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.

[blackpowderhunter]

if you can afford it, do it, no questions asked.  i've had tacoma's and 4runners with them and they make a WORLD of difference when engaged.
it's not a necessity but it's dang nice to have especially if you're driving the roads alone and need to get out of a sticky situation.

[Dan-o]

My truck came with an offroad package that included a rear locker.   I liked it so much that I added a rear locker.

If I get stuck now, i am really stuck!!!!!     

[jdb]

I think equally important is a winch.

[Woodchuck]

My truck came with an offroad package that included a rear locker.   I liked it so much that I added a rear locker.

If I get stuck now, i am really stuck!!!!!     

2 rear lockers? Impressive. 

[follow maggie]

I have the factory one in my Chevy like kfhunter & I love it. It works great for how I use my truck & the places I go with what I’m hauling.

[b23]

The midsize trucks like the Tacos are a great size for getting around in the woods or tighter places.  I had a Gen2 crew cab SB Tacoma and it was a great size for getting around lots of different tighter places.  Mine had the TRD off road package which had the locking diff, I think Toyota calls E-Locker, and in the seven years I had it I think I only had it engaged a couple times maybe.  Like other vehicles I've had with factory lockers you could only turn it on when in 4-Lo but I believe it's a fairly easy mod if you wanted to change that.  Had a Jeep Rubicon that I could lock front and back both but when all four were locked up it mostly only wanted to go straight.

[Mudman]

Good tires, winch and shovel jack n chains/straps are $ well spent.  Lockers are awesome but not generally needed.   A reversible winch system mount to receiver front or back is even better.  I would want lockers but I use sxs instead if its that bad.

[Alchase]

Locker are extra insurance when you need them to get in and out of places unlocked vehicles may not.

Good tires, winch and shovel jack n chains/straps are $ well spent.  Lockers are awesome but not generally needed.   A reversible winch system mount to receiver front or back is even better.  I would want lockers but I use sxs instead if its that bad.

But good recovery gear in a must have. A winch is awesome, or at the very least a heavy duty come-along and Pulley Snatch Block with decent tow strap is a must.

[Stein]

I have an F-150 that doesn't have the electronic locker.  I thought about adding it, but the cost doesn't seem to be worth it for me.

I agree that snow tires make a huge difference, I don't drive much in mud and only on forest roads, not anything offroad.  For me, not having a locker mentally keeps me from doing real stupid stuff.

The electronics on newer trucks also make a huge difference in controlling wheel spin and directing power. 

I would take one if I had it but don't think it's a big deal to not have it for what I do.  You can always add one later if you decide you need it.

[KFhunter]

I don't want a locker to get deeper back in the snow,  and deeper in trouble, its mostly for when I get cattywhompus, a front wheel in a hole lifting the opposite rear tire and then you gotta get out, get all muddy, rescue yourself...bleh

Now, my front dips in a hole, I hear wheel spin followed by a clunk and off I go weeee!

[syoungs]

I use the electronic locker on my f350 pretty often. I wouldn't dream of having an open diff on a truck. A limited slip in great working condition is a close 2nd.
Adding a locker after the fact is much more expensive then checking a box when ordering in my experience.

[phildobaggins]

You're never going to say "I wish I didn't have a locker".

I have a 2006 Tundra with an LSD, and it takes me everywhere I need to go, HOWEVER, my friend's Tacoma has a locker and it is our vehicle of choice these days. My Tundra is so big, and the peace of mind having a locker and carrying chains is incredible.

[Magnum_Willys]

Don’t leave home without it!

[hiway_99]

I believe the Toyota locker only works in 4lo

Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk

[phildobaggins]

I believe the Toyota locker only works in 4lo

Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk

Pretty sure the only time I think "We should use the locker" is when we're already in 4LO 

[syoungs]

The ford locker only works to 20mph, then it disconnects. I use it in place of 4wd pretty often while parking trailers and such where I can use a touch more traction. Supposedly you can modify it to stay locked above 20, but I don't party that hard. 

[Magnum_Willys]

The ford locker only works to 20mph, then it disconnects. I use it in place of 4wd pretty often while parking trailers and such where I can use a touch more traction. Supposedly you can modify it to stay locked above 20, but I don't party that hard. 

My Gladiator Rubicon is same way - all the fancy lockers and swaybar disconnects - but don't work above 20 mph and you need speed to get through some spots.   Not worthless but not great.

[Matth]

If you can afford them lockers are the only way to go.

[hiway_99]

I believe the Toyota locker only works in 4lo

Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk

Pretty sure the only time I think "We should use the locker" is when we're already in 4LO 

There's times when I just want a little extra traction without being in 4 wheeldrive.  Just wanted the op to be aware of how it works in a Toyota.

Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk

[thinkingman]

That's why I like LSD.
If you're not in 4WD, you can still have the benefits of both rears driving.
My F150 can be locked in 2WD, but between the power of the engine and the desire to be turning, LSD just makes more sense.
It is always ready to help control inside rear wheelspin when turning on pavement.

[KFhunter]

The G80 in the chevy works a lot like a posi track or lsd, but no clutches, so the engagement is a "clunk" you can hear and its fully automatic acting.  It's also 100% in, or 100% out. It's been around for a long time and stock hp with normal use its plenty strong enough.

If I were building a hunting dedicated truck I'd prefer an ARB with a switch in the cab, I'd just flip it in as soon as I get off a main arterial dirt road.

I'd like to put one in the front, but I don't think I'll keep the 2016 Colorado, the CEL is on more than its off once I hit 80k miles.  The first 2k miles sucked, towed 5-6 times, that issue was fixed (factory wiring issue) then it was great to about 80k, now its like 88k and constant emission issues.  It's gotta go in the shop here soon. Gasser.

[Mudman]

New Ranger is much better than Colorado's.