Found my lockers!!!

[ctracy5]

Found my lockers and all i have to do is bolt them on......and pay for them :frown: . Now I have a decision to make, should I get my lift or my lockers first. Possibly later this year to get my first real upgrades to the trooper, I have not had a lot of real clearance issues so I am now thinking that the new gears and locker may be a better first upgrade and raise it later? Any good ideas, also they come in ratios from 4.10 - 4.56 for one price or 4.77 for $300 more, would going from a 4.56 to a 4.77 be worth $300 an axle or are 4.56 gears fine? I have also seen other Isuzu third members as low as 5.38, I will most likely end up with 33" (largest would be 35") tires on the trooper one day so what do you recommend for a good ratio.

https://www.independent4x.com/merchantmanager/product_info.php?cPath=46_47&products_id=671

[Brody]

Use this link for the best gear ratio to tire size and make your call based on that:

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/towing/vehicle-towing/maneuvers/gear-ratio-tire-size-chart.htm

Generally speaking, 4.10 is going to be OK for up to a 31-32" tire. 4.56 is the low to good, with 4.77 being the sweet spot for 35". 5.38 you are getting into the big dog tires, but on the flip side. weaker gears due to the number of teeth. Since gears are marginally more expensive than tires, but having been wheeling for a long time, people seldom go down in tire size. I would try to determine what tire size i was going to finally end up with and base my gear ratio on that. Keep in mind, too, that the Trooper's IFS isn't going to real happy trying to run 35s and 32-33 tires will maybe save some expensive breakage...

[ctracy5]

that the Trooper's IFS isn't going to real happy trying to run 35s and 32-33 tires will maybe save some expensive breakage...

At the moment the plan is to after my lift and wear these tires out is to run with 33". I am also am on a Isuzu thread (http://www.planetisuzoo.com/) and these guys say they have no problems with their IFS. They build some pretty beef rigs well still using these set ups. From what I can find online they are one of the strongest IFS vehicles out there, Isuzu did their homework on there trucks unlike many other in the late 80's early 90's. I have heard from a lot people that I need to do a solid axle swap but that is all from non Isuzu people. All of the Isuzu guys claim that the only thing they ever break is the stock steering linkage (which gets upgraded with my lift). For now I am going to stick with my Isuzu 10 bolt IFS axle. Only time will tell if I am right.

From reading online the troopers came stock with 4.56 gearing so I should at least keep that gearing correct, going higher would more or less be dumb right? So at the moment I am really leaning at the 4.56 aussie lockers front and rear. The only problem is the $1200 it will cost me. nice part is they are complete third members so all I have to do is unbolt my and bolt these in.

[Jim]

As for lift vs. lockers as the next upgrade...

Since you've not had issues with clearance / needing larger tires... My thoughts would be to choose lockers over lift.

[ctracy5]

more protection on the bottom/frame

If you look at the China wall video you will find that my under carriage is very well protected, virtual every square inch under the truck has a skid plate. In the video you can see all four tires off the ground and all my weight on my skid under my motor and it barley bent it. Like I have said before this trooper makes up for a lot my of rookie mistakes.


Since you've not had issues with clearance / needing larger tires... My thoughts would be to choose lockers over lift.

great now its back on me again. LOL.

I want the lift because it not only would give me clearance and look awesome, but it does a lot of reinforcing/upgrading of parts that potential break on these troopers. The guys at Independent4X really know their Isuzus. Like I said above I have had more issues with getting tires off the ground and losing traction then scraping or hitting my frame. So that is why when I saw these lockers I was thinking they may help me out more at the moment then the lift.

[ctracy5]

Would I be dumb to lock my axles one at time to save my self some cash??? Because I think I am going to go with the 4.56 which is the stock gearing so in theory I could lock out one axle at time and make the pain of the cash leaving a little less. Is this is a bad idea or if not should I do rear or front first???

[Kory]

I think a lot depends on what you plan to run over. I would personally do the lift first and the lockers second. It won't matter much if you have lockers if you can't clear whatever it is you are running over.

[ctracy5]

sweet. Well then I guess at that point, how hard is it to install an aussie locker into a diff. really like the idea of having someone a little more experienced then me putting the 3rd member together and I just bolt it on, but I could potentially save my self like $300 bucks an axle if I just buy the lockers and put them on my current 3rd members. The guys at In4X basically rebuild stock 3rd members and install the lockers into them would it be worth the money to just buy the preassembled ones. I would be getting essentially completely new 3rd members at that point and that probably wouldn't hurt

[ctracy5]

think a lot depends on what you plan to run over. I would personally do the lift first and the lockers second. It won't matter much if you have lockers if you can't clear whatever it is you are running over.

