is it ok to leave hubs locked

[Combat Chuck]

1) Anyone driving a Toyota 4x4 for fuel economy needs to reevaluate their life plan.

Just to confound your statement here, I consider The Mule my economical daily driver... but that's relative to my only other rig being a 40.

 

[NerdNoise]

Just to confound your statement here, I consider The Mule my economical daily driver... but that's relative to my only other rig being a 40.

Same here. I picked the truck up to keep the daily driver miles off of my 80 series. That, and I really missed driving a five speed. And as far as mileage goes, as long as its greater than 15 I consider that a win.

 

[80t0ylc]

Same here. I picked the truck up to keep the daily driver miles off of my 80 series. That, and I really missed driving a five speed. And as far as mileage goes, as long as its greater than 15 I consider that a win.

I agree! I also own an 80 series and in addition to your reasons, I'd like to add something else. IMHO, the 80 series is an excellent, if not the best SUV ever made. But it's also too large and heavy for me as a trail rig for wheeling alone, which I enjoy and do most of the time. My '81 Mini is light and economical, compared to the 80. And the manual tranny, for me, is better suited to my off road driving. And I really appreciate the economy, versatility and choice of part time and free wheeling hubs.

 

[NorCalBorn]

..All 2nd gen 4Runners have drive plates and not locking hubs, so the CV debate is moot. The ADD system only unlocks one side of the front axle, so the spider gears are getting a work out anyway. I'm not really sure what the reasoning was for the ADD system, probably only to make shift on the fly possible while making an attempt to lessen the drag by having some of the front end turning...

Crap, everyone ignore my advise then. Mine came with no drive plates at all, heck originally it came without a front diff too. ~ADD front 3rd, swapped on a pre-ADD left side housing end, and manual hubs. I don't have any of that vacuum lined drama to worry about. If you got add leaving them locked is fine, if you're like me and running a different setup there is a noticable difference, even then I'll stick with what all of us guys have been saying.

Run what'cha brung.

 

[Combat Chuck]

Crap, everyone ignore my advise then. Mine came with no drive plates at all, heck originally it came without a front diff too. ~ADD front 3rd, swapped on a pre-ADD left side housing end, and manual hubs. I don't have any of that vacuum lined drama to worry about. If you got add leaving them locked is fine, if you're like me and running a different setup there is a noticable difference, even then I'll stick with what all of us guys have been saying.

Run what'cha brung.

It's all good.
I didn't know there was a difference in thirds between the types, but it makes sense now.

Good to have you back, Shane!

 

[NorCalBorn]

It's all good.
I didn't know there was a difference in thirds between the types, but it makes sense now.

Good to have you back, Shane!

Thanks. You just use the ADD 3rd with the standard (old style) left side setup. Next time we see each other feel free to "take a look under her bonnet".

 

[Combat Chuck]

Sound like a plan!
Despite the 3VZ's shortcomings, it's still a beautiful motor.

 

[cruiser88]

Tell ya a short story about my dad

Man was a genus with no common sence what so ever.

He was wheeling somewhere, one of those " I just wanna see where it goes days, alone, then it starts to rain and on a logging, in the mountains, with no 4 wheel drive can lead to a bad day.

His story goes "well those cheap ass Warns(1970,fj40 dealer option) would not move, in my the mist of my own genus I decided to force them to lock so I would not have to walk out and find tools".

Now this is a master tech in electrical, carpentry a degree in Mining and geology and the fawker dont have nothing but a damn hammer and a Cold Chisel.

He goes on to say, "drivers side locked and he proceeded on the passenger and in doing so the Chisel slipped and a piece of metal(From the Warn) went into his eye".

He didnt get it locked however he did manage to drive out then a trip to the ER where a short time later they sent him to get the metal removed.

Lesson, lock'em, maintain them, lol

 

[Combat Chuck]

Wow.
Just wow.

With all due respect to your father, the BFH was a dumb idea.

 

[93yotasr5]

Just do it.......... Nike

 

[Combat Chuck]

Don't do it, it's terrible, the world will fall off its axis, day will become night, waffles will start calling themselves pancakes, and people will wear their hats on their feet.


Really, I think the local mantra on 'Mud is "fix, wheel, break, repeat."
Lock 'em, and have fun is all I can say on the matter!

 

[KayakPanic]

\If you think you aren't going to lose fuel mileage by adding the drag of two CV shafts, the front driveline and the differential that is immersed in cold gear oil with an already under-powered and inefficient vehicle then you are naive. It may be a negligible amount depending upon how far you drive, how fast you drive, how much you like repairing undo wear and how much those costs relate to the convenience of not taking the 30 seconds to get out and lock your hubs in.

x2

I do in fact notice a fuel mileage difference in my truck, albeit a small one. Before the front locker it was around 1-1.5 MPG depending on the temperature. When you drive the miles I do and are only getting around 16 MPG on average that's a sizable difference.

But are you seriously trying to tell me that I'm an over-achiever because I take the extra 30 seconds to lock and unlock my hubs as needed instead of risking the wear and fuel mileage difference? Sounds like you are just trying to pick a fight...

x2

I ALWAYS noticed a 2mpg reduction on my 1980 Hilux if hubs were locked and in 2WD. Starting at 16.8mpg and reducing to 14.8mpg is a HUGE difference to me. I found this out after taking a road trip about 15 years ago and hearing a kind of grinding or whining sound out of the 4 speed, at 65 mph.

500 miles later it was the genius in me that looked at the hubs after wondering "what was wrong with this schitty mpg...

answer to the question: "Is it OK to run the hubs locked?" -YES.

"Will it reduce my MPG and add more wear to the front end?" -YES.

I don't ever run my hubs locked unless I am about to shift it into 4WD. And if I am going to do that I just get out of the truck and lock the hubs.

I do not run mine locked in 2WD because a reduction of 2mpg is huge to my personal bank, and because the '80 always steered quite wierd if they were locked. My '95.5 Tacoma does not seem to have the steering problem as bad, but does have the reduced gas mileage issue.

I also will not drive my rig faster than about 45 or 50 mph in 4WD, in snow or otherwise. I don't like the handling, the sounds, or the wear. I will drive 65mph with 300-400lbs of sand in the back, in 2WD on snowpack, before going 65mph in 4WD. I guess that boils down to a personal choice.

If I am near deep snow or rock crawls, I will lock em in a few miles before the fun begins, and in more populated city or metropolitan areas or areas without enough pullouts, I could see an advantage in leaving them locked all winter long.

-$.03