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Regular axle or Electronic Locking?

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Old 09-09-2017, 04:12 PM
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Keep in mind that even if you buy a truck with 4x4, without the locker what you really have is a 2 wheel drive. On an uneven surface, one front tire and one rear tire will spin and the other two tires won't help at all. With the locker, at least you have 3-wheel drive.

If you never get off pavement the locker may be of limited use. If you slip off the pavement as did the one poster above, you may find yourself wishing you had it. Personally, I've found lockers handy enough that I've paid big money to have them installed (ARB Air Lockers) in my rigs that didn't have them.
Old 09-09-2017, 04:16 PM
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Originally Posted by deserteagle69
Keep in mind that even if you buy a truck with 4x4, without the locker what you really have is a 2 wheel drive. On an uneven surface, one front tire and one rear tire will spin and the other two tires won't help at all. With the locker, at least you have 3-wheel drive.

If you never get off pavement the locker may be of limited use. If you slip off the pavement as did the one poster above, you may find yourself wishing you had it. Personally, I've found lockers handy enough that I've paid big money to have them installed (ARB Air Lockers) in my rigs that didn't have them.
Not true, that's what Active Brake limited slip is. You will have power to all wheels at different times. Even with a locking axle, it's only on the rear axle. No locker on the front axle. Technically, you will have power on the wheels that have traction.

Unless you go with a true off road vehicle, you'll never get locking axles on the front and rear.

With the rear locking axle, you have the best off road configuration for a pickup truck out of Toyota, Chevy and Dodge. Nissan Titan offers a locking axle on their Off Road trucks.

Last edited by Mike Up; 09-09-2017 at 04:28 PM.
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Old 09-09-2017, 04:32 PM
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Originally Posted by Mike Up
Nissan Titan offers a locking axle on their Off Road trucks.
So does Ford, you just have to buy a Raptor in order to get it.
Old 09-09-2017, 04:41 PM
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Originally Posted by hilld
So does Ford, you just have to buy a Raptor in order to get it.
What are you talking about, the discussion is how the F150 has the locking axle. The comment was how Toyota, Chevy, and Dodge do not.

And no, it's optional on all trims and I have had it on my last 2 XLTs.

The Off Road package which is only basically skids plates and crappy shocks, are in the optional Off Road package for all trims.
Old 09-09-2017, 04:42 PM
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I am talking about a front locking axle, that comes standard on a Raptor.
Old 09-09-2017, 04:52 PM
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Originally Posted by hilld
I am talking about a front locking axle, that comes standard on a Raptor.
You quoted the Nissan Titan locking axle. Nissan Titan only comes with a rear locking axle and no mention of a front axle locker in your post.

I understand now.

If you're going to talk about specialty models, then the Dodge Power Wagon would also include Front and Rear axles. The front axle locker is not an option on 1/2 ton, none specialty model trucks.

Last edited by Mike Up; 09-09-2017 at 04:56 PM.
Old 09-09-2017, 04:56 PM
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I don't need a 4 wheel drive truck, so I always buy a 2 wheel drive. For the small price difference for the locker, I wouldn't settle for a 1 wheel drive truck, ever. My old one had a mechanical LSD, with those you can partially engage the parking brake if you're spinning and the diff doesn't kick in on it's own. With the electonic locker in my new one I won't have to mess around with the brake.
Old 09-09-2017, 05:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Mike Up
Not true, that's what Active Brake limited slip is. You will have power to all wheels at different times. Even with a locking axle, it's only on the rear axle. No locker on the front axle. Technically, you will have power on the wheels that have traction.

Unless you go with a true off road vehicle, you'll never get locking axles on the front and rear.

With the rear locking axle, you have the best off road configuration for a pickup truck out of Toyota, Chevy and Dodge. Nissan Titan offers a locking axle on their Off Road trucks.
Must be something wrong with my truck, then. When I'm in Low Range, creeping diagonally across washouts, my truck WILL spin only one front and the opposing side rear tire if the rear locker is not engaged.
Old 09-09-2017, 05:18 PM
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Originally Posted by patrickoneal
My old one had a mechanical LSD, with those you can partially engage the parking brake if you're spinning and the diff doesn't kick in on it's own.
Yep, that's why Active Brake Limited Slip on the F150 now is better than a mechanical Limited Slip Differential. You don't have to apply the brakes yourself, the sensors will do it for you. .
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Old 09-09-2017, 05:20 PM
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Originally Posted by deserteagle69
Must be something wrong with my truck, then. When I'm in Low Range, creeping diagonally across washouts, my truck WILL spin only one front and the opposing side rear tire if the rear locker is not engaged.
I would look into that, something doesn't seem to be working.



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