Well I thought this was going to help me figure this out, now I just want both even more. hahaha :lmao:

[Heather]

It won't matter much if you have lockers if you can't clear whatever it is you are running over.
Agreed. Without a lift, you're not going to be going over stuff you need lockers for...I'd go with the lift (and sliders, maybe corner armor) first. I'm still open, and have had an absolute BLAST doing trails up to a 7 (Trail Damage rated, anyway) with good spotting. For whatever that's worth!

[ctracy5]

Yeah as you get to know me I am one of the most Indecisive people you will ever meet, so I will most likely be talking about this until the day I order something. But now I am starting to lean towards the lift again, not so much for the clearance but for the reinforcement part. This is also my daily driver so anything I can do to help me from breaking it is awesome. I guess with the lift I will gain quite a bit of travel so I will be keeping my tires on the ground better so the slipper may be help out a little by that plus I can play on bigger rocks!!!

[ctracy5]

I'm still open, and have had an absolute BLAST doing trails up to a 7 (Trail Damage rated, anyway) with good spotting. For whatever that's worth!

Is it just me or is there some disparity in their rating system. I was looking at some trails the other day there were rated at 3-4 or 4-4 that looked like dirt road with some small rocks pocking out that my wife 2wd 99 Tacoma could do easy and well I know Sevenmile is nothing crazy the water crossings if muddy and some of the side trail stuff are not to bad and it is only a 2-2. Has anyone else noticed some weird ratings on other trails?

[Kory]

Agreed. Without a lift, you're not going to be going over stuff you need lockers for...I'd go with the lift (and sliders, maybe corner armor) first. I'm still open, and have had an absolute BLAST doing trails up to a 7 (Trail Damage rated, anyway) with good spotting. For whatever that's worth!

That is another good point. I have also done trails rated up to 7 on trail damage with no lockers and had no major breakage. Minor dings, dents and scratches but no breakage.

[Kory]

Is it just me or is there some disparity in their rating system. I was looking at some trails the other day there were rated at 3-4 or 4-4 that looked like dirt road with some small rocks pocking out that my wife 2wd 99 Tacoma could do easy and well I know Sevenmile is nothing crazy the water crossings if muddy and some of the side trail stuff are not to bad and it is only a 2-2. Has anyone else noticed some weird ratings on other trails?

A lot of the ratings and reports on trail damage are several years old. So due to weather and other factors there is a good chance the ratings can be off.

[ctracy5]

Can you junkyard a lift for the Trooper?

possibly These things are awesome trucks but are a little hard to find, I have never seen a lifted one in a yard before, most people who mod them keep um. I am also a little weary of buying something like that out of yard, don't get me wrong I have been using junk yard part to keep my cars running since for as long as I have been driving, but with this I like the idea of having one that is specifically made for my vehicle and want to do as little fab work as possible. The kit from In4X is more or less all bolt on and every Isuzu guy who has it raves about it.

https://www.independent4x.com/merchantmanager/product_info.php?cPath=1_12_22_24&products_id=585

Here is the link to what I am looking at, check it out and let me know what you think?

[ctracy5]

I would go with the lift first and learn to wheel without lockers first.

that is the way I am leaning now. I was just worried about putting to much money into this thing thinking that my base would limit me but after prowling the internet I am confidant that I can make a pretty gnarly beast of this trooper so the only issue of money is no longer not wanting to spend in a wasted attempt to make a good rig that would never be but not having it. With that said I don't want to get ripped just because I have an odd vehicle and parts are limited. I think with the lift and lockers on this thing I will have myself one pretty nice wheeler.

[Funrover]

Protection, gears/Lockers first. If I had it to do over again I should have held off on the lift and done gears and lockers. Honestly the hardest trails I have run I also ran when I was a lot smaller. With spotting you can get over A LOT!! add lockers and you will be amazed! I would invest in sliders however, when you are shorter they do help.

HOw much of a lift are you wanting? what size tires are your end goal? if you just want 33's look into 235 85 16 tires. For me these were the best size tire I had, they went everywhere and did everything. What are teh plans for the rig, are you wanting all around expedition/daily kinda crawler or do you want an all out Crawler?

[ctracy5]

With spotting you can get over A LOT!!
After doing miller rock i would call that an understatement

I want to be a street legal crawler, the lift i am looking at is a 3 in, with some play in the front, it uses the torsion bars for the lift in the front due to the IFS so I have some play with it to get it where I want. i have a link to it in an earlier post. I am looking to go 33"s for my final tire size currently 30x9.5 and keep my 4.56 gearing. There is a potential of one day re gearing my T-case to 3.07 over the stock of 2.0. this mod would be a ways down the road it is rather pricey.

[ctracy5]

if you do have 4.56 gears then you are already ahead of most builds.

I keep trying to convince people that Isuzus rock!!!

