Auto Locker Review

Does anyone have any experience with auto lockers? They're not as badass as air lockers.. but they might be a cheaper alternative? I was looking for some information but couldn't really find any reviews!

Thanks in advance!

 

Autolockers are badder than any sissy selectable locker A Detroit locker is all but unbreakable and everyone knows you have one when you try and park. Down in Moab you can always tell the autolocker guys because they are the ones making all of the tire skidding noises at the store. If you apply any throttle while turning the locker will do its thing, so you will learn to coast around corners. Sometimes when you are driving down the street tension will build up and then release with a bang and the vehicle will feel like it wants to change lanes on you.

When you are on the trail autolockers are also called "low side finders" When the going gets tough on a side hill the locked rear end will tend to slide to the low side. In an open diff one wheel tends to act as a rudder and not slide down hill.

Bottom line autolockers are less expensive, some of them are indestructible and they do the job without intervention from the driver (that can be a good or bad thing). I personally wouldn't have one on my daily driver, but for a dedicated off road rig I might consider it.

 

Have you had any experience with them in the snow? I imagine they have the same effect in the snow as on a muddy hill! I'm thinking that a selectable locker would be best for my application but the auto locker seems to be much more cost effective. But like you said my truck is my daily driver. It might be better for me to wait.

 

Oh I wouldn't put an autolocker on a daily driver driven in the snow. (but that's just me) The crown of the road will cause you problems as the truck will sliding toward the curb (that low side thing) and driving on snowy roads will require even more attention. The good news is spinning donuts in parking lots is a lot more fun when you are locked.

All that said, I have friends who use them in daily snow driver, but that's just because they don't have the funds to buy a selectable locker. (and truth be told some of their trucks would double in value if they did upgrade )

 

Exactly as jsi stated.
I run a powertrax no slip locker full time, year around. However I live in SC and we don't see much snow. I do travel to indiana for the winter holidays and have done quite well in thick snow. You have to learn to drive all over again in those conditions on the street. Havnt wheeled it much in the snow.
The loud "bang" every couple hundred miles is also very accurate. The first few times it done it, I litterally thought the rear end exploded and it will actually feel like the rear shifted from a snapped
spring.
However, realizing that its just the clutch springs unwinding. It's back to normal.
The powertrax is probably more street friendly than a lot of lunch type lockers as it doesn't "click/clack/ratchet during normal driving.
It's done me pretty good and had it in for a few yrs now and still very happy with it. Would not recommendit it for those who see snow/ice conditions on a regular basis.

 

Alright thanks guys! Probably 4 months out of the year here there's snow, and a lot of it gets packed and what not. I imagine these aren't good conditions for an auto lover, especially where I've only driven my truck in the snow once. Need a bit more experience before I throw a curve ball into the mix! I suppose an auto locker wouldn't be the way to go for me! Thanks again!

 

Just my .02 Mitch.
If you were 4x4, I would say go for it. But there is a side of me that says...hey prerunner you can do this.
If you run studs 4-5 months for the winter, it might be worth it to have an extra 3rd member with a lunchbox n it. Swapping them would take maybe 2 hrs and you can swap em back in spring.

 

I have an auto locker in the front diff. With Toyotas ADD the passenger CV is disconected. Thus you can't notice the locker while in 2wd.

As for snow I have found that when 4wd is needed the locker is the least of my worries. Its only noticeable on the highway in really bad conditions at high speeds. So driving home from Maine in a blizzard I drive 45 instead of 55.

 

My truck is 4x4! The extra 3rd member is a good idea but I imagine that would be costly!

Was it a lot of work to disconnect the add? I imagine you found a big difference in gas milage turning all your front gear?

 

The truck from the factory disconnects the CV. There is no extra work aside from installing the locker. As for fuel idk But I already got poor mpg and I regeared when I added the locker so I couldn't calculate fuel.

 

I had an F250 with a traclock rear differential. Traclock is a mild locker, the type that uses clutch packs. In snow it 2wd it was very squirrely. In 4wd it was good. The truck had a lever on the transfer case so you could shift in or out of 4wd quickly. I was driving my Tacoma in the snow last weekend, I'm not sure I want a limited slip rear differential in it as shifting in and out of 4wd is now more time consuming.

 

Ah I think I'm going to stay away from one. Since its my DD.

Wouldn't that make it an LSD? Or is that still a locker?

 

Can you get a Detroit locker for the 2nd gen Tacomas? I've run a Detroit locker for years in my old F-250 with no real issues. Just have to be a little more cautious. Once you get the feel its fine, but you might find yourself 180 degrees out if you're not careful.

 

That's what I've read. I haven't really experienced my truck in the snow yet, rather than throw another wrench into the mix I think I'll wait until it comes time for a selectable locker. It's my best option from peoples opinions, since its my daily driver. Not to mention the fact I'll go through tires faster because the thing will lock around corners on a regular basis. If it wasn't my daily I'd be all over it!

 

I have heard good reviews of the No-Slip and it claims to be a lot quieter. My question is this, say you are at a red light about to turn. How are you supposed to accelerate as you turn if you're locked? I also have a feeling the No-Slip still has the problem of excess tire wear vs open dif or LSD.

 

How to turn left, or right for that matter, with an autolocker:

When the roads are dry: Drive straight into the intersection with as much momentum as is safe, lift off the gas and coast around the corner.

When the roads are wet: Same as above, but be careful as there may not be enough friction between the tires and road to allow the locker to unlock. If the locker stays locked one or both tires may skid.

When the roads are snowy: Be careful as the locker probably won't unlock and one or both wheels will have zero traction as you round the corner. Pay attention because you may have to correct a skid before it gets out of hand.

Because doing this is impossible in every situation an auto locker will often be locked around corners and that is why they cause extra wear on tires.

 

It's amazing those things haven't been outlawed! LOL!

 

I got a guy in our offroad group who loves his Detroit locker. He says it doesn't do anything like is said, and he never knows it's back there. I've never heard it make any weird noises either. I have a Detroit Truetrac, and it's about as good as a locker. Only time it doesn't work is when a tire is completely off the ground, and then I just hit the ebrake. It's got my Prerunner through stuff no 2wd should be able to make

 

I've had my detroit break an axle in a Dana 60. I was just pulling out of a parking lot driving normal. I think that it might have been a flawed axle though. As for the weird noises, it will let you know its back there. Every once in awhile it would sound like someone was beating on the frame with a hammer. Freaks a guy out the first couple of times then you get used to it.

 

I think I will be going with the Detroit TrueTrac for the following reasons:
Traction in snow
Traction on wet or slippery roads
I've tried getting used to the turning and there's no way I can gas it, let off, turn, then gas it again. I am left sitting in the turn and I would have to deal with the noises and tire wear during turning which I don't want to do.

The locker seems to hinder road driving and that is what I do every day. For the few times per year I will go off road the locker doesn't seem worth it. With the TrueTrac I think I will be able to do 95% of what I could do with the locker. The only way I can see the TrueTrac failing is when one wheel is off the ground, in which most reviews say can be overcome by a few taps on the breaks. I hope these reasons help somebody decide.