I'm looking for opinions on the electronic locking rear diff in 3.31/3.55/3.73 ratios. Do you consider the locking diff a necessity as opposed to the non-locking diff's when ordering your F150 4WD?

 

It all depends on how you will be using the truck. Many millions of pickups have been made with an open diff over the years and they aren't standard equipment. Personally I'd rather have a Torsen but that wasn't an option.

 

Only a "necessity" if you drive anywhere, anytime where you might encounter loss of traction, e.g. snow, mud, offroad, etc. If the vehicle is a pavement queen and would rarely if ever see snow/ice, then no...not a necessity.

 

I'm a hunter and spend some time on fairly crappy and sometimes icy logging and state park access roads. So, for me, the $340 or so for that option was worth the expense even if I only use it rarely. I have the 3.31 locking rear diff in my current truck.

 

It's not generally a necessity for me, but when building a truck it's a nearly negligible expense that I have used a handful of times and was glad I had. Especially when we go to northern MI on vacation in the winter and aren't on pavement to get to some places.

But, it's not a magic bullet. You don't want to use it in the snow on pavement taking off from a traffic light or whatever. Both tires spinning with equal torque will almost always cause the rear end to slide to one side or another and that's obviously bad news. So it's really about rougher off-road situations, maybe pulling a large boat from a slick boat ramp. As others said, if you barely can think of a reason you need 4WD, you probably don't NEED a locking rear. But aside from the small price change there's no negative I know of.

 

In 2018 I think I would have had to special order to not get this (which I didn't want). 900 dollars.on an xlt.

 

I work in the Canada oil patch. I needed once to get me unstuck.I still put it on my personal, as an option.

 

Central WI here, with the traction control OFF when off roading or on the ice your truck is a one wheel wonder, and no fun at all.

Getting a Ice House moving to get off a thawing lake one needs every tool they can get.

Pulling a buddy out of a bad situation as done this last winter.

When you need it kicking yourself in the rear will be no help.
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22,XLT,302a,2.7,payload package

 

My experience would say to add it. You might not use it a lot but my driveway has a slight slope from the house to the road and needing to back the truck into the driveway during the winter, especially when the driveway is icy, the locking diff gets it done without engaging 4 wheel dive. Pembroke/Petawawa for sure .

 

It's not quite as useful as a front locking differential off-road, but still indeed very useful in low traction situations. When used properly, it can also reduce damage to trails and dirt roads due to reduced wheel slippage. (Used improperly and it can create additional damage.)

Also useful if you're pulling a heavy object at low speed, like a car or trailer that sank in up to its axle. It allows you to keep things more slow and controlled.