The Most Dangerous Button In Your Truck! - Learn When To Use This!

If your truck has this button you need to know how and when to use it!
The rear locker button is in many pick up trucks and suvs. But some models like the ford and chevy pickups as well as the bronco and other suvs will let you use this rear differential locker in 2wd and 4 high as well as 4 low.
Great off road accessories:
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This channel publishes a new video every day talking about trucks, cars and suvs with some tool content mixed in.

[diekruzen]

These are by far my favorite episodes. They are quick, informative and tremendously helpful!! Thanks Jason.

[SmokinZen]

With great power comes great responsibility 😉

[nicholassorensen]

Thank you for this. I knew WHEN to use a rear locker, but did not understand why. Finally got myself a vehicle worth investing in and building onto at 40, and learning all I can.

[heiko]

Great explanation, thank you. I installed both front and rear lockers on my '95 F150. It had completely open diffs. Amazing difference. I hardly ever use the front locker, the rear quite a bit, also in 2WD. I would take a 2WD with a locker over a 4x4 with open diffs.

[hithere]

My mom bought fore and aft elockers for my 93 bronco when I was 16 and had them installed. I loved it dearly and added a front one to my new Ford trucks as an adult.

Mom taught me about the different kinds of tires, 4wd systems, suspension theory and applications, radiator and fan sizing, and when to use all of the above in economy cars, muscle cars, and 4wd full size SUVs and pickups.

Tldr don't turn unless on quite loose surfaces while diffs are locked.

She also taught me about boats and trailering.

[noniespam]

Just like limited slip positive traction of the day. My dad had a 1960 Ford Galaxy which had the positive traction rear end which if you don’t know how to use it you’re in trouble. If the road is ice covered the back end will constantly try to pass up the front and you’ll never keep it straight. However if you understand how it works you simply drive with one wheel off the side of the road in the gravel. He drove 50 miles like that one day from IronMountain to Iron River. Passed many cars in the ditch that day. That old Ford even had overdrive, straight six 3 on the tree. The good ole days.

[mikehundley]

Jason does a great job of explaining these small things that needs to be addressed. Aint to small if your a button pusher

[kenny]

I had a 2019 f150 with a rear locker. No problems. Got a 22 tacoma and its such a pain in the ass to even get in and out 4low i dont bother. I know youve said the same, im just mentioning it for people that havent watched your other videos.

[nunosapunso]

I occasionally drive on beaches with deep powdery sand so I always engage the rear locker on my Ranger Tremor as soon as I hit the sand. I don’t want to wait until I’m stuck to engage it. 4L + rear locked + aired down = easy sailing. Our beaches have a max speed limit of 10mph.

[chriscon]

Great explanation! Last year I bought a ‘23 Ranger 2wd & had it equipped with the rear locker for about $500. I figured it would be good to have just in case. In order to engage it, the button must be held in for 3 seconds. I’m glad they made it this way!

[TexasPatriotOffRoadAndOutdoors]

That is why most SXSs do really well off-road, fully locked rear differential and optional locking front - also lighter weight and usually more aggressive tires than a truck or SUV would have.

However, as the video creator stated, that is why they are a bit “dangerous” on pavement if you aren’t mindful of having a fully locked rear differential.

Good video!

[wikolib]

Hi Jason. Great tutorial. When I did a lot of off roading, my 4X4s didn't have lockers, just limited slip rear differentials. Off road I would keep my drive train in 2WD until I really needed it. The reason is that the front axle would bind up in tight turns. Thinks the front axles were either limited slip or locked. When I started to get some slippage I'd go into 4 wheel high. When the road/trail started getting really rough or very slipery I'd put it into 4 wheel low so I could crawl w/o riding the brakes. With mud a lot of times you just want to blast though it to keep moving and not stall. I did do some mud but not a lot, but I did do a lot of soft gravel and lava rock and I never got stuck with a limited slip rear axle. Sometimes I'd have to back up and give it another try. The one place I never could get to with a limited slip rear axle was a very steep cinder cone in Puu Kuili in Kona on the Big Island about 175 feet high. I tried to get to the top but would spin wheels and slip back down. That's where lockers would have enabled me to get to the top. Of course I never went into totally nuts mud or very deep soft rock. I did have to dig myself out a few times in soft rock and put wood underneath the tires. Many of the pick up trucks I've had in the last 15 years have had lockers, but I've never tried them as I'm done with off roading. I always have had 4x4s though because I got stuck on the side of a highway in Kona in soft lava with a 4x2 and had to dig myself out. And also because I tow and you never know when you're going to get into a bad situation. Since you mention it, next time I'm on an unpaved road I'll not only exercise the 4x4 and 4 low, but engage the lockers to make sure they work. You've got to be in some really slippery or very steep uphill stuff to need the lockers. Side note: It's amazing how many people don't know you have to stop and put it in neutral to engage 4 low. Thanks.

[jdiii]

Thank you so much for this video. I now realize that I will probably never need this function. You probably saved me a future repair.

[ceverett]

nice informative video. i know way to many guys that have zero clue about off-road driving or what all the buttons and switches in their truck does

[shawnsmith]

If i weren't aware of this already then this video would be a great introduction! Very nicely done, very friendly and understandable. Such a good intro.
(Cant believe there are people belly aching and nit picking. Guess it takes all kinds).

[danielpittman]

Twin-stick Dana 300 and ARB lockers front and rear in my CJ7
I like having all the options.

[yardboy]

Thanks Samko, most helpful video. I’ve misused the locker button before, watching your video makes using the locker button much easier to understand.

[TribalShark]

Thank you for this video. I was never very clear on this until now.

[Mike__S]

This is good information for novices that don't realize the difference in wheel travel while turning. Now, turning to lock in 4x4 hi or lo you are going to have binding from the axle u-joints in the knuckles, regardless of being open or locked that will "shake" the steering system

[brianduran]

I had a Detroit locker in my 86 toyota pickup. Fun tines in the rain!