To Lock or Not to Lock. (1 Viewer)

[CruiserDave]

My opinion only but I believe if everyone had lockers and used them more often we would see less trail erosion. Open diffs lead to wheel spin and less control in a lot of crossed up low traction situations. Yes they could get you into somethings you are not prepared for BUT open diffs just put you in that spot sooner. IMHO.

 

[mudgudgeon]

My opinion only but I believe if everyone had lockers and used them more often we would see less trail erosion. Open diffs lead to wheel spin and less control in a lot of crossed up low traction situations. Yes they could get you into somethings you are not prepared for BUT open diffs just put you in that spot sooner. IMHO.

100% agree

 

[ChaseTruck]

Lockers are tools. Tools that let you do certain things that you can't do without them.
If one doesn't feel compelled to do those things, then lockers are not necessary. Simple as that.

Lockers can also be viewed as an insurance policy - they can help get out of unexpected situations. A compelling argument in my view.

Lockers don't make the truck 'invincible' and are no excuse to turn off the brain. I've turned around many times in my locked truck when I deemed discretion to be the better part of valor.

 

[HardyDanger]

Open diffs lead to wheel spin and less control in a lot of crossed up low traction situations.

All the excellent points are here. I hadn’t considered the trail damage issue though, but a solid point. I rarely mash the pedal an hope for the best. Trail damage is what’s made the Barney Riley trail ratchet up in difficulty dramatically this year. Was a medium route, now it’s almost all low and slow and very technical, there were always parts that were sketchy, but the way it is now is too sketchy for unless you have the right tools, experience and judgment. (Admittedly, I was missing 1-2 of those on this last run).

Granted the past few winters have been a grinder on California trails, most of the “simple” sections of that trail are now massively rutted and eroded from runoff. Many places you have to steer onto the sides over the sage or scrub, and or go high and off camber to find a line. I questioned if I should even be doing that.

Most of the loose, rocky steep sections had new routes cutting around the hardest lines, clearly damaging the vegetation and shoulders and side slopes. A newish river crossing through the Carson are in use too as the old one got washed out and too deep.

I didn’t hesitate to use these a few new cuts on the flat sections, to avoid some mud bogs or severe ruts, maybe I should have…

So to agree with you and also throw in a counter point. I’d definitely say to access the upper climb out of this trail you need lockers and your probably using these new bypasses, or your deploying more loose material and big rocks as you climb the main sections…so in a way, having the ability to lock up is causing more damage to trail.

I’m def an advocate of leave no trace, or at least leave nothing behind but your tracks…but sometimes your tracks are not left in the right places.

 

[greentruck]

SNIP

I do feel like there's a lot of people being talked into getting 3x locked rigs who don't need/use them...

Yeah, it's the "collectors syndrome" where you desire all the goodies because the rarity drives up the value of the rig. I don't recall the exact number, but less than 15% of all 80 series sold in the US came with the 294 option. On the other hand, that does somewhat suppress the value of the other 85% of rigs, so it's not all bad.

As for lockers minimizing trail damage, I suspect it's a wash. On the trail up to the west side of the Alpine Tunnel in Colorado it passes by a seasonally swampy place. I noticed a pair of tracks through it that only would been attempted by a sane person with lockers when I first visited it in 1977. Last time I was through there 30 years later, they're still there.

 

[ChaseTruck]

I was waiting how long it would take for the Lockers-damage-pristine-mountain-meadows card to be played…

 

[Marvelicious]

Yeah, it's the "collectors syndrome" where you desire all the goodies because the rarity drives up the value of the rig. I don't recall the exact number, but less than 15% of all 80 series sold in the US came with the 294 option. On the other hand, that does somewhat suppress the value of the other 85% of rigs, so it's not all bad.

As for lockers minimizing trail damage, I suspect it's a wash. On the trail up to the west side of the Alpine Tunnel in Colorado it passes by a seasonally swampy place. I noticed a pair of tracks through it that only would been attempted by a sane person with lockers when I first visited it in 1977. Last time I was through there 30 years later, they're still there.

@$$holes gonna @$$hole. At the end of the day, the only thing that has any hope of stopping that is everyone else shaming them into not doing that kind of crap.

 

[baldilocks]

I have come to a conclusion on this debate that ive been having since I bought my 80. It is NOT to add lockers.

Here’s the deal, I think lockers would only get me into situations that I don’t want to be in, and or worse to get out of if something went wrong.

My 80 has done everything thing I’ve ever asked it to do, it usually does it better than the other trucks I travel with.

