I have never owned a 4x4 truck but my next truck will have it. I keep reading about how you can get an E locker in some models even without FX4 package. How important is the E locker? To my understanding, without an E locker you have a limited slip rear end with a normal 4x4, right? Im not going to go do any massive offroading course or rock climb or anything like that. I just live on a farm and have had to pull my 2wd F150 non-limited slip out of the mud/wet grass with the tractor too many times and feel like i cant go down in the field to check on the fence and animals after it rains a 1/2 inch without getting my current truck stuck. Other than going down in the field, a slippery boat ramp would be my only other obstacle for the 4x4. Should i be the person that should worry about finding an F250 with an E locker or would just normal 4x4 be suficient? Sorry i am new 4wd trucks.

 

Honestly, you'd probably be fine with just a standard 4wd. I ordered my truck with the e-locker and rarely use it, most of the time I do use it is because I forgot to lock the hubs in and am too lazy to get out to lock them so I use the e-locker to get me unstuck. Another reason I ordered it is because it's a lot cheaper to order it from the factory than to try and add it through the aftermarket.

ETA. Ford doesn't offer a limited slip rear axle on single rear wheel trucks anymore, you either get the e-locker or an open differential. Ford still offers a limited slip on the dual rear wheel trucks and on the front axle of the Raptor.

 

The E-locker is priceless. You have to get it. Once you understand it, you'll love it.

Ohio farm mud eats open diff trucks, and the olde OEM posi is useless for those conditions. It'll cost you $1500 to put a locker in the rear of a SD. It's just what? A $500 option now?

But it operates completely open, or completely locked. So you may get one wheel peel with it open/off. But a very high quality set of tires, and a better right foot, solves that problem perfectly every time. My open diff 2008 F250 with 295/70r17 Cooper STT's never spun a tire pulling into traffic, even in snow it was a beast. You can choose the cheap open factory diff, and then later add a Truetrac (ick) or a Detroit Locker (F yeah) for more of a posi type action.

I used to recommend Truetrac or Elocker front, with a Detroit Locker rear for the ultimate in traction. That's pretty much obsolete. Elocker rear, with a Detroit Locker front (remove the shims for loose front operation as per the manual) is the hot ticket now. And completely overkill for what you asked.

The elocker is fairly useless in 2wd, but solid gold in 4wd. I use mine on boat ramps with just little jet skies. Although, I usually use the beach ramp, not the paved ramp (less yuppie momo's).

Boat ramp and farms? Yeah, you have a real legit need for the Elocker.

 

+1 get the elocker perfect for the farm you'll be pullin the tractor out LoL no joke way cheaper now than latter it allows you to lock the rear diff into positive traction it only operates under 20MPH and wil shut down as speed increases a switch to turn it off or on

 

 

The e-locker is a great value, and while most of us won't use it more than once a year, it'll pay itself off even at that frequency. These are heavy beasts, and once stuck, it's quite a lot of drama to get them unstuck. e-locker isn't magic, but sometimes it feels like it is.

 

The problem you have with your 2wd 1/2 ton is just made worse with an F250. The longer the wheelbase, heavier the truck, heavier the motor, the more leverage you have against the rear axle being able to move you. The rear is "lighter" and will be more likely to loose traction and spin. With an open diff you have a one (1) wheel drive truck with a 4x4 you have a two (2) wheel drive truck. With a locker at least you will have a three (3) wheel drive truck.

To me 4x4 is not an option, I'd rather loose the diesel than loose the 4x4 when buying. I'd go for the locker, better to have it and not need it (and chances are you will need it) than to not have it and have to walk to get the tractor. Maybe one day they will come out with a limited-slip diff that also has a locker.....

 

Ok all that info makes understanding a lot easier!

 

What makes a rear Detroit locker obsolete? I love mine and I would never trade it for a rear selectable locker, a selectable front locker locker makes more sense because you can leave it open if you are driving in 4x4 on snow covered roads.

 

For me, it was pretty simple. The only choice is electronic locker or open diff, and I don't want a four wheel drive with an open diff. 390 bucks is cheap compared to aftermarket and warranty issues.

 

Yessirrr.....

 

Detroit lockers rule! The selectable or LSD front, Detroit rear setup, that was once the staple of fullsize trucks is obsolete. I ate tons of crow on this topic. But I've seen the light. Selectable rear, Detroit front. That's the hot setup right now.

Technique, tire quality, even the lockers have changed. Mostly technique. It was the rear diff that was making us understeer in the past, not the front.

And when the road is super icey and the front locker is making it hard(er) to drive, just shift back to 2wd. It's likely 4wd isn't even needed anymore. If we can't get going, then we're going so slow that sliding around a bit due to the lockers is no big deal. If we're going so fast that the front locker is making things dicey on the ice (rare) then we don't really need 4wd anymore, do we? We already have some speed. The things we hated about that setup in the past, don't really apply anymore. This is of course, assuming quality tires for the days application. Not some hill jack worn out Swampers or something too balloon like.

 

Either I don't understand you or I'm wondering what kind of crap you are spewing.

 

Nothing worse than having 4x4, with 2 wheels spinning, get it.. and maybe the 4.30 also - mine has both..
If you really want to experience the difference a locked diff makes,, drive a Arctic Cat ATV,, mine has a true locking front diff ( no dumb 'smart traction' ) with the solid rear diff & locked front - all 4 tires drive regardless - but not recommend if any steering is needed, but you will get unstuck..

 

Generally, in Ohio snow, even feet of it. 4wd is handy to get going, but pretty much useless at speed, or to maintain speed. One wheel drive seems to offer the best stability at speed.

And a front autolocker is pretty tame, when it does get hairy, we usually can go back to 2wd. Especially a long heavy truck with Cooper STT's. Pretty much a 2wd rally car in the snow. I only use 4wd on the hwy for the novelty of it, and to lube it up. (use it or lose it)

Because of that, we can optimize our setups for offroad performance, not compromise towards on road snow performance.