2wd Rear Locker

I'll get razzed for this, but honestly I did use the search function for this topic and only found discussions on 4wds.

I'd like to install an air locker on my 2016 SR5 Tacoma 2wd. Is this something I can purchase from Arb and have it installed without much issue? The ARB site doesn't have specifics on 2wd vs. 4wd rear axles or installation. Is so which one, there's quite a few different Tacoma lockers.

I live part time in Idaho where the roads are icy/snowy 3 months out of the year. And yes, I should've bought a 4wd, but hindsight is a bitch. Thx dudes.

 

Shouldn't be an issue, but keep in mind the rear third member must be removed and disassembled to get the rear locker set up, meaning your ring and pinion lash will have to be reset, I highly recommend this is done by an experienced professional and you get a warranty on it, double so for the arb locker just incase of air leaks.

Along with the locker you will need some kind of air compressor system. It can get pricy depending on how crazy you want to go with OBA.

Ultimately though it will be the same for a 2wd as a 4wd, you just need to know if you have the 8" or 8.4" ring gear and order appropriately.

Another point to consider is since you'll have the rear out and apart and already paying for labor to reset the gears you might consider upgrading a few things, Nitro Gears, solid crush pinion spacer, re-gear for larger tires etc.

Lastly besr in mind a locker on snow and ice is a recipe for a donut disaster. Only use it when you are stuck, driving with it on in snow and ice can lead to some pretty nasty surprises.

 

if snow is your concern instead of a rear locker i would look into putting a transercase and frnt diff on to make it 4x4. electrnic tc might be out of the question but a manual tc might work. but by the time you do all that you could just trade up to a factory 4x4 taco.

 

Money would probably be better spent on getting a good set of winter tires and adding weight to the bed. Then getting a locker for snow. Saying that I have a locked 2wd and it is more capable then a 2wd with an open diff. Just not in snow.

 

Lockers are not good for icy/snowy road conditions, not at all. Ideally, you want 4wd for that. If you wanted to make your 2wd rig more offroad capable, a locker would be a great idea...but for commuting/daily driving in snow having a locked diff can easily make matters a lot worse.

Like said above, the best thing to do for your 2wd is to get good snow tires, chains, and add weight to the bed.

 

snow tires

 

Thanks for the replies guys. Have snow rated KO2s, but I'll throw a couple sandbags in the bed to see how that helps. It's not so much the main roads, just a residential hill our winter house is on that's doesn't stay plowed.

 

Snow rated and snow tires are very much NOT the same animal, snow rated means a little snow might not kill you, snow tires mean they were made to handle snow and do it quite well.

If you're willing to shell out for a locker, I'd take half that money and put it towards dedicated snow tires and maybe even cheap beater wheels for thr slushy season.