Over the weekend, a friend and I attempted the Barney Riley Road, an 18 mile trail between 395 and 89 in NorCal. We ended up doing 23 miles in 5.5 hours, and we bailed on the through run only to backtrack to the start after deciding NOT to try 4 alt routes out because they seem super sketchy or plain impassible.

Here the deal, with lockers I think I could have completed the route, but failure would have meant a roll over or reversing down a steep grade with loose boulders.

There’s no way my friend would have made it in his Xterra.

We also had the best day ever, fantastic scenery, great weather, no damage.

So yeah, nope.View attachment 3707463View attachment 3707464View attachment 3707465

You don’t have true 4wheel drive until your differentals are locked. Lockers don’t get you into trouble, you get you into trouble. Having and employing lockers will help keep you on the designated trail even though it’s eroded. Lockers keep you moving steadily toward your intended destination. Lockers make your day less stressful. In most cases, lockers reduce wheel spin for those worried about leaving a scratch on the ground.
If you’re going to add diff lockers, lock both axles. Many times I’ve come to a hault and attempted forward motion by locking only the rear with no help. Lock the front as well and away we go with ease.

I wheeled trails up to and including Rubicon for years with open diffs and also with double Auburn limited slips. During all those trips over two decades every time I had to get out and stack rocks or use my hi-lift Jack, some times while holding up the other more well prepared vehicles, I just told myself “this is what wheeling is all about”.

Being stuck is just being stuck and alternate routes around more difficult obstacles were started by those who shouldn’t have been there in the first place. Once the track is laid down others follow it. Been there did that….

If an xTerra could make it then you were not 4wheeling you were 2wheeling with positive drive to one front and one rear tire. No disrespect to anyone here. My comments are based on over 30 years in this hobby with a few different vehicles. The 80 series suspension , and the fact that it’s very well balanced from the factory lends greatly to its off road prowess without axle diff lockers. Perhaps adding lockers to both axles in your 80 will open up a whole new world to you. Of course you’d automatically have new wheeling friends but I’m sure xTerra guy will understand or else up his game.

You want those lockers so you came here so that we could talk you out of it. I would never talk any 4x4 enthusiast out of adding double diff locks because they are foundational to actually having 4wheel drive. Using them wisely will always prove that they were more than worth the expense.

 

[suzuguru]

I have found that lockers allow me to take it slow, rather than hit it hard when I really don't want to do that. I rarely use the front locker, but have found the rear locker to be such a help, that I rarely even need to put the vehicle in 4wd.

 

[Mark W]

There is zero downside to having lockers. The old trope that they will get you into places you should not be, or get you stuck worse than if you did not have them, may sound good as a justification when you are lockerless, but there is really no reality to this. If you are going stupid places because you have lockers... don't blame the lockers.

Over the years I have driven all the US models of Land Cruisers up to and including the 100 both with and without lockers. Other than the 100 I have a lot of seat time in all the others, locked and unlocked.

If your use of the rig does not call for lockers, then perhaps the money is better spent on other things. Even when unlocked, most Cruisers will go places where most other rigs will struggle. I am routinely reminded of that as I watch someone in one of my "tag along" rigs in my rear view coming through spots I expect that they might have difficulty with. They seldom do. (When they do have problems, lockers would almost always have prevented that from being the case.)

A locked '80 will go further, do it with less effort and often less impact than an unlocked '80. It will get stuck less and will get unstuck easier. Pretty much end of story. Does that mean that *you* need lockers? Nope. That just depends on what you want the rig to do for you. And on what you want to spend your lunch money on..

Mark...

 

[HardyDanger]

I guess that’s the gist. How I’ve used my rig over the past 8 years, I’ve never gotten into a situation where I’ve needed them.

If the “Locker Fairy” granted me 3 wishes, would I tell her to kick rocks? Nope, I’d take the lockers…unless she could grant me a pair of Scheel Manns, a new steering box and a super charger, or a big brake kit, or a diesel crate motor, or a factory roof without a sunroof, or a side view mirror that didn’t rattle, or ever lasting wiper blades, or a full dynamat install, or a full frame off restoration, or maybe a paint job, or maybe a shopping spree at slee, or heck an OEM charcoal canister.

 

[Darkstar909]

When I go off-road with my partner and/or MIL, its usually to hit up fishing holes or camp spots. They dont really care for the off roading aspects of it. They just want to get to the destination or see beautiful areas. They get really nervous when there is wheelspin so I usually turn on my lockers when approaching any obstacles with them in the car. Visually, they can see an obstacle that looks scary but the cruiser just crawls up without breaking a sweat. Nobody gets panicked and we make it to the destination ready to camp/fish in good spirits.

