Need understanding?

[Gsxrdoug]

I watch a lot of off-road videos and noticed that a lot of these vehicles don't have lockers front and rear. So I ask the question why don't all 4x4 come with front and rear lockers? Seems like if you went off-roading you would want front lockers as well as rear. I know mine does not and wonder at what disadvantage that puts me in, if any. BTW I don't off-road, just got it for re-sale value and the color.

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[slowmachine]

Lockers add weight, complexity, and cost. Lots of components need to be upgraded for the additional stress.

 

[AzScorpion]

Not everyone "off roads" the same. Lockers are great to have but depending on the type of off roading you do you can get by without them. I don't do anything extreme but have done some above average off roading in my Ranger and have never needed to use mine. Now if you were up in Moab doing some of the level 8 trails it's best to have them. As far as yours goes I don't think you're at any disadvantage not having them. I've never been to Hawaii (yet) but are there many extreme off roading areas there?

 

[Gsxrdoug]

No extreme off-roading here. Just curious cause I see some youtubers that have one wheel not spinning when it would help if it was.

 

[erty176]

Usually the need for lockers also comes with the need for additional ground clearance. Plus like was mentioned added cost and complexity. I would argue that you run into ground clearance issues when offroading before the need for lockers. Now mind you some locker stuff can be overcome with momentum, but if your doing that you better have all the underbody protection and then some.

 

[mtbikernate]

depends what you're doing.

the way most people drive, they'll never even need a rear locker. I have one. not sure I'll never really need it, even though I do a little light 4 wheeling.

a rear locker AND a front locker that you actually use probably puts you into sub-1% of use cases.

 

[Msfitoy]

Unless you're doing extreme off roading, you can do a lot with modern electronic brake control...

 

[canyonslicker]

A true locker on front will make it unsteerable. Need limited slip for front.

 

[9zero1790]

ill throw in a question related to this topic. with the wheel braking sending power back across to the opposite wheel it adds stress to the system = esp diff. are the diffs beefed up or improved to handle this as compared to older no fancy brake open diffs?

 

[12Bravo20]

I have had lockers on older trucks and Jeeps but never really needed to used them. My XLT FX4 has the rear locker and I doubt I will ever need it, but I do engage it occasionally to make sure it works.

Newer shift on the fly 4WD vehicles sure beat the old vehicles that you had to get out and manually lock the front axles in.

 

[JACKSMYDOG]

A true locker on front will make it unsteerable. Need limited slip for front.

Only on a high traction surface that you would never engage a front locker. In any situation you would want to use it, there would be more than enough traction slip for functional steering.

 

[WOADKIL]

I have had lockers on older trucks and Jeeps but never really needed to used them. My XLT FX4 has the rear locker and I doubt I will ever need it, but I do engage it occasionally to make sure it works.

Newer shift on the fly 4WD vehicles sure beat the old vehicles that you had to get out and manually lock the front axles in.

Replaced the "auto hubs" on my '95 Exploder with Warn manual locking hubs because the factory hubs had weak plastic parts that rendered the hub useless when they failed.

Yeah, it was easier but not as reliable.

 

[Jason B]

Replaced the "auto hubs" on my '95 Exploder with Warn manual locking hubs because the factory hubs had weak plastic parts that rendered the hub useless when they failed.

Yeah, it was easier but not as reliable.

I did the same on my '99 B4000. Those vacuum actuated hubs never worked when you needed them.

 

[Radioman]

I watch a lot of off-road videos and noticed that a lot of these vehicles don't have lockers front and rear. So I ask the question why don't all 4x4 come with front and rear lockers? Seems like if you went off-roading you would want front lockers as well as rear. I know mine does not and wonder at what disadvantage that puts me in, if any. BTW I don't off-road, just got it for re-sale value and the color.

My 12' Rubicon has front and rear lockers and I believe I have only used the front locker once or twice and I'm not sure I really needed to use them then.

 

[Dr3wDrop]

My 12' Rubicon has front and rear lockers and I believe I have only used the front locker once or twice and I'm not sure I really needed to use them then.

Samesies. It only helped me in a extreme mud scenario in a creek bed.

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