My personal take on an E-locker (or any true selectable locker), they are worthless on the road. They are great for offroad. When using a locker on slippery, off chamber roads and trails, it will put you sideways fast. The diff needs to slip some and allow that differential in wheel speed for traction on slippery surfaces. (yes I have an ARB locker in my trail rig so I speak from experience). Selectable lockers are awesome for doing donuts on slippery surfaces!

For on road traction adder, I would go with a Limited Slip Differential.

 

My truck came with the e-locker, but I'd rather have a good LSD. My off-roading is really just off-pavement, so I have no great need for it.

I would not pay more just to get the e-locker for your use.

 

I bought a '13 a year ago after totaling my truck. I didn't realize they came with lockers as an option. I went through this for a bit and wished I had it just because it was now available and: "what if I need it?!" Then I realized that in all my years of hunting off road, so far off road that I broke part of the differential, I only needed four wheel LOW less than a half dozen times-WTF would I really need a locker for?! Anything I would need it for I couldn't get my truck into anyway given the approach and departure angles of a truck! For that I would need a Jeep! I almost bought a Jeep but then I thought that I always just walked up anything THAT steep and rocky! I'd keep even the $450 and put it toward new skis. The locker on a truck in my opinion is largely a marketing gimmick! Now if I had 4X2...

 

The thing you have to remember about our trucks though too is the traction control. The computer does a pretty good job of applying brakes to the spinning wheel to act as a makeshift limited slip. There are videos on youtube showing how well it surprisingly works. This gives us the best of both worlds IMO. Having the traction control that works pretty good as a "limited slip" in addition to a locker.

 

I wouldn't buy a 150 without the e-locker. For the purpose of the OP I suggest you skip it.

 

. My xl 4x4 didn't have it my stx 4x4 does and to be honest I haven't needed it yet. Its cool to have I guess, but for snow its not needed, for pavement don't use it except maybe if it's not a 4x4 and you're pulling boat.. maybe. Ohio had had a pretty snowy winter this year, tried the locker once to show a guy at work how Ford e-loc can engage in 2wd. Sitting on a snowy/icy hill to my driver side, left it open. Applied almost idling throttle... one spun, trac control stopped it and barely moved me. Engaged the e-loc, same throttle the whole *** end slid down the hill. I don't like it for snow but for heavy offroad situations it would be good

 

So true!

 

Not sure why you all are discouraging using this feature in the snow...? The only time I've ever needed it was to get up a snow covered incline and it worked like a champion. Granted it was only engaged breifly to get out of the situation.

I'd say get it.

BTW my truck is 2wd.

 

Not discouraging it, but ive had LS and now e-lock. For snow... ive tried e-lock and for me, its better open rear. I can't tell the difference in snow from my old LS to this open ELock with traction control on.

Don't get me wrong id get e lock again anyways just in case I do happen to need it for hunting or fun. .. But to this point I haven't needed it and prefer leaving it own for snow

 

Double posted for some reason