diffs with a lift will take you alot of places. It may take a bit more finesse but it's doable. Having a locker will add some peace of mind and reassurance and take you alot of places as well. I know a few times i wished i had a locker. But in your case i'd go with suspension first. Those icons will ride like a dream and i think you'll be happy with your purchase.