Review of a PowerTrax 1820-LR in a 2011 Daily Driver

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Going to keep this short and sweet.

Purchased and installed a PowerTrax Lock-Right 1820-LR for my 2011 XLT 4x4 5 speed daily driver in early June 2020.

The locker will be coming back out at the nearest opportunity.

This thing is beyond horrible (on a daily driver), and is horribly unsafe at highway speeds to boot.

So far, it has completely chewed my rear tires to nothing, and has taken one of them out-of-round. Not only that, turns must be taken at a sweet spot on the throttle. Any excessive throttle drags or spins a tire, and not enough makes the truck jerk violently back and forth. It does tend to bind the clutch heavily when attempting to shift on a turn.

When on the highway with it at speeds over 60 mph, it will jerk the front end of the truck every time you roll in and out of the throttle. At 70mph+, these front end movements can be in excess of 3 inches. Not fun when you're next to a semi.


Overall, I'm certain it would be awesome offroad (have used mine on logging roads and never needed 4wd), but has no business on a pickup that spends 90% of its life on pavement and gravel.

Save your money, get a LSD. A locker on pavement is an experience I will never repeat.

 

[Dirtman]

This really pisses me off...

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

This really pisses me off...

Same here. Granted, the thing is amazing on wet or soggy grass, mud, dirt, gravel, etc.

However the amount of money I now have to spend on tires, and the new rattle from my my transmission completely outweighs any advantage I have gained from this thing. Its been to the point where I have been concerned for my ring and pinion gears, as well as my trans when it grabs and will not unlock.

 

[sgtsandman]

I always suspected that lockers like this aren’t all they are cracked up to be. Granted, this is a sample of one but it confirms my decision to get a selectable locker for the back and nothing more than an LSD for the front. If an LSD for the front ever come available to buy.

 

[Dirtman]

This ass paid $150 for his. I paid over $400.... Now im stuck wondering if i should sell it or run it. Very few options for my axle. I've had it for almost 2 years so i can't return it.

 

[sgtsandman]

Ebay might be an option.

 

[racsan]

Good to know, I was considering one.

 

[Ramcharger90]

I think E lockers would be more advantageous for someone who can only afford one vehicle that will be used in rugged terrain and 90% of pavement. I had eaton e lockers on a dodge and they were great. On and off road.

 

[Ranger850]

I'm just knodding my head like I understand what you're talking about.
I don't.
They invented pavement just for that reason.

 

[sgtsandman]

Elocker might be the cheapest and simplest setup. I’ve seen good things on ARB air lockers and mechanical OX lockers.

Pick your poison. I’m thinking I’ll be doing air. I want/need an on board compressor for tire inflation anyway. Might as well take advantage of it.

 

[sheep herder]

Going to keep this short and sweet.

Purchased and installed a PowerTrax Lock-Right 1820-LR for my 2011 XLT 4x4 5 speed daily driver in early June 2020.

The locker will be coming back out at the nearest opportunity.

This thing is beyond horrible (on a daily driver), and is horribly unsafe at highway speeds to boot.

So far, it has completely chewed my rear tires to nothing, and has taken one of them out-of-round. Not only that, turns must be taken at a sweet spot on the throttle. Any excessive throttle drags or spins a tire, and not enough makes the truck jerk violently back and forth. It does tend to bind the clutch heavily when attempting to shift on a turn.

When on the highway with it at speeds over 60 mph, it will jerk the front end of the truck every time you roll in and out of the throttle. At 70mph+, these front end movements can be in excess of 3 inches. Not fun when you're next to a semi.


Overall, I'm certain it would be awesome offroad (have used mine on logging roads and never needed 4wd), but has no business on a pickup that spends 90% of its life on pavement and gravel.

Save your money, get a LSD. A locker on pavement is an experience I will never repeat.

So, it's really a Lock-Wrong instead of a Lock-Right?

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

So, it's really a Lock-Wrong instead of a Lock-Right?

Youre now my uncle.





Deal with it.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

I looked into an air or e locker, but I'm cheap.

The factory lsd with the track loc disks in them apparently are quite good. Used LSD units at the jy are $60 IIRC. add another 85 to it, $35 for a new spring and its a rebuilt trac loc for $175+, not a bad deal.

Other option is a Yukon LSD, $350 or so for one. Essentially a ripoff Eaton posi. Great reviews, no reported issues. Only concern would be parts long term, but, ford discontinues stuff all the time as well.

Still deciding.

 

[sgtsandman]

It really depends on your needs. If you don't plan on doing anything more than mild off road driving, there is nothing wrong with an LSD. My personal preference is a gear driven unit but there are a bunch of clutch style ones out there. If they weren't any good, they wouldn't be making them.

 

[Dirtman]

I'm gassy...