Air Lockers - Good Idea or Bad Idea? Seeking Info

I have Elockers in my FZJ80 and ARB's in my '14 Taco SR5. The elockers have to move to engage, like the Harrops, but it's not even a full rotation, maybe 1/4 to 1/2 a tire rotation, and it you need them, they're engaged by time you need them.

The ARB's are equally awesome and increase usability of the truck beyond measure. The biggest benefit is the ease that obstacles are overcome with no bashing, so much less need to use momentum to overcome obstacles.

 

Great info. I was on the fence with waiting to purchase lockers, after your review, I am ready Trying to find a local shop that will install, so far nobody Looks to be a little bit outside of my mechanical ability.

 

Front and rear ARB. The front honestly doesn't get a lot of use, but when it's needed, it never fails. I will take these with me to my next truck(another Gen 2) should the current one ever go down for the count.

 

http://www.eaton.com/Eaton/ProductsServices/Vehicle/Differentials/detroit-truetrac/index.htm

this would be my choice if funds allowed it, I don't do rock crawling but winter and mud, this would help a lot for me

 

Here's a great comparison of how handy a locker is. Mine is the tacoma, with my newly installed lunchbox locker. You can see how I (almost) just walk right up it. Then my friend in the 4runner does it with open diffs and you can see the struggle he has. And that's with an insanely flexible rear suspension.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaWeV5LGBTI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18QMZLr-Mz0&t

 

Do you want a locker for convenience, or for the 'oh poop, I'm stuck' moments? It's sounding like you want one for convenience, which makes sense. However, if its in hopes to avoid the 'oh poop' moments, then I would recommend you purchase a winch and traction boards (ex: Maxtrax). A winch can get you out of more situations than a locker can. It's also potentially cheaper and easier to install depending on your mechanical skill/confidence.

 

I will say that in my 80 series and a number of pretty technical trips to offroad parks, I haven't used my winch because I have lockers, but if I didn't have lockers, I would have winched A LOT or I would have given up. The winch is necessary but often gets deployed to help others.