Tacoma vs ZR2 - Do we need a front locker?

No the Tacoma doesn’t need one but Toyota should really step up to the plate and offer it along with real all terrain tires like the zr2. That coupled with the shitty rear leaf spring hangers in the tacoma make the zr2 appealing. That being said I have always been impressed with the amount of rear articulation on the taco. I doubt the zr2 has as good rear articulation and I know for a fact the ‘new’ ranger has far more limited articulation in the rear. I wonder how well chevy’s traction control systems work. I have been amazed by a trac and even the systems used in the base sr and sr5’s.

 

Stuffed... there rears on these trucks definitely impress the hell out of me

 

Didn’t watch the video, it’s been covered here in the thread. The MTS does the job without grenade the IFS.
I’ve wheeled many trails in the Rockies on wet or ice rock with open open diff jeeps and manual transmissions.
It’s amazing how much traction you can eek out with a little brake pressure. MTS and ATRAC automates this. I love my rear locker but the Traction control is a more elegant solution to the problem.

 

Yeah there were issues with the curtain airbags deploying when on trails involving a sudden drop side to side. The system thought the truck was rolling and would deploy.

 

Pretty much sums it up for me. I'm not going anywhere that would require a front locker in a brand new, daily driven, $35k truck. Only time I've even needed my rear is getting stuck on muddy trails but some combination of ATRAC, rear locker, and traction boards have managed to get me unstuck every time. I'll add a winch well before I even consider adding a front locker to an IFS truck.

 

Yup just as I thought. MTS on a rock setting or rock sand setting would have allowed the front less slippage and transfers power to the wheel with traction. @bnv why didn’t you use MTS ?

https://youtu.be/KHvgAZJpuFM

 

Then you explode both diffs! nice!

 

Nah! @CedarPark is the CV and diff master though

 

If you've never broken anything wheeling then you're probably an Instalander

 

Does breaking some ujoints and a driveshaft carrier bearing count?

 

Sure that lost, destroyed u joint at hidden falls still cracks me up

 

One time I broke a nail

 

KoTH ready

 

yeah there have been a few big articles lately highlighting how the Colorado is blowing it's side airbags on off-camber trails. Not necessarily high speed or impacts, but side to side tilting/off-camber. Would scare the shit out of me, would feel like driving around in a jack in the box that's prone to going off at any time

 

I didn't get a TRD OR model because I thought I'd add an ARB rear locker and aftermarket suspension instead of paying the $4-5k extra the TRD package would have cost. I'm still open/open with no electronic aides (2008 SR5) but I've made it through all of the same trails at Red River Gorge that others with lockers did. Granted the T4R Pro that was in front of me was super smooth over some obstacles with the rear locked and I struggled a bit more, but still I made it through.

I want to re-gear now and will put in a rear locker at that time, but since I'm doing all that work I'm considering putting a front locker in as well. Not that I really think I'll need it very often, if at all (until I get another DD and get a roll cage, which at that point I'd be willing to try a lot harder obstacles), but since it won't cost my any more in labor (ECGS assembled thirds) to do the front locker I'm thinking I'll just go ahead and do it. Thoughts?

 

Depends. You could theoretically do a takeoff BRZ torsen for a couple hundred bucks, or 2200 bucks for a fully built ECGS front diff with a Harrop Elocker.

 

Honestly. That trail is super mild and their tires make a bigger impact than a front locker. I’ve off-roaded with ZR2s and they always have to take the bypass on harder sections.

 

I got stuck in mud this past Sunday. Neither the rear locker nor the CC got me out. It would have been nice to try to get out by locking both diffs. I would definitely have paid a little more for it. I wont buy an after market front locker though.

 

Just watch toyota finally realease it for the 5th gens and make it a Pro Model only.

 

oh no, they would only offer it on the Base model and NOT and option on the OR, Limited or Pro. Just to see how many heads would explode and most likely get the longest thread in TW history.