[ColoJeeper]

I'm thinking that there is a good compromise here. I would suggest that you split the difference and just lift the rear end of the vehicle and put in the rear locker at the same time. This would buy you benefits in gas mileage as well, as you would always be driving downhill!

Take your time.....learn to drive it as it is now, and you will know what order and what parts you need first. You proved it's a capable vehicle on Miller Rock. Continue to drive it as it is for a while and save money. Then you will be able to do most of your upgrades at the same time and will already know how to drive your vehicle well.

[Funrover]

just a thought on the lockers. since it's the daily driver, just make sure you are going to be ok with non-selectable lockers. if you lock both front and back it may not be very nice to drive on the street.

Good point! Selectable is the way to go IMO. If you are off camber or in snow lockers don't always help, they can harm. Also on road they will eat up tires.

[Brody]

4.56 gears are a real nice thing to find that you have. Sticking with the 33s on the IFS front is going to be about the max before you overrun the limits of the IFS and start to break crap. If you just install one single locker in the rear, you will find that you can do a huge amount. I seldom use my front locker (ARB, so it is on/off) unless I run into a serious obstacle. I had an easy locker in the fornt of my heap for quite awhile with the IFS and the Yota suspension set up is very similar. I was running 32s with no issues for about two years. I did, however, baby the IFS when things got sketchy....

[ctracy5]

All very good points, I think at for now it will be the lift first, hopefully late this year or early next year, The lockers I am looking at are aussie lockers from what I have read they are kinda the best of both worlds of limited slip and lockers. They never allow a tire to go slower then your engine speed so just for sake of argument at 2500 rpm you go 5 mph all tires will be turning at a minimum of 5mph, but it will allow tires to go faster then the engine speed unlike a full locker, so as you turn it will allow the outside tires to "speed up" to avoid crab walking. This is what I have figured out form their website and reading around, anyone have experience with aussie lockers?

http://www.aussielocker.com/

Here is the manufacturers website.

[ctracy5]

Selectable is the way to go

Would love to find some but unless they are only like 300 bucks I will be going with these aussie lockers. Looking around the ARB air lockers kit is about 900 and this aussie lockers kit are only like 350. Reading around only hearing good things about them, it is a good way to get the traction of locking well minimizing impact on daily driving capabilities. From what I have read it basic what most people think limited slip really does.

[ctracy5]

4.56 gears are a real nice thing to find that you have.

Was reading up more on that I guess they came with a few different options for gears so I have to check my options plate read some numbers to verify if I have 4.56 or 4.10 or whatever. Will do later today and find out.

[Squshiee1]

In the video you can see all four tires off the ground and all my weight on my skid under my motor and it barley bent it
Same here, hit the same rock, same spot, and not even a dent, just a scratch!

mine came with 4.10s.... just sayen!

[Squshiee1]

IFS and the Yota suspension set up is very similar.

True, but when comparing my upper and lower control arms, and also the mounts to a toyota of the same year and a 91 4 runner, it looks like the isuzu has it beat by quite alot!

[ctracy5]

True, but when comparing my upper and lower control arms, and also the mounts to a toyota of the same year and a 91 4 runner, it looks like the isuzu has it beat by quite alot!

and everyone else would tell you the same, reading some other stuff, Don't know about urs but the specs for my read axle are about the same if not beefier then a dana 44, the more I read up on this thing the happier I get.

And i got lucky and have the 4.56 gears, this is nice because if I had the 4.10's I would of have to lock out both my axles at the same time to get to the 4.56 gears, but not I can lock out my rear first and the front when I get the money.

[Java]

anyone have experience with aussie lockers

not that brand specifically, but with a Spartan (I looked at all the brands, Spartan had a good price going at the time. all the lunchboxes are basically the same except the powertrax no-slip) and it was a great locker offroad, and very tight on the street in a Jeep. I think the quirks will be minimal in a long heavy vehicle like yours, especially if its an automatic transmission. Even if its stick I think you'll like the Aussie just fine. I'd for sure wheel it without a locker first just so you can appreciate the difference, it's really dramatic. I like the order of doing things you came up with, sounds pretty logical. :thumb:

[ctracy5]

Now the long process of getting the funds begins, hope everything gets busy at work this summer, otherwise it may be taxes next year. I really want to have my lift for the Ann run next year. Well my first mod will be happening in the next few weeks, I am replacing my auto hubs with manual ones, hopefully this will prevent me from crewing up my hubs on the trail. Auto hubs are nice because I don't have to get out of my truck, but not only do that auto lock they auto unlock, and I have heard that if I drive to rough this can cause issues. Every time I change direction my hubs unlock and then re-lock in that direction so when i have to back up and get going again it put a lot of wear on my hubs. Won't increase performance but prevent damage.