Triple diff lockers in FZJ 80 vs rear or center in J100 and offroading performance

[Ali M]

Hello 80Mud Drivers, putting aside other reasons you may have to prefer one over the other, I just want to focus on core parts of the drivetrain (engine, transmission, transfercase, and axels).

Specifically, I am trying to understand if there is any advantage of the fzj80 triple diff lockers in rock or mudd terrain extreme situation, over 1998-2000 J100 series which I think only came with either rear or just center diff locker.

reason for my question, it's hard to find a fzj 80 with tripple locker these days where I live in decent condition and affordable price but 100 series trucks in pristine condition are plenty and almost same price if not cheaper to 97 fzj80 in similar condition.

your wisdom is much appreciated.

 

[DanMedeiros]

I drive a 100 a work and have an 80 with lockers at home. They are totally different cars. The 100 series engine has way more power, is smoother, and is a much more comfortable car stock. I think you would also be shocked at what a stock 100 can do offroad. I use mine to ferry wealthy donors around for the environmental non-profit that I work for. You only really need locker in deep mud or in rock crawling where tires are coming off the ground

However if I had to choose one it would be my 80. It just feels much more like a classic land cruiser to me. The solid axles articulate so much better than the IFS in the 100. Also allows you to fit bigger tires easily. The 80 decent on comfort too.My wife and I travel and live in it for 1000s of miles each year. With a few mods an 80 is nearly unstoppable.

 

[Ali M]

I drive a 100 a work and have an 80 with lockers at home. They are totally different cars. The 100 series engine has way more power, is smoother, and is a much more comfortable car stock. I think you would also be shocked at what a stock 100 can do offroad. I use mine to ferry wealthy donors around for the environmental non-profit that I work for. You only really need locker in deep mud or in rock crawling where tires are coming off the ground

However if I had to choose one it would be my 80. It just feels much more like a classic land cruiser to me. The solid axles articulate so much better than the IFS in the 100. Also allows you to fit bigger tires easily. The 80 decent on comfort too.My wife and I travel and live in it for 1000s of miles each year. With a few mods an 80 is nearly unstoppable.

I was afraid you were going to say that

I see lots of fzj 80 w/only center diff locker and spending $4K to install E-lockers is out of budget scope. Is there is an affordable option to install front/rear lockers with only spending $1,500 tops that you know of?

 

[DanMedeiros]

If it makes you feel bette you probably don't need an 80. What are you using the truck for? If its just fire roads, driving on the beach, and light offloading a 100 will crush it without lockers. Expedition Portal rated the 100 as the best used overloading car available today. I bought the 100 for work. I keep thinking of snagging one so that I can make my 80 more crazy and less suited to highway miles.

The reason I have an 80 is that I want to do hard trails and still be able to drive the length of Baja with a ton of gear. Not many cars can do both well.

 

[Ali M]

If it makes you feel bette you probably don't need an 80. What are you using the truck for? If its just fire roads, driving on the beach, and light offloading a 100 will crush it without lockers. Expedition Portal rated the 100 as the best used overloading car available today. I bought the 100 for work. I keep thinking of snagging one so that I can make my 80 more crazy and less suited to highway miles.

The reason I have an 80 is that I want to do hard trails and still be able to drive the length of Baja with a ton of gear. Not many cars can do both well.

I will be using this rig definitely on trails more so than daily driving so I can join my 4x4 small group who own jeeps and 4runners.

 

[DanMedeiros]

I will be using this rig definitely on trails more so than daily driving so I can join my 4x4 small group who own jeeps and 4runners.

In my experience a 100 can easily keep up with a 4runner or any jeep other than a built wrangler. I've owned a 4runner as well. Great vehicles but just not in the same league as a 100 or an 80.

 

[p0opstlnksal0t]

you can throw an aussie locker in the back and a Harrop elocker up front on the non locked 80 series

 

[Ali M]

you can throw an aussie locker in the back and a Harrop elocker up front on the non locked 80 series

true but will easily cost $2K if not more for the non-mechanically inclined, right?

 

[p0opstlnksal0t]

80 series is probably not the vehicle to get if you're not mechanically inclined

 

[collk22]

I may be missing the underlying question here, but if you're asking if there are advantages of a locked vehicle over a vehicle with open diffs, you probably don't need the lockers and shouldn't be driving terrain where they are required.

A stock 4x4 with decent tires (especially the Land Cruiser) is an incredible capable platform. Lots to learn and many trail miles to cover before you'd need lockers.

 

[Hayes]

true but will easily cost $2K if not more for the non-mechanically inclined, right?

Aussie Lockers are inexpensive (few hundred bucks), very effective, and you can install it yourself.
Forget the front locker for now.
Get the nicest 80 you can afford, put an Aussie in the rear, and go wheel it.

 

[Ali M]

that's cool. didn't know they are that cheap. How are they reliable comparing to factory locker? are they quick to engage? also easy to break them?

 

[Nottajeep]

aussie is bullet proof. you'll break something else first

 

[Hayes]

that's cool. didn't know they are that cheap. How are they reliable comparing to factory locker? are they quick to engage? also easy to break them?

Aussie Lockers are well-engineered and manufactured, strong, simple, and effective. They're the perfect solution in an 80-series, in my opinion. By design, if you are putting power through the rear axle, the Aussie Locker will be locked. You don't really have to wait for it to engage--it's locked by default. It is designed to unlock when there is more torque coming from the road than the drive shaft (when you're coasting or under neutral throttle, generally). It works very well in the full time 4wd drive 80-series, is very transparent most of the time (it almost always unlocks when it is supposed to, and it unlocks smoothly). That said, by its nature you CAN get it to lock up and chirp tires on the road if you try. It also requires a slightly more restrained throttle style on snowy/icy roads. I ran one in my daily driven 80 for about a decade and loved it. Highly recommended.

 

[Ali M]

That's great news. Thanks for the tip. Is it available in the US? And are there vendors on this forum that sell it in WA state?

 

[bucfl]

Looking on the interwebs and i didnt see a fit for a aussie locker for a 2001 100 or 80 series. Got a link?

 

[Hayes]

This is the one for an 80 series:

Aussie Locker XD-21230 Toyota 8.875/9.5 r.g | Locking Differential | Aussie Locker By Torq Masters

They don't make one for the Hundy.

 

[Ali M]

Thanks. How much do you think it will cost for mechanic labor on avg? Also is this locker only for rear? Or can you install on the front too? And I assume it is not controlled by a switch because it is automatic?