Diff Locker

Got a 2014 and looking for info on whether to install locker for all wheel drive? Looking for recommendations worth the cost or benefit?

 

Your truck is 4wd, not All Wheel Drive. There is a difference. Are you talking about a locking diff for just the rear axle, or for both axles.

A rear locking diff is one of those things that is really nice to have but is rarely used unless you do some pretty serious off-road driving. I've owned 4X4's since the 1970's and didn't own one with a locking rear diff until 2007. I've only used it a couple of times and could have managed without it then. But it did help, and I'd not buy another truck without it. Not sure I'd spend money to add one though. It would depend on the cost.

Very few people use one in the front and rear. Only serious hard-core off-road drivers who often end up with one or more wheels off the ground at times can really justify them.

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Rear lockers are very handy. Rear axle articulates more, so you get more out of a rear locker, and not a lot of negatives
Front lockers (always do rear first) do help with traction but you really do need to be doing some pretty aggressive stuff to need it. They also make it harder to turn.

 

Great thoughts and appreciated. I have taken an earlier Toyota thru the Rubicon near lake Tahoe many years ago. Now located in middle TN and got 7" of snow. Would be nice to have extra traction but maybe not worth the cost. Maybe I'll add a winch down the road.

 

Another option to look into is a Detroit True Trac, I added one to the rear diff when regearing my truck.

 

I suggest you getting out there more and figuring out your truck's limitations (once you exceed it's capability).

Upgrades are definitely nice and can make things easier for sure, but knowing what to upgrade first is always the million dollar question.

Take it you drove a Land Cruiser as they're the only 'older' Toyotas I can think of that were full-time 4WD. Trucks would've all been part-time.