When I'm with my buddies who like to wheel I will run obstacles without lockers engaged for the challenge. Its great having the versality to be able to run with the lockers on or off. I am very glad I got the lockers on my 80. Paired with the Warn 8274 on the bumper, there's not much that can stop my 80. I tend to back off of obstacles due to fear long before the 80 has run out of capability.

 

[Brav]

I am tripple locked because I have a wife and kids. I got stuck once accidentally, wife did not take to being stuck for a few hours. Now I can go near anywhere the F I want to go camp away from the hoards, and never have to worry about a questionable or unforeseen obstacle. Also.. I can run the Rubicon on 35s.

 

[bicycleagent003]

I have come to a conclusion on this debate that ive been having since I bought my 80. It is NOT to add lockers.

Here’s the deal, I think lockers would only get me into situations that I don’t want to be in, and or worse to get out of if something went wrong.

My 80 has done everything thing I’ve ever asked it to do, it usually does it better than the other trucks I travel with.

Over the weekend, a friend and I attempted the Barney Riley Road, an 18 mile trail between 395 and 89 in NorCal. We ended up doing 23 miles in 5.5 hours, and we bailed on the through run only to backtrack to the start after deciding NOT to try 4 alt routes out because they seem super sketchy or plain impassible.

Here the deal, with lockers I think I could have completed the route, but failure would have meant a roll over or reversing down a steep grade with loose boulders.

There’s no way my friend would have made it in his Xterra.

We also had the best day ever, fantastic scenery, great weather, no damage.

So yeah, nope.View attachment 3707463View attachment 3707464View attachment 3707465

If you haven't already done the Pin-7 mod, definitely do that and add a stand alone center diff lock button. That will allow you to lock and unlock the center diff at will, including unlocking it when doing tight turns in 4 Low, so as not to bind up your drivetrain. That mod is virtually free, you only need to source a used two position switch such as a switch for the emergency blinkers. Especially if you're not going to do lockers, that cheap and very easy mod will help you on the trail. Just my two cents. You can find the write up for the Pin-7 mod in the FAQ here on Mud for the 80 Series, or just Google it. Slee also has a write up about it on their website.

 

[HardyDanger]

If you haven't already done the Pin-7 mod

Done. Did that along time ago! But absolutely a great tip for anyone considering it.

I use that pretty frequently in 4Low, and back when I towed a boat up (or down) ramps at low tide.

 

[smokeater]

When I go off-road with my partner and/or MIL, its usually to hit up fishing holes or camp spots. They dont really care for the off roading aspects of it. They just want to get to the destination or see beautiful areas. They get really nervous when there is wheelspin so I usually turn on my lockers when approaching any obstacles with them in the car. Visually, they can see an obstacle that looks scary but the cruiser just crawls up without breaking a sweat. Nobody gets panicked and we make it to the destination ready to camp/fish in good spirits.

When I'm with my buddies who like to wheel I will run obstacles without lockers engaged for the challenge. Its great having the versality to be able to run with the lockers on or off. I am very glad I got the lockers on my 80. Paired with the Warn 8274 on the bumper, there's not much that can stop my 80. I tend to back off of obstacles due to fear long before the 80 has run out of capability.

I’d love to see your 8274 setup!

 

[Darkstar909]

I’d love to see your 8274 setup!

I rarely have the cover off so there are not much pictures of it out in the open. It went from my HJ60 to my current LX450. Its got an upgraded motor, albright solenoid, wireless remote and in-cab controls. Its used more for landscaping purposes than actual off roading these days

 

[greentruck]

8274 winch s a little monster and what I had on my FJ55, sold long before it could serve as a donor for my 80 series projects.

IIRC the 8274 requires the Commercial version of the ARB to mount on the 80 series?

 

[smokeater]

I rarely have the cover off so there are not much pictures of it out in the open. It went from my HJ60 to my current LX450. Its got an upgraded motor, albright solenoid, wireless remote and in-cab controls. Its used more for landscaping purposes than actual off roading these days
View attachment 3746398View attachment 3746400View attachment 3746401

Did you source the “commercial bumper” and did you have to cutout the grill and skirt to make it work?

 

[Darkstar909]

8274 winch s a little monster and what I had on my FJ55, sold long before it could serve as a donor for my 80 series projects.

IIRC the 8274 requires the Commercial version of the ARB to mount on the 80 series?

Did you source the “commercial bumper” and did you have to cutout the grill and skirt to make it work?

8274 will mount directly to the commercial version. The regular version requires spacers or the bar to be altered. If using the spacers then the grill/skirt has to be cut. No problems making these modifications as I love the 8274 almost as much as the 80 series.