Will I need lockers?

hey i have a 2003 tacoma 4x4 v6

was wondering for future i want to off road... getting things like lift and 32s and new metal bumpers and winch and such... but i only have an sr5, should i not, spend all that money on a car without lockers...

main question do i need lockers...

 

you can always add lockers later, aftermarket lockers are stronger than the OEM ones anyway

 

It’s easy to get carried away in the thought of off-roading and the mods you can do to make it easier but a stock 4x4 can do more than what most people are willing to push it through. Mods just make it more graceful haha. You definitely don’t need a new truck, and in order to see what mods you need, you should test out the truck you have. If it falls short in clearance, then a lift and maybe bigger tires will help. If you find yourself getting stuck because of an open diff, then lockers may help. Etc.

 

I've done a lot of off-roading in various vehicles and you don't need a new truck. Lockers are nice to have, don't get me wrong, but they're not essential to getting out there and having fun. Upgrade as you need to and you'll learn a lot about how to fix and maintain your truck which is in some ways better than any mod you could add to it.

 

ty for replys

 

Agreed, have fun with what you have and upgrade as you want. Not saying you don't know how too, but learning to drive what you have will get you a long ways. what I mean by that is knowing and anticipating how its going to respond to what your gonna throw at it.

 

Don't get a car. Keep the truck...

But seriously, don't buy into the crap you may hear from all the turd gen owners who talk up all their fancy wizbang electronic traction aids etc... Or even people who tell you that you "need" a locker...

Lockers are cool, but not necessary to go wheelin. All you need, really, is a 4x4. Actually, even 2wd pre-runners go wheelin, so you don't even need 4wd, lol. Hell, I just saw a video of a guy in a Subaru (pretty sure it had open diffs) doing Fins n' Things in Moab. That was badass. My brother ran the Rubicon with an open diff 86 4Runner on 32" BFGs back in the 90's.

Just drive it. Drive the crap out of it. The more you drive it, the more you'll start to figure out its weaknesses based on the terrain you typically drive, and your driving style. Getting rid of it to find a truck with a locker is an order of magnitude more expensive than just buying an aftermarket locker. You may not even need a selectable locker (air lockers need air lines, compressors, etc... to work), maybe a limited slip diff is more suited to your needs.

I'd first look at a good set of tires. If you have all terrains or mud terrains, that will serve you better now than a locker would.

 

i have bfg k02s, new to trucks but i enjoy the tires... and they look and hold up well

 

Just go look at some of the 5lug builds and see how far some if the open diff 2wd guys have taken their trucks. If they can do it then you definitely can do it with a 4wd open diffs. And once you throw some locker some in there you can go even farther

 

I’ve wheeled open/open for many years before lockers and have taken my truck some crazy places and trails. Just need to realize how an open/open truck wheels.

Also go wheeling with a buddy of mine who’s 2wd and I’ve brought him to some gnarly trails with minimal help. Line choice and driver is everything

 

Probably some of the best all around tires you can buy. You'll like them off the pavement, too. I know I do.

Here are a few of my common tips:

> Join a local club if you can, or even just find a facebook group or something. Don't be intimidated by groups that look like it's a bunch of experts. They all started somewhere, and we're generally a pretty fun loving bunch of people who love sharing experience.

> Look for off road training classes in your area, or make a road trip out of one farther away.

> If at all possible, don't go alone, and if you do, read the "going it alone" thread in the offroading section. Basically: bring good communication (ham radio, Garmin sat comms, don't rely on cells phones), have a route planned, and stick to it, have a buddy who will call SAR if they don't hear from you by X time, know basic first aid (I suggest taking a class).

> Bring some basic tools with you, a tow strap, have a good spare tire, food, water, etc...

> Get a book like this:

$20 Guide to California Backroads & 4-Wheel-Drive Trails

https://www.amazon.com/Guide-Califo...7040&sr=1-1&keywords=California+4x4+backroads

> And some trail maps like these:

$14 Crystal Basin, Silver Fork Map [Eldorado National Forest] (National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map, 806)

https://www.amazon.com/Crystal-Eldo...ds=national+geographic+trails+illustrated+806

Books and trail maps are super useful. I have several of the maps above, they're the good water proof paper, and the books have really good trail descriptions. Start on the easy ones and work up from there. There's a lot to be said for just going out and finding some National Forrest roads (with a map, lol) and driving around. Just get some seat time in the dirt.

 

highly dependent on what type of off roading you want to do. Why not just try your current setup (maybe add some armor first), then see where you are having issues with getting stuck. Then add a rear locker... this will solve 85% of your stuck problems. Then add a front locker if you absolutely are having issues with just a rear locker. In 99% of cases you will not need a front locker.

FWIW I have wheeled my truck in all sorts of terrain and not had an issue with the factory TRD locker not even once. It has helped tremendously. Now if you are planning on doing black diamond trails then obviously go with a front locker... but most guys running black diamonds have cut fenders, smashed firewalls, 35s, tons of spare CVs, and lockers front/rear, trail damaged body panels, and tube bumpers and armor all over the place. If you are looking at a weekend wheeler DD type situation, there is no need to bother with a front locker IMO.

 

The only real requirement for a combo DD/off-roader is to not be too concerned about getting your DD scratched up, lol.

I say run what you brung, and fix/replace things as you break or bash them. People spend all kinds of money on fancy plate bumpers etc... and many of them have zero scratches, hmmm....

Just wheel, and if/when you staring to scrape your bumper, then think about a new bumper...

 

I remember wheeling with a non-lifted 1st gen TRD with skids, sliders, and bumpers and that thing rocked. Almost was jealous of the lower center of gravity

 

By far my best Off Road vehicle was my 63 Nova open rear

Being Young and fearless and not scared of getting stuck I Took it places I never would today

I patched many a hole in the floor from Rocks

 

Yeah, it's just like James May (Top Gear fame) used to say:

The fastest car in the world is not the Bugatti Veyron, but a (rented) Ford Festiva.

It's the car you don't really care that much if you munch it up here and there.

Wheeling is similar. You can go a lot more places if you don't mind a ding or two...

 

My brother had an 83 Rabbit GTI that he drove similarly.

 

Not many people know this but a stock open diff along with slight tension from your E brake (pulling on E brake handle 2-3 clicks) can get thru some difficult terrain

The increased drag on the brakes allows the spider gears in the diff to act like a locker

 

Watch how easy this 4x4 climbs this rocky section after engaging the E brake

https://youtu.be/v1Dbkvgiozs

 

Another trick for open Diffs in rocky or loose terrain is l/foot braking . Applying your brakes the same time your pressing on the accelerator (equal pressure on both pedals ) increases traction on all four tires