Lockers - why you want them and how/when to use them

[KWalkerM]

I think you are on to something. All newbies shall be required to start out with a bone stock rig and only a hi-lift jack. We could could call it the starter kit and let it be a rite of passage to becoming a lazy trail slug with lockers and a winch.
Seriously though, the newbies that start off with all the good bits provide hours of entertainment.

Yes! But yeah hi-lifts are probably the most dangerous tool I own. I have used a hi-lift more times than a winch to get unstuck and I am familiar with the danger. I have only had one almost drop on me after slipping a pin that wasnt lubed. I do enjoy watching people who dont know what they are doing try to get un-stuck since I was once in that situation.

"newbies" and "Hi-lift jack" spells 1st aid kit required!

I've never used the hi-lift jack I bought as a newb because it was a "must have". it sits in the corner of the garage collecting dust, and gets used in the shed ocassionaly when I'm changing springs. ****ing dangerous things IMO, more so on rough uneven loose surfaces etc

You spelled "life flight" kind of funny there. I agree, a hi-lift is literally the most dangerous tool I own. It is however the most versatile and most used extraction tool I own. If you havent committed to actually mitigating hazards of using them and learning about them, they are seriously dangerous. They arent for everyone. I have had more trucks slide/tip on pavement than offroad though when lifted up. Coupled with a winch they are incredibly useful though. Right @SIZZLE ?!

 

[Broski]

Yes! But yeah hi-lifts are probably the most dangerous tool I own. I have used a hi-lift more times than a winch to get unstuck and I am familiar with the danger. I have only had one almost drop on me after slipping a pin that wasnt lubed. I do enjoy watching people who dont know what they are doing try to get un-stuck since I was once in that situation.



You spelled "life flight" kind of funny there. I agree, a hi-lift is literally the most dangerous tool I own. It is however the most versatile and most used extraction tool I own. If you havent committed to actually mitigating hazards of using them and learning about them, they are seriously dangerous. They arent for everyone. I have had more trucks slide/tip on pavement than offroad though when lifted up. Coupled with a winch they are incredibly useful though. Right @SIZZLE ?!

View attachment 1373522

I think this pic. sums it up, that looks way safer & much more fun then turning on the lockers

 

[mudgudgeon]

Yes! But yeah hi-lifts are probably the most dangerous tool I own. I have used a hi-lift more times than a winch to get unstuck and I am familiar with the danger. I have only had one almost drop on me after slipping a pin that wasnt lubed. I do enjoy watching people who dont know what they are doing try to get un-stuck since I was once in that situation.



You spelled "life flight" kind of funny there. I agree, a hi-lift is literally the most dangerous tool I own. It is however the most versatile and most used extraction tool I own. If you havent committed to actually mitigating hazards of using them and learning about them, they are seriously dangerous. They arent for everyone. I have had more trucks slide/tip on pavement than offroad though when lifted up. Coupled with a winch they are incredibly useful though. Right @SIZZLE ?!

View attachment 1373522

what is the hi-lift achieving in this pic? looks like the winch had you covered?

the most effective way of mitigating a hazard is to eliminate it, ie leave the hi-lift in the shed

at the risk of sounding like @greentruck , I'll leave the hi-lift for others to master, or not. I don't need one

 

[baldilocks]

what is the hi-lift achieving in this pic? looks like the winch had you covered?

the most effective way of mitigating a hazard is to eliminate it, ie leave the hi-lift in the shed

at the risk of sounding like @greentruck , I'll leave the hi-lift for others to master, or not. I don't need one

Last September I was alone on the Rubicon at midnight and needed my lockers, winch and hi-lift. Here we have these things called rocks, lots and lots of rocks and sometimes our axles become wedged against those rocks such that forward and reverse motion is not possible and nor is winching until the hi-lift is used to elevated a couple tires enough to place some small rocks (children of big rocks) under those elevated tires to free the vehicle from the big rocks. Then the winch can be used if sufficient traction is still not available (s*** happens on the side of a boulder covered mountain at midnight). Anyone who says lockers are not necessary or not worth there price tag either wheels in a cow pasture, doesn't wheel much or has an appetite for major inconvenience.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

I learned to off road with a 2wd truck, beer, and a Hi-Lift that has given me unparalleled Hi-Lift skills! It taught me two valuable and time saving lesson I use today. Do everything you can to avoid needing a Hi-Lift and learn to drive so you never need a Hi-Lift.

