Topic: Message #1166692

[85Toyotar]

My experience is different.

There are some great choices for lockers now.  The discussions, opinions, and experiences on this topic are DEEP and W-I-D-E! 

After actively 4-wheeling for about 18 years, 2 Toy pickups. If I built another truck for active wheeling and as my daily driver it would be locked front and rear.

I’d install a Detroit locker in the rear and one of Marlin’s favorite lockers in the front.

I would not spend the money on an ARB unless I won the Powerball.  While 4-wheeling - flipping a locker on and off never made sense to me, and I never felt like disconnecting a locker, front or rear, would make any difference on the obstacle I was on.  If an ARB is a choice for a daily driver and wheeler, it makes more sense to me to install one in the rear diff.

If wheeling is not frequent intense rock crawling, then a locker in the front with an open diff in the rear, although not ideal, would probably be adequate for much of the terrain.

Regarding reliability or longevity… I don’t see where any of the popular lockers is a concern.

We went 4-wheeling during winter months here in AZ typically a couple times. Deep snow and occasionally we’d encounter ice on the highway.  Having a locker front and rear for off-highway is better than an open diff. Period.

Snow wheeling was usually deeper than 6” and I chained up all 4-tires when I knew we’d be out for most of the day and we had more than a couple vehicles.  There was always someone who got stuck.  I always air’d down to about 5 PSI for the snow runs.

If negotiating terrain that’s icey... 1 – it is dangerous, whether you are open or locked.  2 – if you can’t control your vehicle on ice, you shouldn’t be driving on it, or you need more practice. 3 - Yes, the locked up rear end does want to push and come around, but I never found that I couldn’t adequately control it.  The benefit to having all wheels powered and driving is more important.   And 4- it was very rare that I found myself on pure ice for any length of terrain, so my concern for driving on it was minimal.  BUT…  I live in sunny AZ, not Minnesota.  Now with that said, if I lived in a very cold climate where icey road conditions were the norm for months at a time, an ARB in the rear diff to turn off the locker may be a benefit... although I don't have any experience with an ARB.

Regarding a winch…. I had Ramsey 8,000 with the Ramsey bumper.  It was a gift from Ramsey as part of their sponsored trip to the Dusy Irshim Trail with Off-Road magazine.  I used it about 6 or 7 times, and each time it was for pulling someone else’s vehicle.  Unless I was going out 4-wheeling by myself (which may not be the smartest thing to do) frequently, I would not spend the money on a winch.  It was very rare to be on typical trail run and not have at least one vehicle equipped with a winch.  It is nice have, and obviously it can be very handy when a vehicle has flopped, slide off the trail, got stuck, need pulling up a waterfall. It’s more status bling than truly useful to me.

That’s just my opinion – it may be worthless. 

Gnarls. 

I don't really want to spend the money on the ARB personally. I am really interested in the truetrac though. I have heard good things about them. I am not a hardcore wheeler as of right now but I want to be as I slowly get practice in over time! I don't really know what I am looking at though when searching for one? I tend to overthink things a lot when buying stuff. Do you have any experience with a truetrac Gnarly? Do you maybe have a link to a website that has em? I don't like asking for this sort of help cause I dont want to waste anyones time or become a burden/annoyance. What would I have to do to install one? Do I need any replacement parts? I am slow on understanding how stuff works on vehicles. I will probably be having a shop install it to be safe and not ruin my gears by doing it myself.

I found this after responding above: https://www.4wheelparts.com/p/eaton-detroit-truetrac-toyota-8-inch-4-cyl-rear-differential-913a611/_/R-BHXC-913A611?gclid=CjwKCAiAlajvBRB_EiwA4vAqiE0NPfn6IQCZDdR4k79r-DX1dLb-gUvITtoglwO59THjpSG1om7uQxoCwHYQAvD_BwE&ecmp=s:google_1749763888_65275301221__aud-320825497387:pla-669266118211_Eaton_EAT913A611_base_US&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping&emlprox=out&ppcfon=1&gp=1&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&sc_intid=EAT913A611&ef_id=CjwKCAiAlajvBRB_EiwA4vAqiE0NPfn6IQCZDdR4k79r-DX1dLb-gUvITtoglwO59THjpSG1om7uQxoCwHYQAvD_BwE:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!7836!3!340663032463!!!g!669266118211!&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=SC%20Shopping%20-%20NTM%20Desktop&ecmp=s:google_1749763888_65275301221__aud-320825497387:pla-669266118211
Is 4wp is good dealer? Or should I stay away from them? Again this is for a stock geared 1985 4 cyl toyota pickup.