Rear Locker in 2 and 4 high

It's not just the SuperDutys. My 2019 F150 FX4 has a rear locker that works in 2WD and 4WD. Pretty nice to not have to lock it in 4WD when hooking onto the boat on grass.

 

Didn’t realize Ford offers this feature. Still don’t understand how it can be useful though in a 4x4. If your in grass and need more traction don’t you still have to push a button to lock the rear up? Isn’t that what you have to do to put it in 4H? And I know for a fact you will get more traction in 4H than just having the rear locked. So if you still have to push or turn something to do either and you get less traction with just the rear locked, what is the benefit? Is it because the locked rear automatically disengages where as you have to hit or turn a button again to take it out of 4H?
Just trying to understand if there is a rear benefit with his feature. If so then maybe I would look into figuring how to make it work in these Tacos. Seems like it could be possible to accomplish. Would somehow need to convince the electronics that it’s already in 4wd.

 

I said it will cause you more problems when turning. When in 4H both sides front and rear can operate at different speeds even with the center being locked which is what is needed when turning. This does not happen when you lock the rear up. But this shouldn’t even be a concern because if your on pavement, why would you need to have the rear locked or have it in 4H?

 

Better still, you don't even need the FX4 package to get the locker. Neither my '18 XLT or '20 Lariat have FX4, but they have the locking rear differential optioned independently.



I used it sometimes in my XLT in situations where I needed a little help for a short distance because it's a little quicker to engage and disengage than 4WD. I probably won't use it much in the new truck since it has 4-Auto.

 

This is exactly why I use the locker. Even with my TRD OR, 4WD engagement took a hell of a lot longer than the rear locker.

 

In 4H the front and rear cannot operate at different input speeds at the pinion and this is the problem. Therefore if the total net speed of the 2 front wheels summed doesn't match the 2 rear wheel speeds summed you get bind and the tires need to slip. And yes, during a turn the total distance traveled by the two front wheels does not match the total distance traveled by the 2 rear wheels. This is why there is bind turning on high grip surfaces in 4H and why center diffs exist for full time 4wd and open diffs in the axles doesn't fix this problem.

 

Oh okay. Makes sense.

 

Obviously you have never had fun in 2wd with a rear locker on wet pavement, dirt, snow etc....


Also there have been MANY an obstacle wherein you are fully articulated i have encountered where 2wd with the rear locked allowed me to easily crawl over without spinning tires, when 4high woulda been a struggle, and the whole process to get down into 4lo with the locker wasnt needed.

 

I know this. But the opposite wheel on both the front and rear CAN operate at a different speed than the other side which is needed for turning. That was my only point.

Why this is even a discussion is beyond me. Tell me why would you need to have the rear end locked on the pavement? I think we’re wasting our time even discussing this.

 

We’ve owned a Prerunner that had a rear locker so I know the benefits and weaknesses of this system. I’ve just have never been in a situation where a 4x4 in 4H would be out done by a 2wd with a locked diff. Just like a front wheel drive will out do a rear wheel drive vehicle for traction in most instances. But I guess there could always be a situation where it could be better. I just haven’t experienced it and would think in general having it in 4H would beat the traction a locked rear 2wd would give you. We also had a Detroit locker in our 2wd Tacoma and that made a big difference in the snow and ice. But still had nowhere near the traction our 4x4 Tacoma’s have in 4H.

 

Ford's 4WD irritates me. My Tacoma would stop flashing when it engaged. The F-150 "shift in progress" message went away before it was engaged. Many times I'd get back on the throttle and get a loud thud as it shifted while the wheels were spinning. This new Lariat has 4-Auto, which I'm definitely looking forward to this winter.

 

I got stuck in a mud pit with the front tires dug in.... i feel like if the damn truck would have let me lock the rear, without spinning the fronts in deeper and deeper, i could have gotten out

Sounds like your vacuum seals were worn out

 

Likely not... HARD to push the front through stuff like mud n sand.

 

The truck did that when it was brand new. New one does it too if I use 4H.

I think it's just because the 4WD shift in progress message is on a timer. So, it disappears in so many seconds regardless of whether or not it's engaged. It really should continue to appear until it's done.

 

Are going to post that in the big original thread on Anytime Locker? I would like to keep an eye out. I'm very interested.

 

For me, being in FL, most of the time wheeling means mud, and the rear axle locked in 4 or 2 hi is huge

 

You obviously have not owned a 2wd with a rear locker. I’ve owned several and your not going through any kind of mud with just the rear wheels driving you. You can’t push the weight of the front end through mud. You will just spin. Been there done that. But in 4H I can see the benefit of being able to lock the rear end up.

 

Probably just a new thread that'll reference that one.

 

It's a discussion because you said rear locked would be worse to drive in high traction environments (like pavement) than 4wd, which just isn't the case.

 

yep ditch the e locker and get an air locker, Boom done.