Advantages of Full Lockers in Red Clay

buffy · June 4, 2003

I'm in one of my great debates about what products 'really' improve performance. All things considered, I'm sure the full locker will get me out of more situations than limited-slip. I'm curious what people have experienced in full versus limited diffs, when it comes to the real, thick, sticky red clay type mud.

Wingnut · June 4, 2003

I would say that an easier alternative would just get some better tires for that type terrain before you go off road.

But thats just me.

buffy · June 4, 2003

I hear you Wingnut. I already have better tires in my plans. At the time I put this truck together, there wasn't any such things as a 31inch tire on an 18 inch rim with an all-terrain or mud tread. Toyo and Nitto have fixed this problem. As soon as my Proxes STs wear out, I'll be purchasing the right rubber for the mud.

Any thoughts on the original question?

Wingnut · June 4, 2003

4 low should get you out of anything you get into with a bone stock Tahoe suspension, red clay (thats all we have here) included.

Well....Anything you should be getting into with a stock Tahoe anyway.

I just don't think that (even with the added power of the Whipple) a Tahoe is equipped for serious off-roading. I don't think that lockers would do you much, if any good.

Just my .02

Do you get stuck in red clay often? Take some pics

Oh yeah...The Nittos (I have a set on my 02 Z1) are not some of the greatest mud tires around, in my opinion. Pretty good tires though. I will probably buy another set.

buffy · June 4, 2003

Thanks for the info Wingnut. I wasn't talking about the TerraGrapplers (Nitto) or the Open Country AT (Toyo). I was hoping to get either the new MudGrapplers (Nitto) or the Open Country (MT). Unfortunately, Toyo/Nitto has only announced a 38inch size. Take a look at the Open Country MT:

Toyo Open Country MT

Pretty huh?

Nitto's MudGrappler looks a little too crazy

varmint2506 · June 19, 2003

In my past experience the locking rears work great. I screwed up my stock G80 locker in my '89 some time back. I went back with a limited slip due to price. Might as well be called a limited traction. Anyway, I noticed that there are roads I could travel in 2wd that I have to use 4wd now. I'm running the same tires, just the difference between both rears tires pulling vs. 1 to 1-1/2 pulling now.

Just so you understand where I'm coming from; with the locking rear you can have one tire completely off the ground and the other will pull. Generally with a limited slip you have to have somewhat even weight distribution on the rear tires for the unit to pull the both tires.

You can test this out for yourself. Take a truck with a locker and jack one rear wheel of the ground. I will bet it will pull right off the jack with no problems. The one tire off the ground will turn a couple times to engage the locker but, then you are good to go. I did this little test against my friends F250 with limited slip rear. Mine pulled right off the jack, his just sat there and spun the tire off the ground.

I would not recommend a limited slip for anyone that plans to be in the mud.

Just my 0.02 cents.

KMT15 · October 2, 2003

what kind of bull bar is that on your tahoe and how much??

-KMT15

kaspar139 · October 6, 2003

How much does one of those full lockers run?

Shotgun · October 6, 2003

Did someone say Mud? If your gonna install lockers I reccomend ARB air lockers.And yes there would be a big diference..like night and day.Here is a link.....ARB air locker ....The advantage of the arb is that you can unlock anytime your not off road making it alot easier on your diffs.I had air lockers installed on my last truck and plan on putting them on this truck....Gun

chvythndr · October 6, 2003

There is a huge advantage of a full locker vs. limited slip when offroading. I would recommend a Detroit locker, they run around $400 before installation, and they have different models for different scenarios.