Rear Diff Locker reports

Who here has actually tested the rear locker? While I feel the lack of front tow hooks in the TRD package is ridiculous, the rear locker is a big upgrade from the previous generation. Curious who has actually used the rear locking diff and their thoughts

 

A rear locker is a rear locker whether they’re electric or air activated. Toyota has had them as options in Tacos, 4R, and FJCs forever. If you’ve never used one - it’s a game changer. Use only as needed.

Get a locker up front and you’ll be on another level and wonder why you didn’t get one earlier.

 

Adding front locker to an IFS vehicle can be sketchy. It's very stressful on the front diff and driveaxles, unless it's specifically designed for front locker.

It's not uncommon to see a locked IFS truck spit out one of it's axles....

 

I’d agree with your assessment, and my experience with 2nd and 3rd gen Tacos and 5th gen 4R, the rear locker combined with the electronic traction aides makes these pretty capable. A front locker may not bring as big a capability increase as the rear locker does. If front and rear lockers gets you to 100% spin prevention, the rear locker and traction control probably gets you 90-95% of that capability.

I’m picking my Limited TRD OR up on Saturday, I’ll hit some of my favorite mining 2-tracks and see how it goes. I expect it to work like Tacos and 4R’s.

 

It's true that a rear locker will provide the biggest gains. If you wheel hard enough you'll quickly find out how easy it is to get a Tundra, with its long wheelbase, high centered. The difference between stacking rocks, getting winched or pulled is a locker away.

I haven't seen a Tundra spit out an axle...that'd be interesting to see.

 

Are you talking about a Tundra with an aftermarket front locking diff?

 

I had a rear locker installed on my current truck.

It was such a huge improvement that my suspension is now woefully inadequate, oh and the fact that it's a full size 4 door 1/2 ton, to take it beyond it's current capabilities really isn't feasible. As long as I pay mind to the dimensions and approaches of my truck, it feels unstoppable with the rear locker.

I'd realistically need to move on to a Jeep Wrangler or Bronco if I want to go more places.

 

I'd rather have a Helical LSD + Atrac. It would be a symbiotic relationship and the helical would provide better performance in virtually every situation, not just extreme offroading. I had a Jeep Liberty diesel that was running truetracs front and rear with a full-time 4wd t-case and it was so awesome. The thing was an animal on snow days with a set of Duratracs.

 

Yes

 

You’d be surprised what a full size truck can do and where it can go.

 

I used it couple of weekends ago when off-roadind. Couldn't get out of a ditch despite having good A/T 34 tires. My rear tires just kept spinning. Buddy behind me reminded me that I had lockers. Switched it on and it came out of the ditch flawlessly like it was in cruise control.

 

Is the 3rd gen ring gear size 10.5” like the older gens? Wondering if it would be a bolt in affair for the previous gen Tundras

 

The non-hybrid trucks have a new 9.7" rear end. The Hybrid trucks should have the 10.5" axle, but this needs to be verified, and if it is so, compatibility with the older 10.5" checked.

 

That’s George Thorgood bad to the bone.

 

I used to plow with my old 5.7 tundra and it was just sr5 no locking diff, and it would out push my Sierra z71 all day long and not spin a tire.. my gmc would have snow and dirt flying all the time.. tundra was like a bulldozer so don’t think that just because you don’t have a locker that the traction control system is no good.. 95% of people will never need a true locker.

 

The TC on the new tundra is very good. Crawl control is super effective, but so is just giving it some throttle and waiting for the computer to figure it out. I haven't had to use the locker yet, even on the trails, just because of how effective the TC is. I don't need to sacrifice maneuverability and turning radius because the truck figures it out itself.