Hi-Lift pro tip ► Never use a Hi-Lift to change a tire

 

[Pin_Head]

Oh yes. That is the rare and desirable low lift curved/side lift version of the high lift that is only used in unusual circumstances.

 

[KWalkerM]

i think this pic. sums it up, that looks way safer & much more fun then turning on the lockers

Single rear locker already engaged and did nothing to help get unstuck. This was actually very safely done and the ONLY way to get this rig out. Lockers don't help when none of the tires are on the ground

what is the hi-lift achieving in this pic? looks like the winch had you covered?

the most effective way of mitigating a hazard is to eliminate it, ie leave the hi-lift in the shed

at the risk of sounding like @greentruck , I'll leave the hi-lift for others to master, or not. I don't need one

The picture doesn't even come close to doing that section justice. The Tacoma is turtled on its skid pan. the drivers side drops and slide sharply and the rock he is turtled on is about a 3 foot straight climb/drop at the rear. Ill try to find another picture. The rear locker in this case got him more stuck when it didn't grab and slid the rear of the truck into the danger zone.

We could not winch directly without destroying the entire side of the Tacoma by dragging it or pulling the nose down and ripping the bumper off. The hi-lift was a required tool to extricate without damaging the 2016 Tacoma in the picture (rear locker, 265s and just a belly pan, no lift on a Rubicon type obstacle). @SIZZLE is an awesome driver, He got through a ton of obstacles and this was the only hang up section of incredibly difficult trail. This was map error for why a brand new stock Tacoma went through these obstacles, what was supposed to be the "easy bypass" turned out to be the "easier" path out which was still incredibly technical. It was also the only picture I had with a hi-lift on my phone haha

My point is lockers are great but in my opinion they only get trucks more stuck in certain circumstances whether that's a stock height truck, operator error or terrain conditions. There are better tools to invest in first that are cheaper than just slapping lockers on and calling it a day.

I think this thread gives inexperienced people a false sense of security by saying the "magic dial" instantly makes a truck more capable. Lockers don't make people better drivers, experience does, this thread seems to be pointing otherwise at times by the comments.

Last September I was alone on the Rubicon at midnight and needed my lockers, winch and hi-lift. Here we have these things called rocks, lots and lots of rocks and sometimes our axles become wedged against those rocks such that forward and reverse motion is not possible and nor is winching until the hi-lift is used to elevated a couple tires enough to place some small rocks (children of big rocks) under those elevated tires to free the vehicle from the big rocks. Then the winch can be used if sufficient traction is still not available (s*** happens on the side of a boulder covered mountain at midnight). Anyone who says lockers are not necessary or not worth there price tag either wheels in a cow pasture, doesn't wheel much or has an appetite for major inconvenience.

Lockers and hi-lift and winch are the trifecta for true West Coast wheeling! Didn't you run the Snake Lake Loop at Gold Lake? This was coming out of that bowl right below Little Deer lake! 1 broken winch out of 2, one hi-lift, a bottle jack to use as a cam lever to get a control arm from hanging up and a lot of rock stacking!

I learned to off road with a 2wd truck, beer, and a Hi-Lift that has given me unparalleled Hi-Lift skills! It taught me two valuable and time saving lesson I use today. Do everything you can to avoid needing a Hi-Lift and learn to drive so you never need a Hi-Lift.

