Should I spend 7k on 4.88 gears with front and rear lockers?

[Koehnboy]

I've owned a 2000 LC100 for the past 10 years. My wife and i used it on several adevtures and are planning on using it for years to come. Now that it's on 35's I am getting 4.88 gears installed and I'd really like front and rear lockers installed while I'm getting it regeared.
What would you all do? And are lockers worth the extra $$$.

 

[96bruizer]

Rear locker yes, front…if your in a situation where you need that front locker, it could easily become much worse. Independent suspension up front does not have the same strength as your rear axle. I’d go with a rear locker and play it safe up front. Spend some time reading in the 100 series threads.

 

[Koehnboy]

Thank you for the quake response. Yes this is always been my thinking regarding lockers on the 100 series. The mechanic installing my gears who mind you have done countless installs and worked directly with the founders of nitro gears here in washington state. Said he'd recommended the front before the rear.
But I'll definitely check out the threads and see what other are saying.

 

[TahoeZ]

It depends on how you're going to use the vehicle. If you're just cruising fire roads, no need. Rear locker might be worthwhile to get you out of an occasional bind without bouncing the rig and breaking something. If, however, you are going to be traveling solo, and/or tackling steeper and more difficult terrain, I'd put lockers at the #1 most important mod. You might be able to make it through some of the same obstacles without them, but being able to crawl through in control at a snails speed without bouncing or spinning wheels adds safety and minimizes the chance of breaking things and destroying the trail.

If you have the money and foresee using/needing them, definitely recommend doing it while regearing.

 

[GTV]

If you have to ask you don’t need them. Unless you plan on doing some hard trails in the future.

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

@RustyNailJustin Help this member out on $$$$$$$ YEESH!

 

[OEMGUY0720]

At the end of the day if you can afford it, there’s no more second guessing. This hobby doesn’t have to make sense to anyone, if that brings in additional peace of mind and confidence when you’re out there wheeling that’s good enough. Lockers are meant for your 4WD to be as predictable as it can be through those technical obstacles, and like what you said rather than run the risk of wheel hop and eventually breaking parts, flip that switch and you mitigate that.

There’s an old proverb that says: "It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.”

 

[Trunk Monkey]

If you're looking at lockers for recovery, I would prioritize other items - winch, traction boards, etc.

 

[dbleon]

Winch

 

[Berkut10r]

4.88s paired with a Pedal Commander gave me the low-end satisfaction I was seeking after adding armor/heavy tires/etc. I added both lockers at that time as well; however, if I were to do it over again...I would skip the front locker. I do trails at Windrock with rear locker only with little to no issues.

 

[bj70bc]

if you are in there already and have the fun tokens, then do it. But ,ya, if you have to ask you prob dont need. Winch? No? Front winch bumper? do this first, or all at once

 

[Koehnboy]

It depends on how you're going to use the vehicle. If you're just cruising fire roads, no need. Rear locker might be worthwhile to get you out of an occasional bind without bouncing the rig and breaking something. If, however, you are going to be traveling solo, and/or tackling steeper and more difficult terrain, I'd put lockers at the #1 most important mod. You might be able to make it through some of the same obstacles without them, but being able to crawl through in control at a snails speed without bouncing or spinning wheels adds safety and minimizes the chance of breaking things and destroying the trail.

If you have the money and foresee using/needing them, definitely recommend doing it while regearing.

I agree 100% Really value other opinions, especially owners of 100 series. Maybe I just need confirmation I'm making the right choice. My wife and I sometimes go on very remote locations for about a week at a time. I'm fairly experienced offroad and take perceptions and I've gotten unstuck in some nasty conditions. I will be nice not having to use so much momentum in sketchy situations.

If you're looking at lockers for recovery, I would prioritize other items - winch, traction boards, etc.

I agree. I alway prepared. Including a wench.

Winch

I've got that box checked.

Thank you all for your input. I really appreciate it.

4.88s paired with a Pedal Commander gave me the low-end satisfaction I was seeking after adding armor/heavy tires/etc. I added both lockers at that time as well; however, if I were to do it over again...I would skip the front locker. I do trails at Windrock with rear locker only with little to no issues.

I'll look into the Pedal Commander. Thanks.

