Jeeps have a front diff lock? Like, wtf?

Was arguing with the wife's ex who drives a 2019 Rubicon. He claimed he had a front diff lock button. Well, I put him in his place, told him that was impossible. He prolly had a rear diff lock, but if Toyota doesn't have a front diff lock option, Jeep sure as hell didn't.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycK...dHrz9y9Iuush1ZiL7d9hOP2rkFT2HUvf9ZlsST1pIx_vo

Yeah, well, I was wrong. Painfully so. Why the hell don't we have a front diff lock?

 

Jeep has offered a front/rear locker since 2003. I get the impression since Toyota hasn't offered a front locker to compete for the last 17 years, they're not going to start now. There is no answer to your question.

 

Jez ain't right....

 

Front locker is mostly useful for heavy rock crawl/climbs; which while a 4Runner can certainly crawl, it’s not it’s typical use. I’ve had jeeps before that always had front and rear, but I only ever used front for tough rock climbs. I’ve thus far never missed not having a front locker in the 4Runner; but if/when I ever decide to regear, I’ll likely throw one in.

 

I'm fine with the rear locker, crawl control, and multi-terrain select.

 

Of all the places I took my 2007 JK Rubicon & 2004 TJ Rubicon, both with F/R lockers, I can't think of one place my 4R O/R wouldn't easily conquer without a sweat, traction-wise.

Now if you want to wheel Johnson Valley, that's a different story.

 

Front lockers used to be common on old 4x4’s, used in the bush and by the military. The problem is, they’re great if you’re travelling straight, but hard to turn, and easy to damage. Modern systems like ATRAC and Terrain select have replaced front lockers, unless you have a specific non commercial application. E.g., On a mountain trail with lots of technical twists and turns and off camber traps, front lockers would be troublesome for the average guy. But with ATRAC you can accomplish the same thing as a front locker and maybe more. Although the traditionalists on here will probably take me to task for saying that, haha. Hey, I’m an old guy, and I drove my first 4x4 in the 60s. I’ve used front lockers, and for me, I prefer my ORP, with ATRAC and a rear locker. It’s unstoppable. Although, I have a winch too, just in case. Haha.

 

Chevy Colorado ZR2 pickups also have a front locker.
But who wants to drive a Chevy?

 

Haha, true, Drobs! Actually, I’ve wondered about those, just for the reasons I’ve mentioned. I guess those guys don’t mind backing up, cranking it an inch, then going forward an inch, then backing up an inch, well... you get the idea. And once those u joints are screwed up, and you find out how much they cost to fix, you just forget about it and wheel with a group and carry a snatch strap wound around your front bumper.

 

I also almost feel like they included it just so they could say they have one, lol.

 

I’ve had ARB air activated lockers on my Wrangler since ‘94. Living in a mud world without a hardened driveway for the first decade up the steep hills, I still hardly ever used the front one.
Front lockers eliminate the ability to steer. Once you get so dug in that you need to activate the fronts, you are creating deep trenches that take long hours of tractor work to repair. That’s something I would never inflict on a wilderness.
For severe rock work, that's another story, and better left to a vehicle built for it. Even on rock, it’s helpful to be able to steer.

 

Good points about the steering too. It can be a serious workout sometimes on long technical climbs. On my last two jeeps I had installed hydro assist ram steering to make life a little easier.

 

Steering is highly overrated LOLOL

 

They also have electronic sway bar disconnect. Jeeps are cool, no doubt. If they were a more "long term " vehicle that exhibited the same reliability after the warranty expires as a 4R, I'd likely own one.

I would wager that 90% of Rubicon owners don't even know what a locker is for much less use one though. Sigh. Sadly that's probably true for 4R owners too though...

But this was your wife's ex??? Put him in his place by banging her!!!

 

Had a new Rubicon on rental for several weeks last summer staying at a friend’s large ranch in the Colorado Rockies south of the National Park. Got to use all the goodies, and they are useful tools.
I removed the sway bar from my Wrangler when I got it in ‘94. Helped a lot with articulation and keeping traction on the wheels.
From that point on it was hairy around curves, and learned to just slow down on the pavement, treat it on curves like I would the WWII army jeep I used to have.