Hi-Lift pro tip ► Never use a Hi-Lift to change a tire

View attachment 1373601

Hi lifts are a pain but hella useful, I try not to use them either. How heavy is your 60 that you banana-ed that hilift?!?!


Anyways I have derailed this enough with magic ratchet stick conversation. Ill leave it at that since its a discussion better suited to the winching and recovery section.

 

[madisonr34]

Since im not going rock crawling, im opting for both front and rear gear type Limited Slip diffs... my question is will the from LSD increase wear on the front axle more than the factory Awd system for daily driving? Or the same??

 

[inkpot]

Oh yes. That is the rare and desirable low lift curved/side lift version of the high lift that is only used in unusual circumstances.

That's the one designed for jacking around corners?

 

[KWalkerM]

Since im not going rock crawling, im opting for both front and rear gear type Limited Slip diffs... my question is will the from LSD increase wear on the front axle more than the factory Awd system for daily driving? Or the same??

Ditch the limited slips, they are garbage. You will get weird hanldling (Random under or over steer) with a front locker and more than likely road chatter plus excessive front end tire wear from it locking and unlocking frequently. Unless you like buying tires, go selectable in the front and rear. almost the same cost for LSDs F/R for a less superior product at that point.

 

[Pin_Head]

That's the one designed for jacking around corners?

Yes. That and jacking around trees and rocks. You need a special curved jack.

I think that everyone should learn how to use these and other critical recovery tools with your unlocked truck without killing yourself before moving on to more challenging situations.

However, you never know what is going to happen to change your situation. There was a time about 8 years ago when I was in Coyote Canyon in Anza Borrego and we had 2 inches of rain in 6 hours. After the flash floods passed we had to cross a quarter mile of mud that was 18 inches deep or more to get back out. I just went balls to the walls with all 4 wheels driving and slinging mud 40 feet in the air, but I made it. I took it to the quarter car wash in Borrego Springs but the owner made me park out on the street to wash it. After $5 in quarters, I left a cubic yard of mud on the street.

I hate mud.

Lockers are a good thing.

 

[retrofive]

I think we can all agree.
1) Experience has a huge role in the wheeling game, no matter rock crawling or overlanding
2) Recovery gear (hi-lift, straps, come-alongs, winches, etc) is essential HOWEVER the usage of it is critical and training and experience should be there.
3) Lockers are a huge benefit, but they don't turn things into magic (although sometimes feels like it).

I think of all the above as my bag of tricks. There is always the right tool for the right job. Sure before lockers people ran incredible trails. And still do. Technology has also given us huge advantages than beating our heads against a wall.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

I learned to off road with a 2wd truck, beer, and a Hi-Lift that has given me unparalleled Hi-Lift skills! It taught me two valuable and time saving lesson I use today. Do everything you can to avoid needing a Hi-Lift and learn to drive so you never need a Hi-Lift.

Here's some other High lift pearls:
(All of these are certified true)

-Always let your buddy carry the hi-lift on his truck, the damn thing is heavy

corollary:

-The best hi-lift is the one you aren't carrying

-If you have to carry a hi-lift, carry your buddy's, so you can give it back when it gets clogged with mud or bent.

-If you have to carry a high lift, only use it with the wheel lift attachment. Otherwise it's too dangerous.

-The new guy should always operate the hi-lift, for experience.

-If there's a load on the hi-lift, never get within the 360 degree arc of the handle.

-If you see the new guy, fresh off EP, operating the hi-lift wrong, correct him from a safe distance-1 truck length is best. If it's a Land Rover, 2 truck lengths. If a Jeep and beer is involved, 3 truck lengths and uphill.

-Never pee on the high lift mechanism to lube it. If you do, you're too close.

-Carry the Hi-lift inside the truck. Bolted down. That will assure you'll never have to get yours out and use it.

-Always regard the Hi-Lift with a high degree of suspicion. Even unloaded in your garage. It will fall over and put a dent in your Cruiser.

