1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Should i invest in a locker?

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by mb2.7, Mar 1, 2021.

  1. Mar 1, 2021 at 6:02 PM
    #1
    mb2.7

    mb2.7 [OP] Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2020
    Member:
    #340602
    Messages:
    35
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Mason
    Vehicle:
    2015 White Tacoma PreRunner
    Hello, i currently drive a 2015 Taco PreRunner with the 2.7 L4, and wanted to know if investing in a locker would be reasonable. I don’t go off-roading very often but wanted to get out there more and didn’t want to get stuck on a washed out trail (happened before). Was a complete idiot and didn’t turn my “Auto LSD” switch on, want to know how it compares to the locker.
     
  2. Mar 1, 2021 at 6:08 PM
    #2
    Bishop84

    Bishop84 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2015
    Member:
    #172494
    Messages:
    12,055
    Gender:
    Male
    Lockers aren't an end all, they can actually cause you to sink and dig in worse. But it would be nice to have when jammed up like that.
     
    LoveableWerewolf likes this.
  3. Mar 1, 2021 at 6:11 PM
    #3
    stevesnj

    stevesnj Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2012
    Member:
    #77385
    Messages:
    7,651
    Gender:
    Male
    South Jersey/Philly Area
    Vehicle:
    1996 Land Cruiser 80 Series
    Get a Torsen LSD
     
  4. Mar 1, 2021 at 6:24 PM
    #4
    mb2.7

    mb2.7 [OP] Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2020
    Member:
    #340602
    Messages:
    35
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Mason
    Vehicle:
    2015 White Tacoma PreRunner
    Ok cool i’ll have to look into those
     
  5. Mar 1, 2021 at 6:32 PM
    #5
    pdaddy

    pdaddy WeLl-KnOwN mEmBeR

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2019
    Member:
    #304930
    Messages:
    2,640
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Preston
    Central AL
    Vehicle:
    ‘13 DCSB Converted Prerunner 4wd
    100% absolutely! The ARB air locker completely changed my truck and I was able to do 90-95% of what my 4x4 friends could do. It let me get to places and feel comfortable going places offroad I would never attempt without. You gotta learn how it can make situations worse (mostly slippery conditions) but it’s amazing, don’t hesitate. Throw a winch on there for your “front wheel drive” and you’re set.

    I’m in the process of converting to 4wd, mainly wanted the low gears, otherwise I was content on where my truck had gotten me. Also auto LSD sucks. It’s never done anything for me lol

    097633E7-4A3B-4CE9-9253-A442BB36AFE1.jpg
     
  6. Mar 1, 2021 at 6:34 PM
    #6
    rocky_mountain_dave

    rocky_mountain_dave Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2020
    Member:
    #320934
    Messages:
    257
    First Name:
    David
    Vehicle:
    2009 Tacoma Access Cab 4x4 4cyl 5spd
    A shovel and a pair of traction boards will be just as helpful, or maybe even more helpful than a locker.
     
    dirtnsmores, tacoman45 and blu92in99 like this.
  7. Mar 1, 2021 at 6:47 PM
    #7
    taco_rhyno

    taco_rhyno Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2018
    Member:
    #256049
    Messages:
    480
    Vehicle:
    06 DC 4x4 Sport
    +1 on a Torsen over a locker. If you are hard core off roading, by all means go for the locker.

    If not hard core and looking for real world performance in daily driving and better traction than you have today when off road then an Eaton truetrac is the ticket. And a couple hundred less than an ARB air locker to boot. Yes, I have one, it is fantastic.
     
  8. Mar 1, 2021 at 9:31 PM
    #8
    Offroad4x4

    Offroad4x4 Member

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2021
    Member:
    #357783
    Messages:
    18
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jim
    Hawaii
    Vehicle:
    2011 Tacoma DCLB
    Is welding your differential out of the question? :welder:
     
    Bannerman likes this.
  9. Mar 1, 2021 at 9:42 PM
    #9
    OrangeCrash

    OrangeCrash Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2016
    Member:
    #191813
    Messages:
    517
    Gender:
    Male
    Kingman, Az
    This plus a hi-lift, safety equipment, etc... Do this for a while and if you find yourself getting more hardcore, then get a locker. You'll be a better driver for it.
     
    tacoman45 and blu92in99 like this.
  10. Mar 1, 2021 at 9:47 PM
    #10
    plurpimpin

    plurpimpin Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2011
    Member:
    #60895
    Messages:
    2,971
    Gender:
    Male
    PDX
    Vehicle:
    2010 TRD Off Road 4x4
    Doesn’t seem worth the expense to me. Will it help alittle? Sure. But the end of the day you’re still 2wd and be limited by that more than whether or not you’re locked.

    locker is not a substitute for 4wd. I’d agree with everyone else that said get some recovery gear and enjoy your truck as is.
     
    Last edited: Mar 1, 2021
    Bannerman likes this.
  11. Mar 1, 2021 at 9:51 PM
    #11
    mb2.7

    mb2.7 [OP] Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2020
    Member:
    #340602
    Messages:
    35
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Mason
    Vehicle:
    2015 White Tacoma PreRunner
    Genuine question but how would it be more helpful?
     
