2nd Gen Tacoma Lockers..

Well like the title says, what kinds of lockers are available for the 05-15 Tacomas? I know about ARB. But besides that what other kinds are there? Ive been looking into the OX lockers but they dont have the electric ones for the tacoma. Ive ran into the eaton/ harrop E-locker thats offered by ECGS but thats a pretty penny. I'd prefer something thats an actual locking differential, not just a lunchbox locker or a limited slip diff style where it uses clutches. Any input is appreciated.

 

For a true selectable locker your only options are Harrop or arb. Or swap your rear axle out for a trd off-road axle with an elocker and figure out the wiring.

 

I'm in the same boat with you OP. I'm leaning towards the Eaton option as there is less likely of potential failure due to an air leak with the ARB. That would really suck to deal with on the trail.

 

TJM makes an air locker. Similar to the ARB. Some people think it's better, some people don't.

 

Losing a compressor is a possibility, but a remote one really, more so if you have a small dedicated locker compressor (using them to air up is tough on them). The lockers themselves rarely fail randomly. The seals leaks for a while to warn you. The most common failure is the air line getting cut or melted, some of which you can minimize with careful routing and carrying a few 1/4"/6mm inline connectors and length of spare tubing.




I had Air Lockers in my old truck for about 6 years and the only issue I had was a semi-persistent spit of gear lube from the solenoids on disengagement. The lube would work it's way past the seals on long highway pulls and with each cycle of use it would slowly get pushed up the air line. I eventually put bypass tubes on the solenoids and directed the exhaust back under the truck, so it was a free constant undercoating inside the fender.

Point being, they are IMHO very reliable. And the design is failsafe, meaning there's no way short of total carrier failure to end up stuck locked, which is actually the worse thing. Being stuck open in a diff makes things tough but having a second locked axle, winch and/or partners can usually get you limped home while having a diff stuck locked means you can drive on hard surfaces, pavement, etc.

 

An air locker is nothing to worry about as long as you install, or have it installed correctly. I've had mine for a good while now and have had no trouble from it. Don't mind this O'l Mall Crawler though.