Getting gears in this next week.. LSD or not?

My tundra is going to be carrying camper and towing duck/raft trailer. No rock crawling. On35’s and over the gear hunting. Getting 5.29 in. I have a winch if stuck. A powertrax worth the extra money? Not doing crazy off road. Just dirt trails and slick boat ramps.

Is it worth it?


Had lockers in last truck.. never really used them

 

My person $0.02 is yes! Happy Nitro 5.29 and Powertrax Grip Pro owner here.

Absolutely worth it. The 5.29s yield a lot of torque at the wheels, and the added footing is huge when towing in dirt/gravel or on wet roads. Hurt once and don't look back.

 

Quote you have to turn off traction control every time you’re driving? Or only when you are slipping and need it?

 

The beauty of a Torsen LSD is it is always "on" and kicks in when your wheel slips. We'll worth it for on road driving. Toyota traction system compliments it as well.

 

Absolutely worth it, helps in town on wet pavement, merging back into the road from the shoulder, all over.

 

Negative to having to turn anything off. Just drive it and it'll reduce the traction control engagement number by half. Full fun mode requires the nannies to be turned off for controlled and intentional dual wheel peel.

I think Nitro now has a competitor as well, so there are more options over the last 1-2 years. Prices are comparable, IIRC.

 

I’ll be the other guy. If you didn’t really use the lockers in your last truck, then it seems like you wouldn’t get your money’s worth in this truck. Don’t get me wrong, i’m all about installing lockers in vehicles that will get used as intended, but for what you’re describing, it seems like the juice isn’t worth the squeeze. I’d rather put that $$$ towards some better lighting. As for launching boats on a slippery surface, maybe just put the truck in 4 wheel low?...unless this a 2wd truck that you have...then yeah, toss in a lsd. That being said, i’ve never needed a LSD even in a 2wd truck for driving around on dirt roads. Heck, even any old car can traverse a simple dirt road. No need to get caught up in the overlanding hype that you need dual lockers, $60k canopy, 540 degree batwing awning, or a mahogany spice rack. But if you have the funds and simply want a LSD, then definitely get one.

 

I didn’t do an lsd with my 5.29’s and have zero regrets. Like yours, mine is mainly for towing and daily driving and getting to deer camp and I’ve yet to do something the factory stuff couldn’t handle.

 

It would be foolish to not install a powertrax while you’re in there IMO. You will love it. The confidence and traction it provides over an open rear in wet or slippery roads is worth every penny. The over intrusive traction control stops interfering and cutting power at every minor tire slip (because there usually won’t be tire slip anymore). It also makes it fun to get the truck sideways if you give it a little more throttle than is necessary (for fun hooning purposes). For a truck doing truck things it’s a must have in my book. I absolutely hated having an open diff.

 

I wanna see video and pics of a lifted tundra with 35’s, with a camper onboard, while towing a boat...while getting sideways!

 

Another vote for "definitely do it". I'd do an E locker up front as well, but I'm one to keep a vehicle for decades and would use it.

 

It can be done… as long as we can use your boat.

 

Ummm...so how many decades old is your 2021 Tundra?


i’m just giving you a hard time

 

I've had my Tundra with a RTT and our teardrop trailer sideways accidentally.

 

How is it at 60mph in snow or ice? It help or just have to change pattern of driving?

 

It’s great, no different than an open diff. It’s an LSD not a locker. Its lockup is proportional to the aggression of your right foot. If it truly does break both loose while cruising at 60 (you would have to really mash it) the TCS would kick in and neuter it anyway if you leave it on. Nobody is driving in snow or ice at 60mph either though, if they’re driving safely. Now taking off from a stop in snow or ice, it’s a game changer for traction. It’s nice since these trucks don’t have auto 4hi, so switching in and out of 4wd because your open diff is spinning one wheel uncontrollably isn’t always instantaneous or seamless.

 

Thanks for info. Living in CO I travel alot in crappy weather. Sometimes cruising at those speeds carefully. Just did it know if lost traction how it would handle. I always let off gas if feeling loose anyways.

you’ll are selling me on it. Pulling a duck boat out of an icey ramp, I thing the LSD will be a huge gain.

 

OP - I think the bigger question is if you'll miss $600 over the course of your ownership. If yes, skip it. If no, and you don't mind the benefits, go for it. Most do it because it's no extra labor while having the gears done. To add one later will likely be 2-3x the cost since they are redoing all of the work gear install work.

Best wishes and enjoy the 5.29#. If you do end up doing the LSD, would love to hear your feedback.

 

If you are ok substituting the camper with a camper shell and bed full of gear, and the boat with an enclosed trailer... then, also...



Traction control off, 4 Hi, manual trailer brake control, light throttle through the corner... in case anyone was wondering...


Seriously, though, DO IT! After putting over 120k miles on my Auburn, it is definitely in the top three modifications I'm glad I made to my truck. As other have mentioned, it works in ALL situations - not just off road or limited traction situations like a locker. I installed it mainly to limit the intrusive (but helpful) traction control when merging onto main roads, to limit the need to engage 4x4 on snowy and icy city roads, and for better offload performance. It also improves traction EVERYWHERE. I have a grip pro sitting on the shelf waiting to be installed; there's nothing wrong with the Auburn, I just wanted a helical gear type LSD that doesn't require friction modifier, which wasn't offered when I purchased the Auburn.

A mechanical LSD plays very well with the traction control system. As noted above, you get much less engagement from the nannies. When they do need to kick in, the nannies still work perfectly well. I can't recall a single instance where the LSD caused any negative interference with the traction control.

 

I have always taken you as a menace to society. Unlike me, I exclusively drive for gas mileage.

 

I live in western Oregon, and we have about 14 months of rain each year. Seriously, it rains all the time.

We also get snow and ice. Likely not as much as you see in CO, but it gets slick, for sure.

I installed a Grip Pro when we geared my truck in May/ 2022. Not a single regret in that time, with my second winter starting now. It is super predictable and not squirrelly.

 

At least somebody accepts me for who I am...

 

Well got the 5.29 in… um whole new truck and feel

 

I think you are saying you like them?

 

Yes.. worth the pennies

 

Hey Marshwalker, glad to hear it went well for you. I'm in CO (Broomfield) and I'm thinking about gears + LSD this year. I'm curious...Where did you have your install done, what gears, which LSD? How's your experience been with your shop?

 

I go through Al and Jr at Colorado axle and gear. They are the best. I have done 3 trucks through them. Powertax if you do LSD.

I would go with them any time. Tell them Zach with tundra sent you. Super nice guys but honest and trust them

 

Awesome man. Thanks for the recommendation.

Keep us updated as you break them in and get used to them!

 

Will do.. going to do my 500 miles then get camper on. Bet that’s where I will see the biggest change

 

Shoulda got them REM polished; no break in required which is super nice.