How important are Factory Lockers?

[BBQ BOY]

hello,
I have come across a nice 40th anniversary 80 with low miles and is very clean. It doesn't have the factory lockers though. I may go trail riding with my club twice a year and typically do not care for extreme riding. No rock crawling or big mud holes.
I was going to buy a 100 but I always said that if I came across an 80 at a decent price then I would consider it but with it not being locked kind of bothers me.

 

[Hilux]

How many ways can you phrase locker questions?

Add CDL, go wheeling. If not to taste, Aussie lock the rear... ???

We're not gonna haze you, put snakes in your sleeping bag, force feed you pork if you're Muslim or anything like that, if that's what you're asking...

Carolina (Vinegar based) BBQ is the best, BTW... Hold the sauce!

 

[harrydunn]

Agreed. I've got them but that would not have stopped me from buying the rig. Other's may disagree.

Carry on!

 

[cruiserruf]

hello,
I have come across a nice 40th anniversary 80 with low miles and is very clean. It doesn't have the factory lockers though. I may go trail riding with my club twice a year and typically do not care for extreme riding. No rock crawling or big mud holes.
I was going to buy a 100 but I always said that if I came across an 80 at a decent price then I would consider it but with it not being locked kind of bothers me.

Shouldn't be a problem for just trail riding.

 

[retrofive]

Dont worry about the lack of them based on what type of wheeling you plan on doing.

 

[Box Rocket]

Simple answer......NOT important unless you are spending a lot of time on moderate/difficult trails. I wheeled my 80 unlocked for almost 7 years on moderate trails (and a few difficult ones) and it did suprisingly well. Pic in my avatar is from Moab Rim in Moab that I consider on the moderate/difficult scale and that pic is when the truck was still unlocked.

I added a rear Aussie locker about 2 years ago. It's been a nice addition but hasn't been an absolute MUST.

My philosophy has always been to just find a good truck in good condition that has been well maintained. If it has lockers, SUPER. If not, no biggie. You'll have a great truck and you can add lockers if you feel they are necessary.

 

[greenseaman]

Good luck with the 80, BBQBOY! I hope you get one!

 

[coax]

My philosophy has always been to just find a good truck in good condition that has been well maintained.

+1 Lack of maint. can quickly surpass the cost of adding on a locker or 2 later on.

 

[LINUS]

As someone who went out of my way to end up with lockers (converting my non-lockered 80 to lockers), even I would say "not a deal breaker" for an otherwise really nice 80.

I just like to play in the shop & turn wrenches, plus installing myself made me familiar with all the components.

 

[jlg32281]

For me it's $2k important as this is what it would take to lock an unlocked truck. If you don't really want locker and they're not a huge deal for you, then obviously they're not as valuable to you. I've owned both, locked and unlocked. My first one was unlocked and when I got rid of it, I started looking for a locked on. If your patient, you can find equally as nice locked ones. But if you don't need them, buy whatever you find in good condition.

 

[95Fantasma80]

So I've heard that on an 80 the thing to have and its amazing are lockers.

Then people that don't have them say they're really not that good anyways, that they would rather add another type which are faster to engage.

50/50.

Just look for a well maintained one and Lockers would be a big plus.

 

[cybrstar]

I'd pick up a limited 40th any day (love the colors and the black badging). Well maintained is a plus, compared to mine (it was leaking just as bad as the VALDEZ oil spill in ALASKA, but thats my love my LC80 and oil tight now).

I too thought that the lockers were a plus, but these rigs ARE still great without them. A CDL will do wonders from what I hear.

Yet the 100 will get you better MPG.

 

[1FZj80]

Buy the truck if in good condition but add lockers. I find myself trying to get through stuff without being locked, knowing I can flip the switch if needed. Without lockers I would be taking a different route. I have also been on what looked like a mellow trail and got stuck when not locked.

What is considered low miles these days?

 

[BBQ BOY]

What is CDL?

 

[arndog123]

Center Differential Lock

 

[SchniperJB]

What is CDL?

Center Differential Lock - splits power between front and rear axles. But this will not split the power to be 25% per corner. You need the magic dial (with CDL) for that.

 

[Bluetribal]

I have been wheeling mine non locked for over 4 years now and even while not playing in the rocks you come across instances where you could use them. But you just make sure you are following a rig with lockers and you have a tow strap and a beer to offer for a tug. I have probably only run across an obstacle once a season that I needed lockers to make. Just back it up and take a little different line or add a touch more skinny pedal.
If you have the time I would wait for a clean rig with lockers. If you don't have the time then buy a clean rig. I would keep it that simple.

 

[BBQ BOY]

Thanks for the advice. i am still on the fence on wether I want a 100 or 80. it will be my EDD and family car since I am having my 3rd child.

 

[1shot1kill]

The are only important if you need them!

 

[rspeters]

There's nothing like turning those on and making an obstacle that you were struggling with seem simple. First experience I ever had with a locker was when I put a rear one in my stock 91 4Runner. I immediately went out to the closest hill I could find. I got lucky in that there was a supped up, lifted toyota 4x4 with the roll bar and the lights and the whole setup. He was also trying to get up the hill. I watched him try it first and he couldn't do it. So he backed down and then saw that I was going to try it. He was laughing at me as I was driving up to the hill. Then I started going up it and went right up and over without a problem. He wasn't very happy so he continued to try the hill over and over without ever making it. So, just to rub it in, I went up it one more time.