Im hearing Detroit locker is about the best for everyday use. TRUE?

78 F-250 used for snow plowing, pulling stumps, and a little off roading.

How dependable is a Detroit locker? Any other uggestions? Its a work truck so I don't wanna get silly with air lockers and such, but WILL pay extra for a strong, dependable posi unit.


Thank you

 

The detroit is very good and dependable. However, it is expensive, and you would have to pay for an install, unless you can set up gears. I would recommend looking in to a drop in locker. There are a bunch of them, and I personally have used the Lockrite. They are easy to install, and if you don't like it, you can just take it back out. Some people have said they have had problems with the lunchbox lockers, but I had mine for years with 36s and it was still working fine when I sold the truck.

 

I was gearing torward a yukon (same as a Detroit) in my 14 bolt. However I heard there is some issues with a mechanical rear locker in the rain and snow. Did you have any of those issues Ted?

 

Ive owned full case detroits and drop in lockers and i never liked their road manners. You can feel them unlocking/locking in corners. Lifted/short wheelbase trucks make it worse. Drop in lockers are hard on the carrier/center pin. If i had the option id go ARB since they arent much more then a detroit plus you get the benefits of an air compressor and you get true control on when the locker works

 

I had a detoit in my shortbox 4x4, I could go places without locking the hubs that my buddies with open diffs and locked up could not . Have to be careful with them on slippery side slopes can get you in trouble quickly. I my self am leaning towards the eaton electric locker.

 

I installed a lunchbox locker in my '66 and it works good. If you get talked out of a locker, maybe you should look into an Eaton Truetrac.

 

For those reasons I think I'll save up for the arb air locker. I already have a yukon in my front dana 60 so that'll be a good combo.

 

yea I was thinking a dana powerlock in the front and arb in the rear,location on compressor is a ? mark,maybe a tool box,,or the fuel box .

 

My compressor is going to go in the dead spot in between the frame and the front side of the bed. No tanks under the truck so plenty of room there.

 

Would that be drivers side?Or it doesnt matter.

 

The ARB compressors are tiny, i had one under the hood of my toyota crawler and never had an issue

 

Yes. Drivers side. Maybe rear passenger too. Either place it'll fit.

 

They do have some issues, but the wheelbase definitely makes a difference. A buddy of mine had a bronco with a detroit, and it was scary in bad weather. I had the lockrite in a RCLB, and it was fine. While it could slide, it didn't seem much worse than with an open diff. Also, I had a manual, which think is better with a locker. You can push in the clutch to remove the power to the axle, which makes the locker unlock better. An auto always has at least a small amount of input, which makes the locker harder to use.

That's just my opinion and observations

 

Cool. Thanks for the insight.

 

I am abig fan of the eaton true trac, locks solid, no clanking noises on turns and has good manners, a locker alone in the rear on a wet or snow covered road is a white knuckle ride. if your using it one the street the arbs are the best, buck unless you have the cash that goes with it, check into the true trac, I love mine and it will bust a shaft or u-joint before the locker slips.