Factory eLocker vs TrueTrac
#21
I removed the e-locker on my 2011 FX4 and installed a Truetrac. Then I removed the Truetrac and put it in my 2014 FX4 before trading the 2011. I removed it again before trading the 2014. I was planning on putting it in my 2017 Raptor, but my Raptor has 35 spline axles. It's all good.. the one wheel spin control works much better in my Raptor. My 2011 and 2014 did the one wheel peel too much for my liking.
There's a little plastic piece on the plug on the (e-locker) carrier that you can remove and snap into the hole from the inside of the pumpkin and then plug the harness into the hole from the outside, just to plug the hole. Too bad you didn't live locally I've got a 9.75 Truetrac, but I don't want to ship it.
There's a little plastic piece on the plug on the (e-locker) carrier that you can remove and snap into the hole from the inside of the pumpkin and then plug the harness into the hole from the outside, just to plug the hole. Too bad you didn't live locally I've got a 9.75 Truetrac, but I don't want to ship it.
From what I understand at this point is, buy the car that is the best deal, don't worry about if it has the elocker or not (they are really pushing volume right now on the 18s presumably with the 19s around the corner) and once I get it in my hands worry about the TrueTrac later!
I love my TrueTrac for the kind of driving I do. I'm in WA, I daily drive my truck, mild towing with a boat and small trailers with my truck, take long highway trips, put 100s of miles a year of mostly maintained logging roads especially during summer and hunting season, drive the mountains to go skiing in the winter, cross passes to go ice fishing in the winter/spring, and do my best to use the truck as a truck without giving me any BS. I don't rock crawl, I don't "offroad" giant mud puddles for the fun of it, but I use my truck as a truck.
If you do decide to part with that TrueTrac let me know, I should be getting the new truck sometime in the next month or so, my Elise is pending a sale which should give me the cash I want for the truck.
#22
...put 100s of miles a year of mostly maintained logging roads especially during summer and hunting season, drive the mountains to go skiing in the winter, cross passes to go ice fishing in the winter/spring, and do my best to use the truck as a truck without giving me any BS.
The e-locker, on the other hand, is in my opinion a must for the amount of time you spend off-pavement. A e-locker will can get you "un-stuck" in situations were you'd be stuck with an LSD. The LSD is fine for keeping the truck in control and adding some traction when there's a little wheel slippage, but it will not get you un-stuck. If you're on your logging roads and you have to pull off to the side of the trail to go around a fallen tree or something, and one side of your truck gets in the mud, you're stuck. An LSD is not getting you out of there. Only an e-locker will. If I was out hunting in remote areas, especially if I was solo, I would absolutely want an e-locker. I use mine all the time.
Let me know if you have any questions.
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chimmike (06-28-2018)
#23
Blunt
I would rather have my 3.73 without e-locker. I've been in mud, sand and tons of very deep snow (Canada...). Never needed the e-locker. The electronic traction controls really sucks, and is one of the worst I've ever owned. Way too slow to respond and react. It does the job, eventually, but only after a ton of wheel spinning. Out of all the vehicle I've owned, BMW is king, and Nissan a close second for instant reaction and correction. VW is also very good, but it was FWD so that's a little different. My BMW and Nissan were both RWD.
#24
If you're driving 100's of miles a year off pavement, I would definitely recommend getting the e-locker. The Traction Control does a fine job in most situations where you would need it, both on and off-road. Like an LSD, it's always on (unless you turn it off), and works fine keeping the truck under control on wet pavement, and light-duty off-roading. In my opinion, a mechanical limited slip will offer very little above-and-beyond what the Traction Control will do for everyday situations.
The e-locker, on the other hand, is in my opinion a must for the amount of time you spend off-pavement. A e-locker will can get you "un-stuck" in situations were you'd be stuck with an LSD. The LSD is fine for keeping the truck in control and adding some traction when there's a little wheel slippage, but it will not get you un-stuck. If you're on your logging roads and you have to pull off to the side of the trail to go around a fallen tree or something, and one side of your truck gets in the mud, you're stuck. An LSD is not getting you out of there. Only an e-locker will. If I was out hunting in remote areas, especially if I was solo, I would absolutely want an e-locker. I use mine all the time.
Let me know if you have any questions.
The e-locker, on the other hand, is in my opinion a must for the amount of time you spend off-pavement. A e-locker will can get you "un-stuck" in situations were you'd be stuck with an LSD. The LSD is fine for keeping the truck in control and adding some traction when there's a little wheel slippage, but it will not get you un-stuck. If you're on your logging roads and you have to pull off to the side of the trail to go around a fallen tree or something, and one side of your truck gets in the mud, you're stuck. An LSD is not getting you out of there. Only an e-locker will. If I was out hunting in remote areas, especially if I was solo, I would absolutely want an e-locker. I use mine all the time.
Let me know if you have any questions.
At this point it looks like unless I custom order or go out of my way to find one without the elocker, at least 80% of the XLTs on the lot I'm looking at come with the FX4/elocker anyway, so I'll probably have time to live with it for a while and then decide. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't limiting my options down the road if I do get the elocker and it looks like that is not the case as it sounds straight forward to pull the elocker if I need anyway.