 

[chap79]

^^ I endorse this post.

 

[Tools R Us]

... I think this thread gives inexperienced people a false sense of security by saying the "magic dial" instantly makes a truck more capable....

Doesn't matter who the driver is, lockers make the rig more capable, saying otherwise would be misleading.

Lockers don't make people better drivers, experience does, this thread seems to be pointing otherwise at times by the comments.

Agree that seat time is likely the most important component. What the operator does with the equipment determines the outcome, regardless of equipment level. Operator experience/sanity really has nothing to do with lockers, have seen plenty of users get into trouble, do stupid stuff, lockers or not.

 

[TexasJack]

Yes! But yeah hi-lifts are probably the most dangerous tool I own. I have used a hi-lift more times than a winch to get unstuck and I am familiar with the danger. I have only had one almost drop on me after slipping a pin that wasnt lubed. I do enjoy watching people who dont know what they are doing try to get un-stuck since I was once in that situation.



You spelled "life flight" kind of funny there. I agree, a hi-lift is literally the most dangerous tool I own. It is however the most versatile and most used extraction tool I own. If you havent committed to actually mitigating hazards of using them and learning about them, they are seriously dangerous. They arent for everyone. I have had more trucks slide/tip on pavement than offroad though when lifted up. Coupled with a winch they are incredibly useful though. Right @SIZZLE ?!

View attachment 1373522

When I was growing up, we only had "high lift" type jacks. They have always been dangerous and using one out in the dirt/mud/snow only makes it more so. With that said, I have every do-dad that Slee sells for use with a high lift to reduce the danger. I'll only use one as a last resort but I absolutely carry one!

 

[mudgudgeon]

^^ I endorse this post.

I second this!

 

[mudgudgeon]

@KWalkerM cheers for the description of your picture. the picture definitely doesn't quite reflect you description, sounds exciting.

I think this thread gives inexperienced people a false sense of security by saying the "magic dial" instantly makes a truck more capable. Lockers don't make people better drivers, experience does, this thread seems to be pointing otherwise at times by the comments.

I think you are partly right here. Lockers definitely make a truck instantly more capable, that's why we spend money on them.

Totally agree that a locker does not make up for experience when things get extreme. In some situations they definitely give you two chances, a chance to avoid trouble, and a chance to make a complete cluster fxxx of a situation (been there for sure), but they still aren't magic.

 

[04gto]

Here's some other High lift pearls:
(All of these are certified true)

-Always let your buddy carry the hi-lift on his truck, the damn thing is heavy

corollary:

-The best hi-lift is the one you aren't carrying

-If you have to carry a hi-lift, carry your buddy's, so you can give it back when it gets clogged with mud or bent.

-If you have to carry a high lift, only use it with the wheel lift attachment. Otherwise it's too dangerous.

-The new guy should always operate the hi-lift, for experience.

-If there's a load on the hi-lift, never get within the 360 degree arc of the handle.

-If you see the new guy, fresh off EP, operating the hi-lift wrong, correct him from a safe distance-1 truck length is best. If it's a Land Rover, 2 truck lengths. If a Jeep and beer is involved, 3 truck lengths and uphill.

-Never pee on the high lift mechanism to lube it. If you do, you're too close.

-Carry the Hi-lift inside the truck. Bolted down. That will assure you'll never have to get yours out and use it.

-Always regard the Hi-Lift with a high degree of suspicion. Even unloaded in your garage. It will fall over and put a dent in your Cruiser.

I nominate this for the "funniest of 2016, because it is so true" award. Seriously, I am very experienced with a high lift, but every time I use one I am scared as though my life is truly in danger. Like I am in a building on fire and my only way out is to get past a angry hungry lion.

 

[Broski]

I think we are getting off track hear, Original post was [Lockers why you want them] Because if you take two like 80 one with lockers one with out and two skilled drivers the locked 80 will be more capable hands down.