Front Locker Feedback

I am looking for only responses from guys who have had front lockers on vehicles with automatic hubs.

I have a 2005 Tundra that is currently my daily driver. It is not driven much as I have only put 75k miles on it in the last 10 years.

It has the following mods:

- Toytec Boss 2.0 lift kit (3/2", shocks front and rear, softer bump stops, add a leaf)

- SPC upper control arms

- Skid row 1/4" steel skid plates on front diff, oil pan, transmission and transfer case

- Addicted off-road high clearance front winch bumper w/9k winch

- Brute Force Fabrication Sliders

- Brute Force Fabrication high clearance rear bumper with bed panels chopped for better departure angles

- Detroit Trutrac rear end

- 285/75R16 Cooper AT3s

Pretty much all I do is rock crawl in the hill country of Texas. I know I need 35s which I am going to work on soon, but right now with my current setup, and my tires aired down to 20 Psi, I need more traction from my front end.

I am seriously considering putting a Spartan "lunch box" locker in my front end. I have researched this over the years even back when I had a Tacoma, and I get mixed reviews from people which tells me some are making assumptions while some are speaking from experience. I am only looking for people who have direct experience please as I need a definitive answer on this.

So when you are in 2wd, driving on pavement, with automatic hubs, and have a locker in the front differential, will it at all fight you during steering around corners or will it be like it is not there?

Also if there is any other options (limited slips, specifically helical gear styles like the Trutrac), please let me know as well. I have not researched this topic in many years and there might be some new tech out that wasn't years ago.

Thank you in advance for any help on this matter.

 

Helluva of a past thread, hope that doesn't count as a response

Front locker on 1st Gen | Toyota Tundra Forum (tundras.com)

 

Where are these ‘automatic hubs’ coming from.

does the ADD disengage the pinion, 1 axle, or both?

 

It disengages the passenger side axle stub

the driver side still spins the spiders

 

So in 2wd, you might have a little extra rotational mass, maybe resistance, but it wouldn’t bind and click?

 

When in 2wd, it'll drive like it always has. You won't be able to tell there's a locker/limited slip in it. The only time an automatic mechanical locker, like a Detroit, or limited slip engages is when power is being applied. In 2wd, there's no power is being applied, so it shouldn't lock up.

 

As long as one side axle is disengaged and the driveshaft isn't turning with power it'll be fine.

In 2wd (manual t-case) with both hubs locked on my taco it is engaged and makes the steering way heavy.

 

That was actually a really good thread and that video from that company shines a lot of light on the situation. I live in south Texas so other than the once every 50 year freeze, I don't have to worry about snow or ice. I think I will just buy the lunch box spartan and install it. If I don't like it, I'll simply take it out.