Aussie, Lockrite, or Detroit for Ranger DD?

[dla]

With all the experience accumulated on this board I figured this could be answered relatively easily. Of the three automatic lockers mentioned in the title, which do you think is the best for the rear of a 5spd 2wd Ranger? This Ranger has a 96 Explorer 8.8 rear end geared to 4.30. This pickup spends 95% of its life on pavement and the remaining 5% on dirt roads.

 

[86 slo-vo]

if you have the money go detriot plain and simple

 

[dla]

if you have the money go detriot plain and simple

Why is that "plain and simple"?

 

[Hahnsb2]

Meaning it's the best.

I really like my Aussie (much smoother than my old lock-right), but if you can afford it, Detroit.

 

[mhughes165]

theres a reason the detroit name is so good, its the best, period

 

[legoms013]

If money is no object, get and ARB or other selectable locker.

If money is an object, but not that big of a deal, get a Detroit.

If money is a tight, the Lock-Rite and Aussie are hard to beat, and can be installed by YOU. The Aussie is a little smoother. Both operate the same basicially.

I'll also suggest a Powertrax No-Slip. Same overall design as the Lock-Rite and Aussie, but has a smoother operation more suited for daily driving. Also slightly more expensive but less than a Detroit.

 

[dla]

Meaning it's the best.

I really like my Aussie (much smoother than my old lock-right), but if you can afford it, Detroit.

I know the Detroit is stronger, but I think any of the lockers are more than strong enough for this application. Is the detroit smoother or somehow more well-mannered on the street?

 

[Mar]

I have the Detroit True-trac in mine and very happy with it so far.

 

[Hahnsb2]

I'll also suggest a Powertrax No-Slip. Same overall design as the Lock-Rite and Aussie, but has a smoother operation more suited for daily driving.

Highly disagree. Powertrax can say what they want but the No-Slip isn't smoother, it's worse, I'll never own another one.

The Aussie, lock-right and Detroit will all be similar in manners. I've had the Lock-Right, No Slip and Aussie and the Aussie is the smoothest and the No-Slip is the worst. My buddy (member "Grunizzle") recently replaced his No-Slip with a Detroit and much prefers the Detroit.

If you watch this video of my truck, at the very beginning when I pull out of the driveway you can hear my tire chirp because the inside tire is allowed to spin and not lock up, it takes too much throttle to make it lock and it sucks to drive.

 

[legoms013]

Many others can't complain about the No-Slip, and having owned all three of the lockers already mentioned, MY No-Slip is least noticeable to drive. The Detroit chirps and clunks all over the place. My Lock-Rite was noisy with all its ratcheting noises. But my No-Slip in my B4000 has never given me problems, its quiet, reliable and provides 100% lock up when I need it. And I can't remember the last time I chirped a tire. But every time I drive my dad's jeep which has the Detroit, you can't NOT chirp a tire. And it clunks at weird times with a noise that makes you question whats going on in the differential. Can't say the same about my No-Slip.........

Experiences will vary, and in my case the No-Slip has served me well over the 30,000 miles of service that it has provided so far. I highly prefer it to the other lockers I've used.

To me its not what Power-Trax says, its what I have experienced. Seems like we've had this discussion before? Take it or leave it I'll stand behind the flawless operation of my No-Slip that has never let me down.

I still suggest the No-Slip for the original poster and his daily driver.

 

[Hahnsb2]

The proof is in the video. The inside tire is spinning and the locker wasn't locked. Like I've said before I've driven the No-Slip in my Dakota and a friend's ranger (who now has the Detroit and likes it much more than the No-Slip), exactly the same behavior in both, I'll never buy another one, period. I never said the No-slip hasn't given me 100% lockup, it locks, no doubt about that, but the amount it lets the inside tire spin before it locks is unacceptable, and makes it intolerable to drive. I can hardly tell my Aussie is there.

 

[wakingtowinter]

I'll give another thumbs up for the Powertrax No-Slip. I've had one in my truck for four or five months and I've been pretty happy with it. My truck sees a lot of pavement as well as light to moderate off road use. No, it's not going to be as strong as the Detroit, but it does well for my purposes and it does have pretty good street manners. There are times when I can tell it's there, but it doesn't take much to get used to it. It's definitely helped me out when I needed it.

 

[dla]

Guys, are we talking apples to apples here? I.e. do you both have manual transmissions? Are the lockers installed in short wheelbase rigs?

 

[dla]

I have the Detroit True-trac in mine and very happy with it so far.

I've shied away from the trutrac because of stories about no torque biasing when you need it most. I think my problem is that I don't really understand how it works, whereas a lunchbox locker is very easy to understand.

And of course I'm a bit cheap as the Aussie still lists for nearly $200 less than the trutrac. But the $200 savings will seem meaningless with a locker that makes my little pickup unpleasant to drive to pick up some milk.

Have you had a chance to play around with yours? Try to get yourself stuck in the mud, burnouts, etc?

 

[Hahnsb2]

Guys, are we talking apples to apples here? I.e. do you both have manual transmissions? Are the lockers installed in short wheelbase rigs?

5 speeds in everything I've driven with lockers. Long wheelbase rigs with the No-Slips (Ranger and Dakota) and The Lock-Right and Aussie in my short wheelbase rig (Bronco II). The Aussie is leaps and bounds above the others in smoothness.