Adding a locker, worth it?

I think for a daily driver that sees some moderate trail use finding a TRD axle with limited-slip and the e-locker would be your best course, or if possible having a shop install a limited slip carrier in your truck's current axle. Granted, I'm coming at this from the Ford 8.8 world, but back when I had a Crown Vic I found a solid used limited slip carrier from a Mustang, rebuilt the clutch kit with new parts myself, then took it and some 4.10 gears to a buddy of mine who's a master mechanic at a Ford stealership and he stayed late a couple nights setting the gears up in exchange for a couple bills and some beers. Like others have said it's critical that the ring and pinion are set by someone who really knows what they're doing unless you want it to scream on the highway or clunk around or blow up. The "bolt-on" solution would have been to find a used axle from a junked cop car, which I could've swapped in my driveway, but it gave me peace of mind knowing all the clutches, ring/pinion gears and bearings were fresh.
I should say my pre-runner does have the TRD pack with the limited-slip diff and e-locker. Like you the extent of my off-roading pretty much includes logging and forest service roads, and with good A/T tires the truck hasn't really given me any trouble. I have yet to use the locker, but I can feel the LSD stepping in when needed, like in mud or on rocky inclines. On the street it helps in the rain as well. Instead of embarrassing unintentional "one-wheel-peels" at stoplights while the minivan next to you leaves you in the dust, you just feel it grip and go with no drama. IMO it's really a must-have for a RWD vehicle of any type.

 

1st gen tacos never came with an lsd. As far as i know theres no such thing as a lockable lsd on the market either.

 

I hate to say this as it is a cop-out. I was letting my wife drive on the beach as she does not have a license. I was practicing keeping my mouth shut. So she could do her thing. I did not say anything when we went into raised dry sand that stretched 50 feet. We started to slow down and I told her to stop. At this point we were on top of the sand. I got in and set the e-locker. I buried it forward and buried it back. The e-locker was not the fix all I thought it was. Had I aired down the tires... should have, could have... set in. Some nice people stopped and dug and pushed. Then dug and pushed some more. We made it 15 feet or so, then a truck pulled us the rest of the way out. The driver who could have been called "grampa" called me a tourist and suggested I stay off the sand. It was funny because I have lived 20 miles from that beach my whole life.

 

No but if you have the 8.25 rear diff, you can get a LSD out of a tundra.

 

you mean the 8.4? yes the tundra third member will swap over.

 

Yeah, I thought I'd be satisfied once I added a locker to my PeeRunner... It's just the start.

 

In 2WD or 4WD: Air pressure is the key in the sand. Even if you got stuck before deflating. The main thing is: don't spin the tires in sand, as that only buries you deeper. As soon as you can't move ahead anymore (without spinning), stop!!! Now, deflate the tires (all 4, even if a 2WD) until you see a nice sidewall bulge (10-15 psi). Clear away any built-up sand from in front of all 4 tires and drive ahead. If you can't drive ahead, then let MORE air out. I have gone as low as 6 psi, once (the tide was coming in)! It worked!! I have gotten 2WD cars out of sand without pulling simply by dropping the air in all 4 tires.
HAVE a GOOD DIAL AIR GAUGE (that read below 10 psi) and an electric air pump for tires. The kind that clips onto the battery terminal is much faster than the cigarette lighter ones.

SEE THIS POST: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/baja-beach-4wd-32-psi-to-15-psi-see-the-difference.104202/

 

potato potata. The diff gets called many names. I just used this one. could have said 4 pinion diff too, I guess.

 

There's a nickname for locked 2wd trucks in the sand. It's "stuck"

 

I believe @smmarine is running Harrops front and rear. CHeck out this thread he created on them
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/front-ifs-7-5-e-locker-and-rear-8-4-e-locker.438253/

 

What year is your truck Bud?


Just lunch box it...

I've used Richmond lock rights many times in Ford 8.8 without failure... 100,000 inspection revealed no wear.. Makes a lot of noise, but is a rock solid unit and you might be able to put it in..

2 models... Lock right is very aggressive...

Powertrax no slip engages nicer but costs more..

Example

https://www.powertrax.com/traction-systems-product/?crt_formKey=vehicle_search&crt_part=drop-in-locker&crt_position=_ANY_&crt_differentialcasedesign=_ANY_&crt_spline=spline+count:+30&crt_year=2005&crt_make=toyota&crt_modelandsubmodel=tacoma+base

 

I have Harrops front & rear. It is an easy install. I think they are a step up from the factory e-lockers because they engage and disengage almost instantly plus you don't have to worry about protecting the actuator from rocks or being submerged in water. That being said Harrops are significantly more expensive now than when I made that choice. Had I been able to get an entire axle or new e-locker third member for the same price it might have been a different story.

 

Another option is what I did. Pulled the rear diff, and took it to a local gear shop, and had him install a Detroit TruTrac (a gear driven LSD). Total cost was around $750, including the new unit, labor and install kit.

Smooth as silk. Can't tell its back there in normal driving on the road and maneuvering thru parking lots (no clicking or banging like most automatic lockers). Nearly as effective as a locker when offroad. Engages/disengages automatically. Uses same non-LSD gear oil. No buttons, no compressor, no air-lines.

 

I have the Eaton/Harrop on the front of my TRD OR so both diffs can be locked. I love it and it has been flawless. I agree that it is a step above the factory elocker. I had a choice between it and the air lockers and ran away after reading the many horror stories about air leaks inside the diff. Perhaps they fixed those problems now IDK.

 

You can buy them directly from Harrop in OZ, I did. The key is to keep your eye on the exchange rate at it has been all over the place for a few years. Sometimes the price seems excessive but at other times they seem to be a deal.

 

That's good to know. I got my mine locally but at that time they were pricing them almost the same as the Eaton Elockers. That has since changed.

 

check out trutrac I had one put in my nissan titan and it was really good.

 

I’m in the same boat but have 4wd. Shop recommended dual TruTrac for basic trails and over landing vs a lunchbox locker. I have thought about ARB rear and trutrac front.... ahhh!

 

ARB/selectable locker over TruTrac for sure, you get much better traction with a locker over an LSD. I would avoid lunchbox lockers too, they aren't ideal for rigs that get used on the street...they can get squirrelly on wet/slick roads. But if you can swing the ARB locker, definitely go that route.

 

Harrop’s are sweet. I have 2