Aussie or Armor?

[Sparkplug]

I have the option to either get an aussie for my rear, or a single case budbuilt crossmember. This is a very hard decision for me. Ill describe my situation for you. Ive been into wheelin for about 3 yrs now, had a heep cherokee to begin with, and beat that thing to hell. Well now I have my 81 yota, and I love it, always have like the old toyotas. The wheelin I do, Is mostly trails, camping, and creeks. Occasionally I will jump into some rocks, or play in the mud. I would love to have the aussie, because when I am going down creeks, its gravel, and in 2wd one tire is constantly trying to light off, makes it very hard to maneuver. Also, I cant seem to get up to speed, as the time it takes to shift, I slow to much and spin tires. it would help me in water situations also, and I like to cross creeks quite a bit also. Now on the otherhand, I like having piece of mind knowing I can booney bounce my truck if I want to also. And lets face it, our crossmembers hang down quite a bit, and dont offer very much protection. Plus budbuilt crossmembers just look wicked, and from budbuilt you can get a drivetrain lift for free with it. What would you guys do? My 81 is pretty much stock, except for some 31 mts. thanks.

[88_Pathy]

Get a locker. You will be happy.

[Toymin8r]

x2   locker before anything else.

[Rocksnail]

locker Fo Sho

[Angler]

locker hands down

[Sparkplug]

Will I finally be able to fly through my gravel creek in 2wd? Thats all I ask for. I want to improve my 2wd, but for 250, it needs to be a big improvment. Im ordering it tommorow for 269 shipped, unless anyone has any other input. Will it relly make THAT MUCH of a difference?

[unclejpl4x4]

lock it

[Rocksurfer]

Lock it, don't worry about the crossmember I never hurt my tcase with a stocker, and I've only seen one get bent.

[Rockcrawlintoy]

lock it wait til you get duals to get a new x member

[Gittinit]

Lock it X 20 Thay crosmember aint gonna work when you upgrade the transmission, or to duals later on.

[DeadlyPeace]

X-member all the way.

























































I mean locker 4 sure, then Dual t-case, then x-member.

[Hammerhead]

Lock it...

[red]

lock it 1st

[Sparkplug]

I know toyota cross members are good. But the budbuilt have angles on both ends, and protect far more, plus less to catch on, looks like it would slide very easy. I most likely wont be upgrading to a dif trans, and if I did, the crossmember DOES work. They say the L series is the weakest, but mines 27 years old, and works fine. plus its shorter, if it ever does go out, I would buy the l52hd, it has the same bearings as the later series, with 4 inches shorter length. Prob wont be doing duals for the same reason, would just upgrade to 4.7 gears, unless I come acorss a dual setup. Will a locker help in gravel, and sand situations, I know it will a little, but how much? Im ordering the aussie tommorow, for 248 from budbuilt, hopefully I can get em to throw in some stickers.

[88_Pathy]

It will help a lot in stuff like that. With the rear locked you will not have to use the 4wd a lot.

[79coyotefrg]

Will I finally be able to fly through my gravel creek in 2wd? Thats all I ask for. I want to improve my 2wd, but for 250, it needs to be a big improvment. Im ordering it tommorow for 269 shipped, unless anyone has any other input. Will it relly make THAT MUCH of a difference?

why are you  going down creekbeds in 2wd 

its 4WD  USE IT,  for GOD SAKES MAN 

TREAD LIGHTLY


now go buy the locker

[Sparkplug]

why are you  going down creekbeds in 2wd 

its 4WD  USE IT,  for GOD SAKES MAN 

TREAD LIGHTLY


now go buy the locker

This is a local creek, that constantly gets overflown, and is new again, so im not hurting nothing. In 4wd it grabs to much, and is no fun, havent you ever wanted to get a little sideways? I cant be the only one. Anyways I talked to Bud from budbuilt, and its on its way for 248, plus hes throwing in some stickers too. Hopefully it helps as much as I want.

[stoken82]

im not bashing or anything ... but when you go through the creek its not really the tire tracks across the bed thats hurting anything... its more the silt and other stuff that ends getting kicked up and flowing down the river/ creek that tends to upset the natural way of things..tire tracks are not good either though.

tread lightly is everywhere not just the pretty spots.

any ways... i think a locker is by far the best choice.

have fun



matt

[Rockcrawlintoy]

i know the area and the creek is prolly dry 90% of the time. am i right?

[Sparkplug]

The creek is an offshoot of the sac river, it gets flooded when it rains for more than a day, or when they put the dam down. My take on tread lightly is not leaving trash and oil, and not making it my goal to tear stuff up. Id say its full 50/50, and there is no sediment to kick up, its about 1 foot of gravel straight down. Its kinda cool, because everytime it floods, the whole creek changes.

[79coyotefrg]

just realize  there are people out there  that HATE  us  and HATE  the way WE  have fun,   read some of the posts  in the land use area,  its damn depressing 

[79coyotefrg]

http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?topic=40805.msg504693#msg504693

[Sparkplug]

I understand, thats why im getting the locker, to cut down on tire spin. But, Im not gunna drive like a granny either. I think its crap that people complain about our sport. Im willing to bet a paycheck, that 90% of us love nature, or else why would we spend so much time in it? I love going out into bfe, and campin for a few days, it allows me to calm my nerves. I dont go tearing up trails, I spin my tires in places where its needed, or occasionally when I want to impress my gf.

[Lady Di]

I understand, thats why im getting the locker, to cut down on tire spin. But, Im not gunna drive like a granny either. I think its crap that people complain about our sport. Im willing to bet a paycheck, that 90% of us love nature, or else why would we spend so much time in it? I love going out into bfe, and campin for a few days, it allows me to calm my nerves. I dont go tearing up trails, I spin my tires in places where its needed, or occasionally when I want to impress my gf.

Regardless of how responsible you are, or what this creek is,  'them' getting pictures/video of people bajaing in a creek is just more ammo for their fight. If you are and if they are there they will get pictures and they will take everything out of context to fuel their filre.
We all agree it is crap that they complain about our sport but they do, and they will not stop. They have way more time to persue their hobby (shutting us down) then we have with ours.

[DTB]

Interesting concept.....the idea that a locker could help a wheeler tread more lightly! I LIKE IT! 

[skipnrocks]

Interesting concept.....the idea that a locker could help a wheeler tread more lightly! I LIKE IT! 

ITs final you must get locked so you can properely tread lightely.  So boys make sure your locked up!

[unclejpl4x4]

yes better 2 spin all 4 slowly amd make progress

   then 1 here and 1 there and go noware

[skipnrocks]

   then 1 here and 1 there and go noware

Look at you your a poet and didnt even know it!

[79coyotefrg]

Interesting concept.....the idea that a locker could help a wheeler tread more lightly! I LIKE IT! 

YES, tread lightly means not spinning tires  when you dont have too  so  lockers  are good

  i love  to   slip into 2wd  and spray some mud,  but  it must be done  in the right places,  aka  a offroad park  or private land,   


im not  trying to ruin your fun  i just  want you to be aware  of  the EVIL BASTARDS  that want  to  take out play grounds from us 

[DTB]

the other side of that argument could be that lockers can take one OFF trails (where open diffs might not be able to go) where one SHOULDNT be...and cause damage , I've seen someone in a Honda accord do more damage to the environment than someone in a built rig...its all about the driver