No rear diff lock over 5mph?

I'm new to the board. Just bought a used 05 2wd Prerunner OR-TRD. Thought the rear locker would help in the snow but the manual says not to exceed 5mph. I've seen mixed opinions on other posts. Some say you just need to be under 5mph to engage but it's ok to go faster. Others say it is just for crawling or escaping a ditch etc. Not that I would need to go 50, but 5mph would tend to hold up other traffic. Or just chain up and not worry about it?

 

Engage under 5 mph... drive as normal.

 

I must have misread the manual. Newbie error.

 

the manual doesn't say it (thank you lawyers) but you can go however you'd like..

BUT please practice with it in an empty snowy parking lot 1st!

 

With the rear locked it will handle very different then without. Like TacoNut said, try it out slow in a parking lot first, just to get the feel for how it handles while locked!

 

Dont use the locker on pavement. Take it out on a dirt road/parking lot/whatever if you can't take it off road.

 

Sorry for bumping an old thread, but I'm looking at my manual right now and it says to only engage the locker while stopped, and it also says "do not drive over 5 mph when the differential is locked".

So...is this bullshit or not? Has anyone gone over 5 mph with the diff locked? Did your diff explode?

 

Gotcha. Should've figured it would be a stupid liability thing.

 

It is for Emergency use only (to get unstuck or through difficult terrain).

It should be turned of as soon as you don't need it.

Lockers make steering difficult so the 5 mph speed limit suggestion... Less chance of you hitting a tree or going off a cliff!

Don't you have the same sticker as I do?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FMQbEzRFKk

 

How is the rear locker engaged going to affect his steering? Did I miss something in auto mechanics 27 yrs ago?

 

Wth? I did not post that picture.

 

"Poor owner of this vehicle"? sounds like it wasn't his...

And that's why you never let your truck out of sight when its in the shop!

 

Carefull. Cornering control and large steering effort are entirely 2 different things.
I can see Carefull cornering control might be an issue. Well.......not really for me, I have the 4 banger.
However large steering effort seems a bit far fetched. Over or understeer happens after the fact, not during.

Edit: over or undercorrecting.

 

Oh really? Gee thanks, but I never said that!

Okay... basic differential mechanics 101...

When turning a vehicle each tire rotates at a different speed.

The differential (when open/ normal) allows this.

If locked, no differential (different) rotation is possible (between the left and right tires). Steering is naturally affected and more difficult. Lockers make the truck want to go straight.

If a differential wasn't needed, then there wouldn't be one on vehicles.

Taking away the differential temporarily (with the locker) is for increased traction where needed to get through a problem area...

There is no need or reason to have a locked differentail when the truck isn't stuck or struggling to cross or climb anything.

Yes it will work over 5 mph, Toyota says not to... to save you from crashing if you are someone who thinks driving with it locked on dry roads is okay.

You guys who know it all, just ignore my posts... I am trying to help those who seriously want to know more about their truck... but still have some fun... I am not trying to pi## any of you off. Sorry if I have!

 

i've gone around 60 in the dirt with my rear locked multiple times, it's fine

 

I am sure it is... So, are you saying your truck wouldn't go around 60 without it being locked?

The point is, the rear locker is a 'tool' for more traction if one of your tires is over slush or in the air... Open differential will have the loose tire spin, and you are stuck. Lock out the differentail and the power is split equally between the two tires... and you move on if the other tire is on firmer ground.

If you are driving 60, I don't think you would be stuck unless one side of your truck was in a lake and the other on a highway!

You are using a tool when nothing needs 'fixing'... that's all.

 

Have a nice day Lrgnr!

 

I find it corners a lot better in the dirt with the rear locked, night and day from before i did the rear locker anytime mod

EDIT: more controllable over-steer as opposed to scary understeer