2WD pickup with front locker. What's the point?

[MNgopher]

The 2WD F250's get the same hub covers as the 4WD. The "bar" is just FORD written out. On the 4WD, the "bar" can go away and be replaced by manual hubs. Look at the rears - they are identical to the fronts on the 2WD.

Besides as was pointed out - what you think you are seeing is not a locker - its the manual switch to lock in the hubs, which again, is not a locker.

But what would I know... I and three of my team members drive late model 2WD F250's every day at work...

 

[bullwinkle]

I have a feeling it might have even just had "traction contol" or TSC-that's even worse than a locker! That's what all our RWD Transits have, pretty worthless.

 

[atikovi]

Use some reasoning when you think. If there is no driven front axle then how could you "lock" the front axle? There is nothing to lock.

I know that, that's why I was asking. Maybe it was a salvage car and the center section was damaged and never replaced, hence the locking hubs.

 

[4wd]

1) no front differential
2) no hubs to lock prop shafts
3) no actual verification it has any locking differential

So it’s not going to have a transfer case either.

 

[Rmay635703]

2wd with lockers or posi in my experience is about as good as 4wd without.

traction control + posi is about as good as RWD gets.

usually much much less expensive, like half price

 

[2EHA]

2wd with lockers or posi in my experience is about as good as 4wd without.

 

[Jocephus]

I know that, that's why I was asking. Maybe it was a salvage car and the center section was damaged and never replaced, hence the locking hubs.

see my post on the previous page showing the 2wd F250s for sale. If you click on the links you can see their hubs.

 

[atikovi]

Yes I get it, looks similar to hub locks. Hard to tell in the video.

 

[4wd]

Viewed from another perspective … that mud hole is not bad … my Jeep would do that in 4Hi … nothing locked …
The truck is a bloated 2WD with useless tires …

 

[ls1mike]

All that aside having the locking rear is nice in a 2WD my old truck had that and helped when it was wet and I was towing.

I will say I do like the 4WD in the current truck.

 

[buster]

Long wheelbase too.

 

[Chris142]

Always someone says that their 2wd with a locker will go the same places a 4x4 will with open axles will go. I would love to test this theory.

 

[Chris142]

So what's that bar in the center of the hub on the left front wheel for? Looks like the thing that locks the axle to the hub.

This.

 

[MNgopher]

2wd with lockers or posi in my experience is about as good as 4wd without.

traction control + posi is about as good as RWD gets.

usually much much less expensive, like half price

Speaking from experience with our 2WD superduties with the lockers - no. Not on sloppy mud on a construction site or on wet grass on a slope. In both scenarios, the whole rear end of the truck slides. It has more to do with the total lack of weight on the rear tires when unloaded, and the fact these trucks have so little flexibility in them as they are meant to be loaded up... Put the two together and you have your hands full in poor conditions... My whole team will take an open axle 4wd version of these trucks anyday for our use...

 

[4wd]

Always someone says that their 2wd with a locker will go the same places a 4x4 will with open axles will go. I would love to test this theory.

Had only 4WD’s for many years … the vast majority of folks I helped had 2WD vehicles. Unless they dug themselves to the frame - 4WD’s have been easier to pull free … Most of mine had a rear locker and an open differential upfront. Still run my Rubicon that way when possible to steer better and not bind the driveline as much …
Lock both to pass a new mud hole or clear a sand dune (don’t see tracks to judge) …

 

[Rmay635703]

Always someone says that their 2wd with a locker will go the same places a 4x4 will with open axles will go. I would love to test this theory.

If it’s a 2wd suburban posi with proper tires vrs an open 4wd truck it probably will

 

[Chris142]

If it’s a 2wd suburban posi with proper tires vrs an open 4wd truck it probably will

Nope

 

[Rmay635703]

Nope

I’ve pulled my uncles 4wd out of the ditch with my 2 wheeler, he had 2 wheels spinning in AWD and couldn’t get up the slicked grass.

Experience is unless you’ve modded the vehicle 4wd just gives you the confidence to get more stuck by driving on surfaces you will just sink into.

RWD for 30 years never stuck, but one of my vehicles had a winch, winch is more useful in real environments since awd sinks just as fast.
I’ve rarely felt the need to drive over trees and make my own roads though.

My grandfather’s 4wd 2.5T Marmon Harington county truck made roads over the trees
the extremely tall 19” tires that looked like they came off a farm tractor likely helped, hard to steer all locked and could walk faster than low but it would usually pull through ponds and rivers. Trees everywhere so the winch could help you up a hill.

Where I have gone ground clearance is more important than a single front and single rear tire spinning and 99% of the time is spent on some form of road, gravel, dirt or otherwise anyway. A little splash through a creek is nothing, just need to know how to drive I suppose

 

[Lyman]

I used to have a 2wd pickup with a locker in it. It was great on dry ground. Mud not so much. Tires make a huge difference in 2wd or 4wd.
I happen to subscribe to that channel. It's fun to watch all those people get stuck. I have done some Off Road Recovery myself over the years.

 

[buster]

Depends on the situation, ground clearance, wheel base length, lockers/no lockers, tires etc.