 

ROFL..... I do, but I don't rub it in his face. We're finally getting along, kinda cool to be honest

 

I drove Wranglers for 15 years. For daily use, the 4R is way better, but off road the same can be said about the Wranglers. My Rubicons were basically unstoppable. I got stuck numerous times in Moab in the 4R and wouldn't even attempt most of the stuff my Rubicon would have easily crawled over. I like both vehicles, but for different reasons.

 

About the same here, and totally agree.

Though would also add to that, that for just general casual trail riding like forest roads, ORV routes, dirt hill climbs; the 4Runner does have the advantage. Just simply because of comfort, and IFS tends to stay more planted/controlled when you need speed/momentum over crawl. I can ride all day long in my 4Runner and not feel worn out, but in a jeep, all the whoops and rutted out trails can sometimes get old fast.

For most anything else though, it's tough to beat the clearance, approach/departure angles, and solid axle articulation of a Jeep. Also, hard to beat on a top and doors off summer day too.

 

I definitely agree for casual trail riding or anything high speed. I'm not a rock crawler, but always owned Jeeps. The daily driving and type of trails I do I love the 4R for that. Jeeps have way more mods that can be done and way easier to do at a cheaper cost. I'm enjoying driving a stock vehicle. 1st one in 2 decades. I also think the Wrangler looks better, but that's not as important as it once was.

 

Jeeps are at their best in fun times. Used to love mountain & beach days in simpler, slower, less crowded times in the Wrangler with the windshield down. in 26 years it's very rarely had the 1/2 doors on. Hard top without windows for the past 10 years. Always hated the noisy flapping rag top. Sun becomes less fun after decades in the tropics.
For anything practical, moving people or freight, or with a set destination, the Taco or T4R hands down.

 

Oh yeah, the cheap mod factor, definitely miss that. Want a new front bumper? $600, powder coated, shipped, and usually get it within a few days. 4Runner, $750, + $150 for powder coat, +$175 for shipping, 8-12 weeks.

I've done some things to the 4Runner, but way milder by comparison. My last two jeeps (I've had many)... had a 2010 JKU, non rubi, but put PR44 in front, 60 in the rear, and ARB air lockers front and rear, 4" lift, supercharged, caged, hydro assist steering, flat flares, full armor, 37's; did crazy stupid stuff with that jeep, and still (mostly) drove it to work back and forth every day. But it was a manual and I messed up my shoulder really bad, and became tough to drive it. Sold it, bought a 2015 JKUR auto trans. Then I did a whole bunch of stuff to that one too, but it was cursed. Something was always breaking on it, and not always as a direct result of my own stupidity. I mean, it was just seriously ridiculous. One week, AC is leaking and stops working. Next week, rzeppa joint blows just going down the road, week after that, a wheel bearing is toast, then out of the blue, transmission goes into neutral and only thing I can do is coast to the side of the road, turn it off, back on, go to install body armor, drill a hole for a nutsert, catches a piece of tape that rips up through the paint.. yeah, there was a piece of tape on the body, and it was just painted over. All this within like a year of ownership. Wheeled the 2010 way harder, way more often, never broke at anywhere near the same rate as the 2015. So I gave it the biggest middle finger one can give to a jeep, I traded it for a Toyota, lol.

Was a good looking Jeep though, for as much as I hated it, still sort of miss it (not as much as the 2010 though, would love to have that one back, especially now that my shoulder is mostly back to normal again (had a partial replacement done last year).

 

What an odd hill to die on.

You also need to remember TRD Pro has nothing racing development about it, it’s an appearance package with a mild shock upgrade. Rubicon trim actually gets you meaningful upgrades from lower models -LT 285/70/17, heavy duty 4:1 transfer case, upgraded suspension, sliders, lockable bigger stronger Dana 44 axles, plus an optional diesel, LED lighting, steel bumper, and choice of manual or automatic.

On paper the the Rubicon is fantastic but in reality, it’s a huge piece of shit that’s great at rock crawling.

 

I like Jeeps, my daughter has a JL, and it’s definitely a fun vehicle and trail worthy as well. Not high quality though.

 

I rode in a 2020 jeep sahara this weekend. The exterior still looks "jeep cool". The doors and roof still remove ,and the windshield will still fold down . Inside the interior seems cramped(even in an unlimited 4 door model), and cheap looking.
Under the hood it had a 2.0 litre 4 cylinder engine. Did not excite me at all. Seems like a waste of 40 thousand plus dollars .
I'll take my 4.0 V6 4 runner all day every day