Looking for viable IFS lockers for cold weather.

I'm currently stationed in Guam waiting to be shipped to Alaska in December and have already ordered my OME lift with 883 coils, dakar springs and an arb bumper.

Question I have and I know that everyone says ARB, but I am looking for a selectable locker for the front. The Options I am looking at are the manual hub conversion or possibly ARB. Only problem I can see with the ARB is the cold weather Alaska has (freezing the lines, moisture, etc etc). Price is...well...not much of an issue.

I have plans on doing some simple upgrades to the truck because I don't rock crawl but I love the looks of my 4x4 and I am wanting a simple but very effective locker for my taco while I go in the back country for salmon fishing or hunting moose. I used to have a 95 Jeep wrangler that I swapped the Dana 35 out with a Ford 8.8" that had limited slip and threw in an aussie locker up front. So makes changes aren't that big of a deal. I "might" eventually got with a solid axle up front, but those are plans down the road.

Thanks guys!

 

Well put it this way. Your 4x4 is already relying on air lines (vacuum lines) and it still functions. Since the front diff is stationary for the most part the lines are kept out of harms way aswell.

Not sure what the manual hub conversion would accomplish for you? Besides making you get out in the cold and lock up your iced over hubs.

 

@Devin

That makes a lot of sense. Okay, so lets say ARB; I am already planning on putting some offroad lights on my bumper, relocating my turn signals and adding Whelen 500's on my arb bumper (after doing some modifications to it), http://www.whelen.com/auto/product?head_id=12&cat_id=74&prod_id=140 and going to buy an ARE camper shell with a baja rack and 4 more lights on top. I'm assuming I will need a switch and relay for the compressor and switch and relay for the locker too?

 

Can be any air supply capable of the required pressure. That could be a compressor or a stored tank or air or other gas like co2.

Should be able to get a pnp kit from arb for switches/wiring

 

If you buy the arb set up it will come with all the wiring, switches, relays and all that stuff, no worries there.

Also the arb bumper has the turn signals built into it, so no need to deal with a relocate.

 

There's also the choice of an ELocker up front.

 

Whoa really? I thought the arb was the only selectable option. I thought the same for the rear aswell minus the stock e lock.

 

Yessir. I just found out about it. There's a pretty recent thread started about it. I'll try to find it.

Edit: found it. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/front-ifs-e-locker.438253/

 

Ahh nice!! Good score on the OP's end for finding that!
I didnt look into the site but are they making one for our rears too??
Oh, i read down the thread a bit more and the OP does say it looks like they make one for the 8.4 too! Sweet! Fuckin expensive though! For that price id prolly just stick with the arb?? Im a big fan of on board air though so maybe im biased...

 

yea I know that I don't have to worry about about relocating the lights on the ARB bumper but i was wanting to relocate them so I can throw on some led lights up front to act as fog lights.

 

yes I've also read a lot of pages about the harrop locker and it seems that there isn't that much information about that locker at this time and even when people have contacted that company they can't confirm that it would fit in a tacoma even though it fits in a hilux and it was designed specifically for stock gear ratio's and i am eventually wanting to bump mine up from the stock 4.10's to 4.88's.

 

The arb is cheaper, easier to get, and more proven in this application. I see no need to get the elocker over the arb.

 

I agree, and thats probably the locker I will chose. I do appreciate the responses!

 

I would much rather have a LSD up front than a locker because it'll help whenever you're driving on snow covered roads. Lockers up front SUCK to steer with.

http://www.lowrangeoffroad.com/toyo...acoma-4runner-tundra-prado-90-tt-911a644.html

 

lsds will act the same as a locker in low traction situations like ice and snow. both tires will spin at the same speed because not enough torque can be applied on one wheel over the other. a selectable locker is the best for snow.

 

Yeah i have to agree. I myself have an arb in the rear and love that thing!

 

Ours is the firm importing and selling these Harrop beauties in USA. They fit most fronts and some rears as below (8") but we are working on development of 8.4" rears as well ("Under Development" below). ARB unit p/n shown also.

Pricing is competitive with ARB + compressor + install.

We got into this business because my partner and I wanted an alternative to air lockers, having run them for years. We have been bringing them in for the last two years and no problems. As for on board air, I am a fan of CO2 and have a PowerTank system for tires and tools. Each his own, eh?

See Sean's thread for fitment info. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/front-ifs-e-locker.438253/

 

Personally I wouldn't consider installing a locker in an independent front end. They are put together a lot differently than a solid axle and there is just to much opportunity for carnage. The guys over at Fourwheeler do a fair job of describing why and go on to recommend going with something like an Eaton Detroit True Trac instead. http://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/transmission-drivetrain/131-0606-front-locking-differentials/ Besides, from what you described it doesn't sound like you really need to go fullly locked anyhow.

 

Ya, I get it. In Land Cruiserland, the fanboys consider "real" trucks to have solid axles with 9.5" diffs. My BJ73 has two Harrops and is unstoppable, up to a point. Everything breaks eventually if you are stupid or harsh.

The IFS trucks are a different animal. My'02 Tacoma does a lot of things better than any of my Land Cruisers, some things not so well.It's like weapons and tools - you need to select the right spanner for the job and know how to use it.

Autolockers are great for many users and uses, but there are a lot of guys/gals out there with built and unbuilt IFS rigs that get what they need from a manual locker (electric, cable and air) without grenading the front end.

As mentioned above, these things are not inexpensive, but if used properly will get you home. Great technology will not trump poor judgement or skills.

 

I appreciate all if the responses! gonna put the locker on hold for now and see how effective my 4.10 gears will handle some 255/85's. I want 33's because I don't ever plan on going up to 35's