cbechtold's Long Travel IFS Crawler Tacoma Build and BS Thread

I've been debating with myself forever whether or not to get a front locker when I regear.

Through ECGS it's like $1200 more dollars (including compressor) when you get the regear. On the plus side- front locker (nuff said), a big upgrade to my compressor. I think I'd probably integrate an on-board air system with a tank with the ARB high output compressor.

The downside is it's $1200 more and do I really need a front locker? I only wheel hear and there and the hardest I've done is slick rock trail. I'd love to do tougher trails like the Rubicon but I'm cool with not doing it as well. I'm pretty careful when I'm off-roading so I think my CV's will be okay. Plus, I always carry a spare CV and tools and can swap them out in 45 minutes.

The other plus is I have plenty of time. I'm not going to regear until I wear out my current 265 75 16 tires and go back to 255 85 16's which at the current rate will be about a year from now. This year's focus is finishing off a bunch of mountains I want to climb in the southern Sierra. The truck is gonna spend a lot of time on pavement getting to and from trail heads. Once that's done I'll go back to doing more wheeling again and the bigger tires will be useful.

 

Yep. I was quoted about the same at a local shop in Livermore. Figured if I'm already going into the diffs, I might as well have a locker added since the front has no way of gaining traction aside from left foot braking.

I need to relocate my battery before hand since I have no room in the engine bay for a compressor. Might put dual batteries in the bad at that point since it won't be too much more for a second battery. We'll see.

 

I was thinking the same thing for my batteries...and putting the compressor in the battery spot.

 

I'll probably end up putting my batteries in the bed of my truck. Still need to do some reading before hand, but I have a general idea of what I'd be doing.

 

Or go with a Harrop front e-locker, then you don't have to worry about mounting a compressor under the hood.

 

I'd need to look more into the front e locker before anything else. I already have such good experiences with the ARBs from my dad's FJC that I've actually considered putting ARBs in both diffs. It's definitely worth checking them out more since I don't know much about them.

 

Here's the thread with lots of info on the Harrop.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/front-ifs-7-5-e-locker-and-rear-8-4-e-locker.438253/

 

Thanks man!

 

You going to the rear end shop? I just had my gears done there. Nice guy and did a good job.

I had the same debate as you. And at the end of the day I don’t want to push my truck to the point where I need a front locker. I thought hard about it and said to myself if I need a front locker I’m pushing to hard or will want to push too hard. Maybe if it was more of a dedicated trail rig I would have sprung to get one. I like to think of my truck as more of an “Adventure” rig rather than a wheeler. But anyway that’s my reasoning for not getting one.

 

That’s a good way to put it. I’m leaving this direction

 

Yep. I know a lot of people who are happy with their service, so it was an easy choice.

 

I’m assuming you are going with 5.29s? I went with 4.88s but I know you wheel harder than me?

 

Leaning towards 5.29s right now, more as just future proofing the truck for 35s. The crawler box will make a much more noticeable change off road, but if 35s happen, the little bit extra gearing will be nice on the road, especially any sort of steep grades where the truck struggles now will feel much better.

 

Yeah. I feel over geared right now with 32s. I was going up 80 over the pass, passing cars with ease.

 

That's pretty much where I am. My objective with my 1st gen was to over build for my purpose.

That has to be a strange feeling in a 1st gen.

 

As much as I like the idea of just having adventure rig, I enjoy rock crawling too much. If I was smart, I would have just pushed the truck in a more adventure friendly direction, but I'm not, so here we are.

 

Sorry but not true. Still need to tube with LT and 35s. Just not as much but still has to happen.

Also..5.29s FTFW!

Sweet crawlbox.


And if I could do it again Id do Harrop lockers. Have some sweet features over the ARBs. The disengagement feature when you roll back is very cool. Especially for a front locker, could save your CVs.

 

Thread I saw was on TTORA. Don't know much else on the thread beside the guy saying he wasn't tubing for the 35s.

5.29s + 4.7 crawler is going to be a nice change. I feel like 35s are bound to follow shortly after (or before, depending on when I need new tires.)

I've been reading more and more into the Harrop locker and they definitely sound appealing right now. I'm still leaning towards the ARBs, but I've got plenty of time to make a final decision on what to go with.

 

Wayyyy late to the party, love your build man!

 

Have you considered an aftermarket housing for the 4.7's