@RustyNailJustin Help this member out on $$$$$$$ YEESH!

 

[Mike NXP]

I agree 100% Really value other opinions, especially owners of 100 series. Maybe I just need confirmation I'm making the right choice. My wife and I sometimes go on very remote locations for about a week at a time. I'm fairly experienced offroad and take perceptions and I've gotten unstuck in some nasty conditions. I will be nice not having to use so much momentum in sketchy situations.

I am like you and cruise with my wife and dog and nobody else. Far away places, remote 4x4 tracks with a few days between fuel / people at times....Installing lockers has never been something I've consider spending money on to improve safety / reliability / capability... Could even argue that it adds another failure point / something to break...That being said you may be going onto rougher trails like rock crawling in Moab and stuff then I could understand why you want it

If you have a winch and a good set of traction boards then you really can do a lot. When in desert / sand environment I throw in a land anchor too...Garmin GPS with the oh-s*** button in case you r really screwed... Experience is more important than lockers. Knowing what your vehicle can do and understanding when to stop pushing .

So $7k for lockers, no way not unless you have a direct need for them...Could do a lot more with that cash to improve life on the road in the cruiser

 

[FGreggo]

Thank you for the quake response. Yes this is always been my thinking regarding lockers on the 100 series. The mechanic installing my gears who mind you have done countless installs and worked directly with the founders of nitro gears here in washington state. Said he'd recommended the front before the rear.
But I'll definitely check out the threads and see what other are saying.

You mind if I ask who you are using for the install in Washington? I’ll be doing some suspension work in the next year and would like to have some options.

 

[cruisermatt]

Wether you should or shouldn't is really up to you buy that pricing is very fair for a full install in 2026. However expect to end up needing a few other parts on top of this like CV's, drive flanges, etc unless they have already been done recently.

 

[Koehnboy]

Wether you should or shouldn't is really up to you buy that pricing is very fair for a full install in 2026. However expect to end up needing a few other parts on top of this like CV's, drive flanges, etc unless they have already been done recently.

Did the CVs and flanges about 6 months ago.

 

[Koehnboy]

I am like you and cruise with my wife and dog and nobody else. Far away places, remote 4x4 tracks with a few days between fuel / people at times....Installing lockers has never been something I've consider spending money on to improve safety / reliability / capability... Could even argue that it adds another failure point / something to break...That being said you may be going onto rougher trails like rock crawling in Moab and stuff then I could understand why you want it

If you have a winch and a good set of traction boards then you really can do a lot. When in desert / sand environment I throw in a land anchor too...Garmin GPS with the oh-s*** button in case you r really screwed... Experience is more important than lockers. Knowing what your vehicle can do and understanding when to stop pushing .

So $7k for lockers, no way not unless you have a direct need for them...Could do a lot more with that cash to improve life on the road in the

You mind if I ask who you are using for the install in Washington? I’ll be doing some suspension work in the next year and would like to have some options.

If I lived near the coast, I would have Torfab in Everett do the work. But I i live on the east side. So i'm having rockridge in Wanatchee do the work.

 

[Koehnboy]

I am like you and cruise with my wife and dog and nobody else. Far away places, remote 4x4 tracks with a few days between fuel / people at times....Installing lockers has never been something I've consider spending money on to improve safety / reliability / capability... Could even argue that it adds another failure point / something to break...That being said you may be going onto rougher trails like rock crawling in Moab and stuff then I could understand why you want it

If you have a winch and a good set of traction boards then you really can do a lot. When in desert / sand environment I throw in a land anchor too...Garmin GPS with the oh-s*** button in case you r really screwed... Experience is more important than lockers. Knowing what your vehicle can do and understanding when to stop pushing .

So $7k for lockers, no way not unless you have a direct need for them...Could do a lot more with that cash to improve life on the road in the cruiser

I think you have a lot of valid points. To be clear. It's 7k for new gears (Witch is why I'm concedering lockers) and and both elockers.

 

[FGreggo]

If I lived near the coast, I would have Torfab in Everett do the work. But I i live on the east side. So i'm having rockridge in Wanatchee do the work.

Appreciate it. Torrfab is awesome, but a bit of a haul for me too. We have a good shop near me, but always good to have options.

 

[adventurezoutside]

id get multiple quotes