  12. Mar 1, 2021 at 9:53 PM
    #12
    plurpimpin

    plurpimpin Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2011
    Member:
    #60895
    Messages:
    2,971
    Gender:
    Male
    PDX
    Vehicle:
    2010 TRD Off Road 4x4
    Really handy for getting unstuck in a lot of different situations.
     
    Marc70 likes this.
  13. Mar 1, 2021 at 10:03 PM
    #13
    mb2.7

    mb2.7 [OP] Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2020
    Member:
    #340602
    Messages:
    35
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Mason
    Vehicle:
    2015 White Tacoma PreRunner
    I think i’ll that direction and maybe in the future if it becomes a necessity i’ll invest in a locker, thank you so much i appreciate it!
     
  14. Mar 2, 2021 at 12:04 PM
    #14
    Z slice

    Z slice Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2019
    Member:
    #285068
    Messages:
    52
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2010 Tacoma V6 TRD Off Road 6spd
    2018 - Installed touchscreen stereo with new speakers. no sub or amp. 2019 - Ultimate Headlight +foglight upgrade from Crashnburn80 - Fox 2.5 non-res upfront -fox 2.0 w/ res in back -3rd Gen TRD Pro Wheels w/ Falken wildpeak 265/75/R16 -bed mat
    In 8 years of owning my Taco, I never needed to use my electronic locker. Lo range 4x4 gets the job done. I think of it as insurance though, nice to have an ace in the back pocket if needed.

    ...and tire pressure.

    lower tire pressure + Lo Range gear = :bikewhoops:
     
  15. Mar 2, 2021 at 12:11 PM
    #15
    David K

    David K Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2009
    Member:
    #18969
    Messages:
    12,416
    Gender:
    Male
    Pala Mesa, California
    Vehicle:
    2010 4WD Off Road DC
    Differential Breather Mod Light Bar: 4 Cree LED lamps Bilstein 5100s Ride Rite Air Bags
    The OP has a Prerunner, so low range or even 4WD is not an option.
    However, your advice on lowering air pressure in the tires is the single best advice to anyone (2WD or 4WD) to improve traction when climbing, less chance of flats when driving on rocky roads, and floatation in sand. Drop to 10-20 psi in each tire, depending on the surface and your truck weight, tire type.
     
    Gregero and SR-71A like this.
  16. Mar 2, 2021 at 12:13 PM
    #16
    David K

    David K Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2009
    Member:
    #18969
    Messages:
    12,416
    Gender:
    Male
    Pala Mesa, California
    Vehicle:
    2010 4WD Off Road DC
    Differential Breather Mod Light Bar: 4 Cree LED lamps Bilstein 5100s Ride Rite Air Bags
    AUTO LSD is an enhanced limited slip system... not as effective as a locker but better than nothing! Press the button anytime you are in a off-road situation and (as I mentioned above), lower the air pressure in your tires!
     
    Gregero likes this.
  17. Mar 2, 2021 at 12:25 PM
    #17
    huyner

    huyner CoCKaSiAn

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2019
    Member:
    #306901
    Messages:
    363
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Huy
    Orlando
    Vehicle:
    2007 Tacoma TRD Prerunner Sport 4x4
    a lotta money spent, lotta scars made
    I opted to get an e locker...got ecgs building my differential changing my gearing n add e locker...I have an 07 prerunner with the mechanical lsd. I’m not trying to crawl up rocks, just have a lil more fun
     
    dirtnsmores likes this.
  18. Mar 2, 2021 at 12:43 PM
    #18
    plurpimpin

    plurpimpin Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2011
    Member:
    #60895
    Messages:
    2,971
    Gender:
    Male
    PDX
    Vehicle:
    2010 TRD Off Road 4x4
    I never really needed my locker much until last summer wheeling with my ATRAC not working (turns out the connectors behind the dash for the ATRAC switch and aux plug are the same and I accidentally switched them when installing a new head unit - took a year to figure out).

    It made me really appreciate what an impressive system ATRAC is. Without it I was using my locker ALL THE TIME! It was actually kinda a good exercise wheeling without it to remember how annoying fully open diffs can be offroad.

    But as mentioned before OP is a prerunner so no 4lo and no ATRAC.
     
  19. Mar 2, 2021 at 1:35 PM
    #19
    stevesnj

    stevesnj Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2012
    Member:
    #77385
    Messages:
    7,651
    Gender:
    Male
    South Jersey/Philly Area
    Vehicle:
    1996 Land Cruiser 80 Series
    Well we've decide. Torsen LSD and lower tire pressures. :p
     
  20. Jun 8, 2021 at 12:30 PM
    #20
    dirtnsmores

    dirtnsmores A camping truck

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Member:
    #165069
    Messages:
    3,314
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Mike
    Southern California
    Vehicle:
    06 DCLB Prerunner
    OME885/5100, DAKAR MED-DUTY, SOFTOPPER
    How's that locker working out for you? Pretty penny but maybe worth it
     

Products Discussed in

To Top