Is it harmful to never use your Rear Locker?

My PreRunner is about 20 months old, 12 of which I have owned it for. I have never engaged the rear locker before and I am unsure if the original owner ever did or not. Is it one of those things if you don't use it, it could possibly fail to work? Should I take it off road just to engage it occasionally even if I don't need it? Or should I not worry about it and if the day comes I ever need it, it will be there ready and working just fine?

 

Alright, thanks guys. I'll do it this week. Hopefully it's not too late, we will see.

 

You should use it every couple of months. Good excuse to go throw some rooster tails of gravel every once in a while.

 

use it or lose it

first time use it may take a while for it to engage, be patient and creep forward and back 4 feet and turn slightly...it should eventually 'clang!' in. you'll know for sure when it stops blinking and suddenly steers like crap

 

I've used mine once to make sure it works and plan on using it more often to keep the juices flowing.

Question for 4X4 guys. Do you have to be in 4 lo or 4 hi to use the locker? I tested it out in 4 lo but haven't tried in any other modes.

 

Have to be in 4Lo to engage it.

 

It should not be too late; your truck is still new. I only use mine about once a year on average to make sure it doesn't get stuck or rusted or whatever can go wrong with it. Also no need to go off-road to do it (although it is a good excuse). I just engage it and drive down the street for a little bit when I remember that it's been a long time since doing it.

 

Thank you.

 

If you have 4 wheel drive Toyota advises that it is engaged for 10-15 mi. a month. Rear locker might hang up if not used.

 

I didn't even know you could get a prerunner with the locker.

 

TRD Off-Road has an e locker ...

 

Your truck is a 2013 - it will not be too late.

 

More machinery dies from lack of use than anything else.

 

toyota advises 4wd once in a while

they have no mention of 4lo or locker use. that part you just gotta know about


I'd say mine got loose after 15 real needs to use it, now it snaps in quickly

 

I lock the rear of my truck once a month. I've always been told with 4x4, lockers, etc, either use them or they will seize up sooner or later and won't work.

My buddies wife has a 4x4, bought new in 2003 (ford), it won't go into 4hi or 4lo since they never once used it since they day the bought it. Ford wanted a great deal of cash to fix it. They sold the truck, got a Tundra.

 

FYI I engaged the rear locker for the first time after work at very low speed. Flashed, clicked, light went solid, shut it off after a few secs. Worked like a charm. I'll start doing it more often

 

I did a test run with my rear locker for the first time (my truck is 4 months old). Worked easily but I had to roll at about 5-7 mph before it switched back off. For awhile I was rolling around the parking lot under 5mph and thought the locker was stuck in the ON position.