Why have a locker with 4x4? and **snow**

Thats very true, the only problem is I'm leaving for Alaska in march, and I currently don't have any transportation except my 03' ninja (which is fun...just not when it's cold). And this dealership has two trucks with exactly what I want, except i like the sports color better than the off road, but i dont dislike either color. And I just don't know if I really need the off-road package. Thanks for the help though guys I'm kinda just thinking out loud at this point because this is my first new vehicle purchase and I like hearing all of your opinions.

 

Dude, Alaska? Off road should be a requirement. Tell Gov. Palin I said hello, she'll know who it's from.

 

haha, will do

 

Whats the problem getting them where you are?

I had almost every choice available on one lot or another in my area. Salespeople were on me like flies on a rib roast immediately after entering each lot to look around.

What color are you waiting on?

 

If your buying a truck for Alaska.........I would absolutely go with the Off road package. With this you have the ability to engage the locker if and when you need it for any situation you might have gotton yourself in............NOT having it and being in a sitiuation where you need it would REALLY suck. Especially up there.......I lived in Alaska for a while believe me I know.

 

Oh and keep and eye on the TTORA national board.........in the Tech section. I'm sure somebody has already figured out how to make the locker a selectable.

 

someone said earlier in the thread that the locker will only function under 5 or 10 mph, but im gonna go ahead and tell ya that i have had my diff locked running 35 to 45 mph before(on dirt of course...cow pastures) with no problem at all.

 

I don't think it'll make a big difference between the locker and lsd. If anything i would prefer the lsd because the locker doesn't let it slip at all. And with an lsd, as soon as it gets out of control it's pretty much locked up.

I live up "north" in canada and drive big rigs in the rockies, and i'd say the most important thing is getting snow tires. i know it sounds obvious but in the oil patch, they just run mud tires year round.

and if you get stuck in a snow bank, lockers won't matter, front or rear. i'd invest in a tow sling, i just got some and they aren't expensive. and if you don't want to get those, try tire chains. but snow... is brutal, i'd rather be stuck in mud.

btw, it was -34 last night, lol.

 

Yeah, you should only engage your locker at under 5mph but after it is locked (and you are going more or less straight) speed away!


I would go for the locker though. eventually you may have to replace the lsd clutch.

 

Well there is LSD on both off-road and sport in 09', and I won't have to worry about replacing the clutch because it is brake driven LSD unlike the prior versions before 09'. I think DefJeff is right, LSD should be fine, especially since I don't plan on doing a whole lot of serious off-roading. Plus I like the looks and color of the sport. BTW I work outside on airplanes...and -34 does not sound fun!

 

Are you moving to the coast or inland?

-34 isn't that bad. as long as you are dressed for it and you keep moving//working. it's the wind that really gets you.

and as for offroading.. in snow, in alaska. if you have to walk for help when it's that cold out....

what ski hill are you thinking of? Alyeska? Meaning you are on the coast... It's not that cold there... unless it's eaglecrest... or moose... or anyways...

 

Im moving to Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage

 

From what you described you would be better off with the sport

 

The 09 doesn't have a real LSD. It's activated by the brakes. That's why the off road can have both. I don't know if the sport has a real LSD, but yeah.

Go with the Off Road. Its what I have, and I love it.

 

Man, I'm having flashbacks with all this talk about LSD....

 

locked = Equal amount of Torque applied to Each Axle.
LSD= Sends power to the wheel that is slipping, but not all.
Open diff= one tire wonder.

LSD and Open diffs work best on Snow and Ice, Fact. I say get the Sport, unless your doing fair amount of wheeling in Alaska?

FYI OE selectable locker mod. Search "Grey wire mod" on TTORA, or PBB. With that mod you can engage the locker at speeds under 70mph I think?

 

Just get whatever style you like more. You won't miss having a locker if you've never had one. With LSD it decides when to lock, not you, and it's usually brief: lock, free, lock, etc. With a locker, if it begins to hinder your driving/steering you just turn it off; but you also have to stop put it in 4lo and hit the button to engage it (unless you do the 'grey wire mod' which allows you to engage the locker whenever, though you need to slow to 5mph to let it engage, then you can go as fast as you want once it's engaged). I got the off-road TRD because of the locker. I've had lockers in jeeps before and have found them to be essential in gnarly terrain, and they save you from thrashing through stuff when you can just lock it and crawl through.

Either Tacoma will do great, they are both awesome trucks. Besides, I only know one person from Alaska and she drives like a 1985 4banger tacoma with a million miles on it and she said it did great up there... you'll be stoked with either one.

 

get the Offroad. it comes with the elec. actuated limited slip now, so you can use that for most situations. but, if you get hung up, or the elcetronic nannies take over, you can engauge your locker and turn off all the electronic crap, which sometimes creates more problems than it solves. do the locker mod as described above. this will allow you to have both wheels in the rear spinning whenever you need them. an open diff (8.0 rear end is open unless locked) is better for regular snowy road travel anyways...better to spin one wheel than to spin both and have your rear end slide around on ya. (True LSD, in the sport cannot be deactivated).
a set of tire chains would probably be a good investment also.
hope this helps