TRDOR: Tested out my locker!

Snow Day:

I was up in the mountains earlier today with my family and friends. After playing and doing the snow day with the kids I decided to break away and get into some deep snow to test out how sik my rig is while still in stock form.

My buddy and I took off, he was in another rig so he could pull me out if I got stuck. We went into an unplowed road with about 2' of snow, maybe 3' in a couple spots. About 20 feet into it 4 HI was not pushing me so I jumped into 4 Low and pushed on about another 10 feet before I started to loose traction and sink. Then I went to see what the locker would do for me in that situation. That fucker pushed me straight no matter which way my tires were pointing for another 10 feet before I lost traction., pretty cool to test that out. Now I know...

I didn't want to push on any further since I did all the testing I wanted to and I was going to be stuck in the next 30 feet. So I backed out to the main road.

Here is an issue I found.

The locker light was flashing on my dash no matter what I tried:

1) Pushing the clutch in, pressing the locker button and waiting.
2) Turning 4-LO off and pushing the clutch in, then pressing the locker button.
3) Turning off 4HI and pushing the clutch in, then pressing the locker button.

The only thing that turned off the blinking locker light was turning my truck off. Am I doing something wrong or is my truck acting up?

 

The locker has pins driven by a magnet that engage to "lock" the axle. They are in a bind when you're pushing forward, beacuse the axle is locked together and naturally in a bind when under load (this is normal).

To disengage, you need to at least have the clutch in, moving 1 - 2mph, and move forward and backward a few feet. You'll know when it disengages, you should hear a pop sound from the back of your truck bed. It's probably just in a bind.

 

You could not get through 2-3 inches of snow while being in 4hi? Am I missing something?

 

Feet, sorry... Updated the OP.

 

Was the light flashing the entire time or just when you tried to disengage?

 

If the light was blinking I don't think you had it engaged...

 

+1

Mine is not a manual but if the locker light is blinking, it is not engaged.

 

I've always backed up, disengaged the locker, then proceeded forward slowly and you'll hear it disengage. If the light is blinking it's NOT engaged.

 

Must be in 4 low to engage locker as well.

 

I was thinking the same thing. I pushed a foot of unplowed snow with my 2wd ranger with a lock right locker in the rear axle. Glad it was 3ft instead of 3". Rethinking buying a 4wd lol.

Is there a good way to get through unplowed snow? It bunched up under my front tires forming a wedge. Only time I've been worried about getting stuck in 30 yrs of driving in snow/ice.

 

Speed and momentun

 

It was locked, the light turned solid when I was moving forward. When I threw it in reverse, the light started to blink and wouldn't stop blinking until I eventually turned the truck off a few miles down the road after being in 2wd for a bit.

 

My old 3/4 ton dodge diesel with a good set of Cooper MS tires was aptly named the Drift Buster. Speed, momentun AND enormous weight..

 

On dirt roads for the once-a-month engagement I have to do some left and right turns while rolling to get the locker to engage. Don't know how this will work out if I am stuck in the muck and not moving. Will find out some day I suppose.

 

Dude, that can't be right... Anyone else having issues with their locker?

 

For perspective, I am rolling a foot or two at less than 1 mph. Had the back lifted on a jack and tried engaging. Nothing but blinking until I rotated a wheel back and forth a couple inches, then it would promptly lock.

 

I did. Only time i needed it I couldn't get it to engage. I was pretty pissed.

 

If its like the locker on the second gens (I think its same one, but i could be wrong) the more you successfully engage / disengage it, the quicker it gets. Dont wait till you need it to learn the sequence to get it locked. must be in 4 lo, then I think, stop, neutral, push button, wiggle wheel back and forth a bit, maybe go fwd and back a foot or two while turning wheel. it will click in, then you are good to go.

 

Exactly this. First few times you engage the locker, your best bet is to drive forward and backward while turning the wheel back and forth. The axle may not be lined up and turning will cause the wheels to spin at different rates and help get things in place.

If you think you're having issues, replicate it a few times. If you can replicate it, you can get the dealership involved.

 

That's great if your not stuck.