front locker or not?

[silverhorse]

So I'm a little nervous about putting a locker in the front axle of a full time, IFS rig... So can folks who have them chime in on said subject or those who don't want to install a front locker explain way...

FYI -- I plan to put a locker in the rear for sure..

 

[graham5david]

I was worried about the 200 not having lockers but I haven't had an issue with traction yet using the MTS. In fact the MTS has really surpassed my expectations. But a 200 would be unstoppable with lockers

 

[tominboise]

Every time I think I need a rear locker in my 200, I go to Moab and wheel everywhere I want to go without one. A 200 with lockers would be close to unstoppable. I'd prefer it over the crawl control, as it is a simpler system with less moving parts (*and noise!).

 

[GoISU]

I’m in a similar situation... I’m dying to re gear and I’ve heard the peer pressure, if you’re going to be in the rear axle you may as well add a locker. If you’re going to be in the front axle same thing. I wheeled a FJ for ten years with a rear locker and used it when appropriate. If I REALLY need a pair of lockers I’m not sure I should be in that situation. On the other hand, I know lockers can make sketchy situations a walk in the park and I already have a ARB twin compressor under the hood.

 

[Haggis]

I have always regarded my rear factory locker in my Tacoma as my secret weapon...best option I have ever chosen. I'm going to do my 60 front and rear next.

 

[tincan45]

I would leave it alone. But then, I'm not a fan of front lockers on IFS. CV axles are just too vulnerable with a front lock if you don't know when it's appropriate to engage them. I saw this a lot on Tacoma's. The 200 appears to have a much better CV, but are you really going to gain THAT much?

$.02

 

[Taco2Cruiser]

I wouldn’t own my 200 if there wasn’t aftermarket support for a front and rear lockers.

but I wheel in rocky, muddy, tight trails where MTS and crawl don’t really shine.

also, the CV axles in a 200 are stout (not aftermarket but Toyota factory). I’ve blown up solid front axles, but never a Toyota CV.

Just need to know what you are doing, like when the front locker is on, you go strait.When you want to turn, be unlocked. That’s it.

if you wheel in Moab (or similar terrain), you don’t need anything. It’s sandpaper traction, so much grip a KIA can do it.

 

[DPA200]

I wouldn’t own my 200 if there wasn’t aftermarket support for a front and rear lockers.

but I wheel in rocky, muddy, tight trails where MTS and crawl don’t really shine.

also, the CV axles in a 200 are stout (not aftermarket but Toyota factory). I’ve blown up solid front axles, but never a Toyota CV.

Just need to know what you are doing, like when the front locker is on, you go strait.When you want to turn, be unlocked. That’s it.

if you wheel in Moab (or similar terrain), you don’t need anything. It’s sandpaper traction, so much grip a KIA can do it.

I wonder if this Kia Sorento had lockers?

 

[FlightMedic178]

@Taco2Cruiser are you running air lockers or e lockers? I’m also considering front and rear lockers.

 

[indycole]

I have front and rear Harrop e-lockers and have no regrets. I will say that I don't use the front locker all that often but it's essential when I need it. That said, it's not like I'd be SOL without it... just it would take more time to winch / use recovery tracks / try different lines as opposed hitting a button and moving forward. I'm not too concerned with the CVs... I'd imagine something else like abruptly stopping a spinning wheel would be a more likely problem for the CVs than the front locker.

Re: air vs. e-lockers the main tradeoff is that e-lockers are simpler but require more rotation to engage.

 

[Gazziza]

I wonder if this Kia Sorento had lockers?

Always amazes me when I see videos of stock rigs run Hell's Gate. A KIA no-less. There was also a promo video of a "stock" TRD Pro Tundra running it very easily with a novice driver without any issues. Of course hard to tell how many times it was ran and how many edits KIA and Toyota had to go through to get the video. Then on the hand you see extremely built up rigs that tip or roll over. As always having a experienced spotters and a calm co-pilot goes a lot further then huge tires and a big lift.

 

[TonyP]

It's my understanding that the Kia wasn't entirely stock (tires, skid plate, ect).
The Tundra was stock.

Edit: I probably should have just watched the video for the first 10 seconds

 

[NYC570]

If you're getting lockers and are planning to regear, don't you have to do both front and back?

 

[eatSleepWoof]

If you're getting lockers and are planning to regear, don't you have to do both front and back?

You need to ensure your gearing is the same between front and rear axles, but you certainly do not have to install lockers, or install lockers in both axles.

 

[Romer]

I have front and rear lockers. Had them in my 100 and 80. I never use the front locker but do use the rear on occasion. The atrac does help add traction capability. I can do obstacles a lot easier than other vehicles with no locker.

Based on my experience I only put a rear locker in my daughters GX470. I think just a rear locker would be fine. If you decide it isnt hitting what you need, you could add a front later

I would get the double ARB Compressor though as it works great for airing up tires quickly and that is worth it

thats my opinion based on my experience

 

[bloc]

It’s just that the labor to get into the diff is so high it’d be nice to do both parts at once if you think you might ever lock the front axle.

I agree though.. a rear gets 85% of the work done.

 

[Romer]

It’s just that the labor to get into the diff is so high it’d be nice to do both parts at once if you think you might ever lock the front axle.

I agree though.. a rear gets 85% of the work done.

I guess I dont understand this. Each diff is separate. You have to remove and modify each one seperately. Now if you were looking at regearing, then yes while you are in there. I did not regear FWIW

 

[bloc]

I guess I dont understand this. Each diff is separate. You have to remove and modify each one seperately. Now if you were looking at regearing, then yes while you are in there. I did not regear FWIW

I forgot to quote NYC570 in his question about both axles.

 

[silverhorse]

thanks for the info gents!

start watching at 3 minute's in... 200 broke a CV

 

[Taco2Cruiser]

thanks for the info gents!

start watching at 3 minute's in... 200 broke a CV

@silverhorse this is not directed to you at all. I'm just talking out loud.
Alright... alright...

(Taco is taking a breath)

That CV broke because of an open diff. Hear me out guys, seriously... I keep saying this over and over, year after year, crawl control and MTS is great but it doesn't work well when climbing muddy trails. Plain and simple.

We keep hearing how its great in moab, everything is great in moab, moab is a joke when it comes to low traction situations. So let's let that go. In fact, I am probably the least aggressive dude in moab because that level of traction is so foreign to me. I blows my mind every time I go there and how unreal the traction is.

With a locker, that 200 would of been sending sustain, slow, methodical power to a muddy track. Instead, it had to use heavy throttle, then brakes are grabbing and holding the truck back, so more throttle is needed, which increases spinning. Now this is where it matters, go back and look at when it broke. You have a very fast spinning wheel, that all of a sudden, got stopped because the truck was bouncing up the muddy trail then it hit a high traction spot (welcome to east coast wheeling). It's a receipt for axle breaking. IFS, Solid, doesn't matter, that is how to break axles. Been watching it for 20 years.

Now if he would had a locker, and used sustain power. The locker would of sent power to the wheels far more gently, combine that with a winch, everything would of been fine.

What I'm getting at is, don't look at like, "oh, a CV broke, CVs are weak, lockers would make CVs break more" NO

Look at it like, "spinning wheels like an idiot, then abruptly having them stop, that breaks axles."

Momentum is that thing you use when you run out of talent.

Side note, every solid axle I've broke was in open diff mode (that's 4 total) one of those a 2.5 ton Rockwell. Then I grew up and used my lockers, never broke an axle again, including my IFS trucks.