Will a Detroit Locker be too aggressive for a daily driver?

[Kungfubenny]

My 2005 Z71 Tahoe 4x4 currently has an open differential due to my stock g80 grenading leading to a junk yard swap.

I want to add a locker but am crossed between the eaton truetrac, Detriot locker and the Yukon Locker.

I need the locker for some occasional moderate off roading/snow wheeling but still want to be able to use the vehicle for daily driving and on highways.

Any suggestions or experience with any of them in particular?

Im also running larger than stock 275/65/20 all terrains

 

[Doubeleive]

it's not going to matter or make any difference if you drive it 24/7 or only once a month

 

[swathdiver]

From my reading, the Eaton G80 will be the most enduring. The Trutrac is great for on road performance but am not sure about using it off road. All of the aftermarket ones are simple to rebuild which is what made me shy away from them and stick with the G80. If I was building a street machine, then the limited slip of the trutrac would suit my needs.

 

[Kungfubenny]

From my reading, the Eaton G80 will be the most enduring. The Trutrac is great for on road performance but am not sure about using it off road. All of the aftermarket ones are simple to rebuild which is what made me shy away from them and stick with the G80. If I was building a street machine, then the limited slip of the trutrac would suit my needs.

Thanks for responding. My tahoe came stock with the g80 and with my style of driving ive destroyed two of them already (one on my current rig and another rig in the past). Ive seen great reviews on the Detroit locker but just not sure how well it is on the street and highway.

 

[Kungfubenny]

it's not going to matter or make any difference if you drive it 24/7 or only once a month

Please elaborate?

 

[swathdiver]

Thanks for responding. My tahoe came stock with the g80 and with my style of driving ive destroyed two of them already (one on my current rig and another rig in the past). Ive seen great reviews on the Detroit locker but just not sure how well it is on the street and highway.

Do you do drifting and burnouts and such on pavement? If so, the Trutrac with its limited slip would work for you.

I don't think I'd want a Detroit Locker (Eaton) unless I was building a dedicated drag car or off-road truck.

This is the one, right?

 

[Doubeleive]

Please elaborate?

you can drive with it on road or off road, makes no difference, that's what they are designed for otherwise, there would be a "WARNING" label attached to all literature and the product.
now when you get into e-lockers, air-lockers, or cable activated lockers, then when those are engaged it would be for off-road use only.
however if you were stuck in the snow on a road or something and you needed to engage it to get traction that's of course a situation where you might use it temporarily onroad.

 

[strutaeng]

Isn't the Truetrac a thorsen-style locker? That one should probably be my pick.

I think that one uses a helical gears to lock the wheels and there's no clutches to wear out. The only downside is if you get one wheel in the air, you have to apply the brakes to get it to engage iirc.

 

[Kungfubenny]

Do you do drifting and burnouts and such on pavement? If so, the Trutrac with its limited slip would work for you.

I don't think I'd want a Detroit Locker (Eaton) unless I was building a dedicated drag car or off-road truck.

This is the one, right?

No drifting/burnouts on the street maybe a donut or two in the snow or mud after a completing a solid trail. The truetrac is looking like a solid choice. The Detroit is a little more durable if i listened correctly but may not be the best choice for a daily driver. The only downside i see with the truetrac is need to apply brakes in certain scenarios as @strutaeng also pointed out.

 

[Mudsport96]

If you lift a wheel, a trutrac can act like an open . You can overcome this by partially applying the parking brake. But, if you really do the wheeling you say you do, get a locker. They can sometimes be clunky on the street. But, I ran one in a Blazer for a couple years and had no issues. I've recently thought about getting a lunchbox locker for my old f150 to help at the boat ramp.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Go with the Detroit. It’s on road manners are not terrible, especially for something like a four-door Tahoe with a bit of length. Off-road – there is nothing like it. I had lockers in a couple off-road trucks and a lot of times I didn’t even need to use 4 x 4. Just point the nose at the obstacle and drive over it.