Is a front locker worth it, or just an excuse to spend $$ and break stuff?

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RockDoc

RockDoc

Joined
Jun 3, 2007
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I'm thinking of adding an e-locker to the front of my truck, already have an aussie in the back. 33" TSLs, stock axles birfs for now. Wheeling is mostly mud, loose rock, steep hills rather than rock crawling. Should see some serious water crossings in Alaska next summer......

What experiences can you all share on the trade off between cost and benefit, increased capability and increase breakage, getting into trouble and getting out of trouble?
 
It adds capability. You either have it, or will wish you did at some point in time, unless you run parking lots.


Broken parts happen; that is why you carry spares.

Broken axle parts will not occur if you keep your junk in a garage.


:beer:
 
It depends where you want to go. In rocks and boulders, a front locker is almost required.

In sand, like SnT, you really don't need it. If traction is EQUALLY bad, you don't need a locker.

Mud, I don't really know. There is almost none of that here.

You need to come to Rubicon, though, so I vote yes on the locker.

And since we're there, ARB beats electric lockers by a big margin.
 
Just budget in some Longfields and new axles...mainly the longfields. With 33's and stock gearing you will be fine with stock inners and upgraded birfs. 27 spline.

2 schools of thought....no locker, work harder, but the front end will stay together. Front locker, you dont have to work so hard, but you will stress the front.

Again, 33's are not going to be too bad...especially with stock gears.
 
I used to wheel/DD a 60 for many years, with that said I think that no matter what you do it will come down to your experience as a driver. If you have wheeled your 60 with a rear locker for quite some time you probably know you and your trucks limits. When you add a locker that limit will increase but you as a driver should be knowledgeable and skilled enough to understand the trucks limits and where its limits are. I have never broken any drive train parts except for the u-joints in the driveshaft on a stupid fully locked steep reverse hill climb.

I say go for it and don’t worry about breaking stuff unless you break stuff a lot anyway.:doh::cheers:
 
i loooooooooooooove my front locker, it was night and day difference!

lockers are so awesome its amazing!

added the read and loved it then later added the front after alot of wheeling and crap my truck became a point and shoot affair!
 
INHO, for what it is worth, front lockers are great if you have skid steering. My 4WD tractor which does have skid steering only locks the rear wheels.
 
What puts the ARB significantly ahead of the e-locker?

I wouldn't say I've been left wanting for a front locker yet, but I seem to be on a steady upswing from tame wheeling and primitive roads to more serious stuff where the stockish trucks become a burden. Before I had a winch, I never needed one (but that kept me from trying stuff I would have liked to), before I had a rear locker, I got around fine, but the last couple good trips I've been on, I would have been sunk without them, and it's this more serious stuff that I'm coming to really enjoy.
 
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RockDoc said:
What puts the ARB significantly ahead of the e-locker?

I wouldn't say I've been left wanting for a front locker yet, but I seem to be on a steady upswing from tame wheeling and primitive roads to more serious stuff where the stockish trucks become a burden. Before I had a winch, I never needed one (but that kept me from trying stuff I would have liked to), before I had a rear locker, I got around fine, but the last couple good trips I've been on, I would have been sunk without them, and it's this more serious stuff that I'm coming to really enjoy.
Click to expand...

Yeah, dancing on a rock is lot of fun in a LC. So far, i have managed well enough without rear lockers but could sure appreciate the confidence they inspire! I use the rear lockers on my 4WD tractor often and that has a lot more traction than a LC.
 
I've got an autolocker up front with an open rear, and let's just say I carry 2 spare birfs. On that note, I have yet to blow one and I've bound up the front so bad I couldn't turn even on flat ground. I thought I wrecked my steering system and birfields, but nothing happened. After that experience I can only conclude that I've got upgraded birfs, but I've yet to be inside my new front axle. With a selectable locker you could disengage it when making turns and such so the binding isn't as bad but there is always going to be more stress.

I say go for the front selectable locker, but carry some spare birfs, with the plan to upgrade the inner axles and hub gears at some point. I always have what I would need to rebuild a front axle in the truck, just in case, but then again I carry all my tools with me all the time:lol:
 
Curtis I can not believe you really asked this question.

..."Is a front locker worth it, or just an excuse to spend $$ and break stuff?"...

Seriously, do you think all of us who have owned and do own multiple modified rigs, and use them to and past their limits... put lockers up front because they DON'T help?

Do I have to turn the Rat loose on you?


Mark...
 
Okay, let me rephrase:

I don't current have the money to upgrade the inners/birfs. With the setup I mention, and the wheeling type I like/am in for next Summer in AK, I was hoping for a little guidance/experience on whether getting an elocker would be money well spent at this point or a toy that I'm not really in need of? Is a selectable front locker + 33s pretty safe in terms of stress on stock front axle parts? Better off waiting till I can get longfields at the same time?

I wasn't too concerned about locking the front, but found something for sale in the classifieds that I could pick up on the way to SnT and that got me thinking. I'm honestly thinking I should just forget it and use the money for gas or the 2FE build instead. There's always the strap :meh:
 
you know you waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaanna,
but then i saw you have a gasser.
is it a dd? cuz if it is, just spend your money on gas
 
A locker, even an auto locker in the front, and 33s is no big deal. It is VERY nice in mud, letting you crawl and chew through stuff that you would be more likely to be spinning and bashing through otherwise. BUT... you will not be crying about not having one. Especially on the Trek. in a group trip like this it is not about the maximum capabilities of your rig. it is about careful choices and group effort. :)

Not sure if this helps... if you have extra money to spend then GET IT. But if there are choices to be made... I would not make it a high priority.


Mark...
 
My last two trucks have both been locked front and rear. Now I cant imagine wheelin with out lockers. They both have had 37" tires and stock birfs and I havnt broken one yet.
 
With my gearing (275:1) and 18 inch boggers, and an autolocker up front,I can snap stock Birfs... and have... with no more thought than stepping on an ant on the sidewalk. More times than I like to remember. Which is why '80 axles w/Elockers and the full longfield treatment are going in before the rig hits the trail again.


Mark...
 
You really only want a manually-controlled locker in the front. On very tight turns, you are adding an enormous amount of stress to the front axle joints. Straight ahead, not as much.

I always turn my front lockers OFF until absolutely needed, especially in a tight turn. That will spare you most situations where you run a very high risk of blowing up axle joints.
 
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While you can tear a front end up with a locker, it will also allow you to go lighter on the skinny pedal which in turn will keep you from tearing up other things. I myself would do birfs at the same time as they are not the expensive and I did not want to do the work of R&R on the front axle twice.
 
Poser said:
It adds capability. You either have it, or will wish you did at some point in time, unless you run parking lots.


Broken parts happen; that is why you carry spares.

Broken axle parts will not occur if you keep your junk in a garage.


:beer:
Click to expand...

Mark W said:
Curtis I can not believe you really asked this question.

..."Is a front locker worth it, or just an excuse to spend $$ and break stuff?"...

Seriously, do you think all of us who have owned and do own multiple modified rigs, and use them to and past their limits... put lockers up front because they DON'T help?

Do I have to turn the Rat loose on you?


Mark...
Click to expand...


Poser and Mark are FuNny ! -- And spot on ! :D


:cheers:
 
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