Air Lockers - Good Idea or Bad Idea? Seeking Info

I am sure this has been addressed somewhere on this site, but having a hard time locating and if you happen to know a link or any articles I could read or have an opinion on this topic, would be interested to learn more.

Wondering if anyone has added locking difs (Air lockers) to their Taco? if so, did you just add to the rear axle or the front too? Any advice on this topic would be appreciated. I am wanting to learn more about lockers and to see if it is a good mod to make or not? Are there any downsides (besides cost)? Thank you in advance...

 

http://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/t...-0909-4x4-lockers-better-traction-4x4-trucks/

This would be a good article to read and learn up on lockers.

That being said, many people here run air lockers. I have a arb in the front and auto locker in the rear (Detroit). Both have advantages and both have disadvantages. I'd suggest reading the article to learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of each.

 

An air locker is an excellent method to improve the performance of an off-road vehicle but it comes with some responsibility.
Used properly, it is great tool; used foolishly you're going to break something.

With an air locker on the rear axle and the four wheel drive engaged, you'll get power to a minimum of three wheels (both rear and at least one front). This gives you a huge advantage without the cost of a front locker. By adding a locker to the front axle as well, you will have the ability to put power to all four wheels under any condition but if you're not paying attention, you run a high risk of breaking something.

Even a rear locker can result in drivetrain damage if it is inadvertently left engaged while turning on dry pavement.

So the lockers themselves are awesome. The weak link is the operator.

 

Thank you, reading up now.

 

Air lockers front and rear for me.

Love them. No cons for fully selectable lockers except $$

 

If you have the money definitely do it. Having the ability to lock and unlock your Diff depending on conditions is great.

With that said.... There is nothing wrong with running mechanical lockers.

 

OP you can also get selectable electronic lockers that operate like ARBs air lockers but are simpler with less parts and no need for a compressor.

 

This is an excellent read, even though it's a fairly old article.

 

Thank you everyone for the information. Sure sounds like a great idea to me to add these. Because of funds, might just start with the rear axle as it looks a little less complicated to install (maybe not). Is there any one particular brand or model that Tacoma's like better?

 

Nah man, Toyotas aren't really special. Any manufacturer should have their respective version for the Tacomas.
ARB is the most popular but also tends to be one of the most expensive options (You get what you pay for)

Do you wheel your truck a lot?

 

Great idea another option is electric lockers from this company harrop here’s the link..only read good things about them. https://www.cruiserbrothers.com/harrop-elockers/

 

That's a pricey unit!

 

Agreed it’s all pricy!!! Ballpark of arb as well with the compressor an everything else added up.

 

One thing with those harrop e-lockers is that they require your wheel to move/spin before they fully engage. If you watch a few videos on YouTube about the harrop you will see what I mean.

From my understanding, an ARB air locker is fully engaged when you hit the switch. Granted the e-locker is less moving parts, I still think both are good options.

 

Yeah, but if you need lockers, then you should have on board air. To each their own.

 

Good info wasn’t aware of that if I ever regear I plan going arb lockers for both..already got a single compressor.
But that’s a good ways down the road for me.

 

OP - if you are mechanical inclined. Another option is to find a 2nd Gen trd off-road truck with a factory rear e-locker and swap the rear end out.

Unfortunately when you add a locker, it really doesn’t make sense to just add a locker while you have the whole assembly out (front and/or rear)I mean you can and they are extreme handy tool while on the trail but unless you are going to install it yourself it’s a pretty costly thing to do twice if you can’t do a re-gear also.

 

You would have to do a little more research but I think you could do both. Take the factory harness or just a simple 12v rocker switch.

 

Hi, that is what I was seeing too, ARB seems to be pretty popular. I don't do a lot of wheeling trips but I do use 4 wheel drive (4 high) almost daily for hauling things in and off of a farm and woods (building a house) and also have a family farm that requires getting a little muddy. I like to hit the forest trails on the weekends but most of those are pretty tame, no rock crawling, etc. The biggest issue is in the winter with the amount of snow we get. It always drives me nuts in the winter when I have to take a two track and if I get stuck, I see only the two wheels that have no traction spinning. Have been thinking about a locking diff for a long time, grew up in Lake Tahoe where a lot of friends were really into wheeling their Toyota's and the ones with locking diffs loved it. I have a TRD 2011 but have heard that the PRO model has a locking diff? I think I am going to start with the rear axle, ARB. Looked at the install instructions, appears to require a bit more mechanical skill than I have, so will find a good shop and will let the gang here know once I get it all installed. Thank you and everyone for all the good information and input.