Hunting Truck Advice -- Locking Rear Differential or not

[logola512c]

So I'm finally in the market for a truck to use for hunting -- thinking mid-size, like a Tacoma or Frontier or Ranger.  I know everyone is going to be sad to no longer see my minivan out there on logging roads, but the time has come.  Anyway, putting aside the crazy truck market right now, how important do folks think it is to have a locking rear differential for a hunting truck?  I have no desire to rock crawl or do traditional off-roading just for the sake of off-roading.  Just want to be able to get to more (most?) hunting spots.  So is 9 inches of ground clearance, good off road tires, and 4WD enough, or does one really need a locking rear diff -- with its associated 5-10k price tag since it only comes on higher trims?  Thanks in advance for any input, and sarcastic responses and memes are of course always welcome and appreciated.

[thinkingman]

It's pretty important.
I have a locker now and had an LSD before that and the LSD was much more useful in 99% of circumstances.

[Dan-o]

I'm a big fan. 

It can easily make the difference between driving out and digging/pulling out (including in normal terrain).

[pd]

Personal opinion, YMMV.  In order of importance:

1. 4WD.  Not negotiable.

2. Real tires.  By that I mean LT, not passenger.  Good tread.  If you don't have good tires, please don't bother us and ask for assistance.

3. Locking differential.  Nice, but not as necessary.  You can get by without it.  Just have the good sense to not get yourself into a situation where you can't escape without it, or limited slip.  (I have both, seldom need either.)

If you have 4WD and good tires, the next thing would be the portable kit (spade, tow strap, chain saw...).

[Woodchuck]

Personal opinion, YMMV.  In order of importance:

1. 4WD.  Not negotiable.

2. Real tires.  By that I mean LT, not passenger.  Good tread.  If you don't have good tires, please don't bother us and ask for assistance.

3. Locking differential.  Nice, but not as necessary.  You can get by without it.  Just have the good sense to not get yourself into a situation where you can't escape without it, or limited slip.  (I have both, seldom need either.)

If you have 4WD and good tires, the next thing would be the portable kit (spade, tow strap, chain saw...).

A lot of trucks will have an LSD rear stock, especially Toyota.

[Houndhunter]

I used my truck pretty hard in a lot of conditions this fall thru winter guiding, never needed lockers. Nice option to have but definitely not necessary imo. Good tires, 4wd, and remembering how to turn off the traction control will get you by, especially in a Tacoma.

[buckfvr]

Personal opinion, YMMV.  In order of importance:

1. 4WD.  Not negotiable.

2. Real tires.  By that I mean LT, not passenger.  Good tread.  If you don't have good tires, please don't bother us and ask for assistance.

3. Locking differential.  Nice, but not as necessary.  You can get by without it.  Just have the good sense to not get yourself into a situation where you can't escape without it, or limited slip.  (I have both, seldom need either.)

If you have 4WD and good tires, the next thing would be the portable kit (spade, tow strap, chain saw...).

I recommend ropes and straps that are actually considered "recovery gear" in the event you do get stuck.  I carry everything with me to make sure any truck that comes by me stuck, can just hook on to me and give a tug. I carry 200 footish of stuff so the helper rig can stay on good ground, I have recovery snatch rings and soft shackles so I can go to a tree or stump for a direction change, and can be pulled from front or back.  Also I carry a battery powered chainsaw for anything but the worst case scenario.   

[OutHouse]

I have a Tacoma and have used the RDL once. It was very helpful because I was stuck in some nasty ruts. Slow and steady pulled me right out when 4 low wouldn't. It can be a game changer if you run into the situation I did.

I put 31.6 inch tires on my stock Tacoma but a little more clearance would be nice. There is cool lake up 410 that I like to go to that has been washed out etc. and so I cant make it with my clearance. I think a simple 2-3" lift will allow me to put on 33s and then I'd be fine. I have a friend with a lifted toyota and 33s and it will go almost anywhere.

[KFhunter]

Lockers are non-negotiable after having mine.

Not because I rock crawl, but just crossing a bar ditch that's at a 45 degree angle can get you stuck if you don't have one, or you gotta "send it"   

Also in the snow, ice driving around I've used it a whole lot.


My locker is a manual G80 locker chevy has been using for years, I don't do anything, I just hear it *clunk* when it locks up and its surprising how often I hear or feel it clunk in when I'm in the woods. 


+1 on proper recovery gear, no matter what you drive.


My next hunting rig will have lockers front and rear

[Catfishmoon]

Personally, I think it depends on the type of terrain you want to ensure that you can traverse (is the ground soggy, sandy, very rocky, etc.). I am a fan of 4wd, (currently own 2 pickups and a SUV with 4wd). But I would only invest in lockers if I was more into "off-roading"... I have always been surprised by the advantages that a very small wheelbase provide in driving off-road. I have seen people with VW beetles who are not afraid of "beating the car up" get to locations that a full size pickup could not in rocky or timbered terrain.
It depends on how "sketchy" of terrain you want to be sure you can traverse without getting stuck.

[KFhunter]

Like I said, depends on how much you want to "send it"

I prefer to go easy over it

[SuperX]

after getting stuck sliding off a snowy road with 4WD my 'spinning wheel' was off the ground on both axels and I couldn't ever get it to change which wheel spun.  I swore I would never  buy a hunting truck without locking diffs again!  With that in mind I bought a Colorado ZR2 in 2019 with front and rear lockers and have used the front lockers more than once, and the rear lockers a dozen times.

[bullfever]

I say if you can swing it, do it. What's that saying? Better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it. That being said, my rear diff has a Powertrax LSD. It seems to do well and take me anywhere I need it to. I've been looking at the Harrop E-locker for the front diff. Push of a button and good to go. Toyota Tundra.

[bearpaw]

I prefer locking differentials too, but unless a person will be using the truck in tough conditions a lot, it's really not needed. I've got some trucks and suburbans with and some without locking diffs, I use them all for hunting, the only time it really makes much difference is when I'm trying to go as far as the truck will go in extreme off road or deep snow situations. 

[logola512c]

Wow.  Thanks for all the responses.  This is all helpful information.