... Now if the buyers for the Lotus I have for sale wouldn't flake after annoying me for days while they're doing whatever and it sells I can buy already...
#25
Senior Member
where I live I don't need 4wd. and I don't have a farm and I'm not trying to use my truck to get to the back forty for hunting.
But we get snow and ice too. I've decided I'm either putting the elocker in mine or like you said getting a true trac. it would help in those instances but mostly weight in the back, probably better tires would help too.
stability control does work just fine in that when it does want to slip under throttle - it prevents it from shifting much if at all.
But we get snow and ice too. I've decided I'm either putting the elocker in mine or like you said getting a true trac. it would help in those instances but mostly weight in the back, probably better tires would help too.
stability control does work just fine in that when it does want to slip under throttle - it prevents it from shifting much if at all.
#26
Thanks, I appreciate the insight. To be clear though, most of these are dirt roads that are relatively maintained. But you never know when after a good rain you get in to a steep spot that's been mudded up and you need everything you got to get through it either. The TrueTrac has been pretty damn good in most situations that I've lived with it though, but I'll have to see how it compares to a true elocker which I've never owned.
At this point it looks like unless I custom order or go out of my way to find one without the elocker, at least 80% of the XLTs on the lot I'm looking at come with the FX4/elocker anyway, so I'll probably have time to live with it for a while and then decide. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't limiting my options down the road if I do get the elocker and it looks like that is not the case as it sounds straight forward to pull the elocker if I need anyway.
... Now if the buyers for the Lotus I have for sale wouldn't flake after annoying me for days while they're doing whatever and it sells I can buy already...
At this point it looks like unless I custom order or go out of my way to find one without the elocker, at least 80% of the XLTs on the lot I'm looking at come with the FX4/elocker anyway, so I'll probably have time to live with it for a while and then decide. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't limiting my options down the road if I do get the elocker and it looks like that is not the case as it sounds straight forward to pull the elocker if I need anyway.
... Now if the buyers for the Lotus I have for sale wouldn't flake after annoying me for days while they're doing whatever and it sells I can buy already...
Good luck with the Lotus sale, and keep us posted!
#27
Senior Member
#28
No fart cans allowed
I haven't driven a vehicle with a TruTrac but know they have a really good rep. The e-locker on my truck works just fine for off-roading so I wouldn't sweat it if the truck you want has it. I would be surprised if you wanted to swap it after trying it out. The only negatives I see is you have to turn it on, and it disengages at 20 mph. Disengagement hasn't been a big deal to me, as you normally need the additional traction at low speeds.
#29
Senior Member
I'll throw my $0.02 in, I'm in WA too.
My experience is with an open diff 2wd Ranger and then my current open diff 4x4 F-150. I greatly enjoy exploring logging roads and would periodically get stuck in my ranger, usually something stupid like a tiny amount of snow on a shaded part of the road or a mucky mess of a dirt road, but I could also break that thing loose around a corner even though it had the tiny 2.4l engine.
Now my F-150, I took it up to Stampede Pass this fall and made it to the pass. I got stuck about halfway because I stopped on a slight incline where the snow was packed by snowmobiles; I'm not convinced a locker would have helped. I chained up and then made it through 2' of snow to the top where I firmly planted it on the differential and spun tires for a bit... anyway, my F-150 with traction control did much better than my friends truck that does not have it.
I'd say the traction control might make it harder to control a slide through a corner on gravel, but it also does a good job of keeping you from sliding in the first place. One day I accidentally turned the traction control off when it was wet, and promptly got the truck into a spin getting on the main road, something that would normally just chirp the tires a little, so it does a good job in my experience.
I wish it was easier to swap axles, I trade you my open diff for a locked one
My experience is with an open diff 2wd Ranger and then my current open diff 4x4 F-150. I greatly enjoy exploring logging roads and would periodically get stuck in my ranger, usually something stupid like a tiny amount of snow on a shaded part of the road or a mucky mess of a dirt road, but I could also break that thing loose around a corner even though it had the tiny 2.4l engine.
Now my F-150, I took it up to Stampede Pass this fall and made it to the pass. I got stuck about halfway because I stopped on a slight incline where the snow was packed by snowmobiles; I'm not convinced a locker would have helped. I chained up and then made it through 2' of snow to the top where I firmly planted it on the differential and spun tires for a bit... anyway, my F-150 with traction control did much better than my friends truck that does not have it.
I'd say the traction control might make it harder to control a slide through a corner on gravel, but it also does a good job of keeping you from sliding in the first place. One day I accidentally turned the traction control off when it was wet, and promptly got the truck into a spin getting on the main road, something that would normally just chirp the tires a little, so it does a good job in my experience.
I wish it was easier to swap axles, I trade you my open diff for a locked one
#30
Senior Member
I haven't driven a vehicle with a TruTrac but know they have a really good rep. The e-locker on my truck works just fine for off-roading so I wouldn't sweat it if the truck you want has it. I would be surprised if you wanted to swap it after trying it out. The only negatives I see is you have to turn it on, and it disengages at 20 mph. Disengagement hasn't been a big deal to me, as you normally need the additional traction at low speeds.
FWIW, the e-locker in my 2017 Raptor only works in 4WD. But for some reason my Raptor doesn't do the one wheel peel as bad as my 2011 and 2014 FX4s did.