Date sent: Fri, 15 Jan 1999 12:59:52 -0800 From: Mark Whatley To: landcruisers@tlca.org Subject: Re: locker questions Send reply to: landcruisers@tlca.org ghinton@howmet.com wrote: > > I am going to buy a locker before GSMTR and am looking for feedback on > the ez locker and lockrite. > > TIA > > Guy Hinton TLCA 6539 Great Lakes Land Cruisers > Muskeon MI 74/77/79 mixed bag 40. The E-Z locker is 99% identical in design to the Lockright, and came out supposedly after on of Powertrax's (lockright) went to work for the "other guys". There was, and i believe still is a court case going on over it. One of the local 4x4 wizards who installs a large number of both, has reported zero complaints and comebacks with the Lockright, but a number of failures with the E-Z, due apparently to the material itself used in the units (fast wear, craking and so on). Mark... -- Mark Whatley, ASE. "Function over Form." Iron Pigs Forever. Owner, Cruisers Only, Palmer Alaska Mailto:cruiser@mtaonline.net Chrome and leather don't get you down the trail. Don't even say "SUV" http://www.tlca.org Tech Ed Toyota Trails Mailto:techexchange@tlca.org 82 FJ60, 78 FJ55 78 FJ40, 66 FJ40, 63 FJ45. Lotsa parts rigs. Date sent: Fri, 15 Jan 1999 12:59:52 -0800 From: Mark Whatley To: landcruisers@tlca.org Subject: Re: locker questions Send reply to: landcruisers@tlca.org ghinton@howmet.com wrote: > > I am going to buy a locker before GSMTR and am looking for feedback on > the ez locker and lockrite. > > TIA > > Guy Hinton TLCA 6539 Great Lakes Land Cruisers > Muskeon MI 74/77/79 mixed bag 40. The E-Z locker is 99% identical in design to the Lockright, and came out supposedly after on of Powertrax's (lockright) went to work for the "other guys". There was, and i believe still is a court case going on over it. One of the local 4x4 wizards who installs a large number of both, has reported zero complaints and comebacks with the Lockright, but a number of failures with the E-Z, due apparently to the material itself used in the units (fast wear, craking and so on). Mark... -- Mark Whatley, ASE. "Function over Form." Iron Pigs Forever. Owner, Cruisers Only, Palmer Alaska Mailto:cruiser@mtaonline.net Chrome and leather don't get you down the trail. Don't even say "SUV" http://www.tlca.org Tech Ed Toyota Trails Mailto:techexchange@tlca.org 82 FJ60, 78 FJ55 78 FJ40, 66 FJ40, 63 FJ45. Lotsa parts rigs. Date sent: Tue, 26 Jan 1999 23:07:59 -0700 Subject: Re: Lockers and winter = death on wheels............fact or fiction? From: "Miller" To: landcruisers@tlca.org Send reply to: landcruisers@tlca.org >> I have a question for all of you running lockers in snow and ice.......is >> the handling as bad as I hear? I am considering putting a powertrax in the >> rear, but I have been turned off by all the horror stories. How easy is it >> to adapt to the handling quirks of a locked rig? I consider myself to be a >> pretty good winter driver (using a LC as a daily driver tends to put an end >> to bad winter driving habits FAST), but I have never driven a locked rig on >> ice so I can't really gauge the disaster potential ;-P. BTW - before >> anybody mentions it - ARBs are out of the question (no $$$$$). > > I drive Lockrights on the ice in daily drivers (in Alsaks in case you > weren't aware. So do several of my friends and trail companions. It > takes about 2-3 days to get used to the Lockrights. Once you are, they > are not a problem. Slightly different handling characteristics. Nothing > scary. I feel that my rigs are MORE stable on the ice with Lockrights > than without. I sold 17 lockers to different people all at once last > summer. I have a standing offer to buy them back if anyone is > dissatisfied with the drivability (or anything else about them for that > matter. So far no takers. > > There are people who feel otherwise about the Lockright and Detroit > Lockers. Most of the most vocal in condeming them have never owned one. > (Not ALL, so don't get mad if you had one and didn't like it.) > > Personally for a Cruiser I would not trade straight across for an ARB. > I LIKE the auto lockers. I hate to disagree with Mark, he is one of the most informed cruiser people around. But I have to say that having an auto locker on the ice is defiantly more dangerous. That is not to say that with some learning one cannot be safe with a auto locker but it IS more dangerous. In emergency situations can be a real hazard ie. emergency stops and swerves. When it comes to auto lockers you will have to learn to drive more cautiously, paying attention to what the rear of you rig is doing at all times. This new driving skill does not mean that you are as safe as before it just means you can predict what your rig will do in most situations. Emergencies are not most situations. Just the fact that any sudden change in the throttle will lock and unlock the diff is a hazard. When I first got my lock-right I was quite proud of the fact that I had learned how to drive with a locker. I used it for three years in Colorado in the ice and snow. I knew what the rear end would do and was fairly happy with the way it drove. That does not mean I thought it was as safe as an open diff. When I replaced it with an ARB I was amazed at how simple driving on ice and snow was. It was a pleasure, I didn't have to pay nearly as much attention to cornering, acceleration, down shifting, or hitting patches of dry pavement with the rig in 4wheel drive. I also lost all of the slop in the drive line. I AM NOT RECOMMENDING THAT YOU SHOULD BY AN ARB OVER A LOCK RIGHT. It is far more expensive and has its own set of problems, all I am doing is giving you some more facts about auto lockers from someone who has had one. I think people tend to get touchy about lockers because everyone thinks theirs are the best and only way to go. The opinions are often very one sided because of this. Also people tend to spend a lot of time on this list defending their choice. I am not attacking Mark or anyone with an auto locker I am just trying to let a fellow cruiser owner know more before they make a choice. My point is only that by having the axles locked on ice does add some danger to the rig. -- Nicholas Miller, Boulder, CO