Prado Air Locker vs LSD vs Traction Control

[lc120_man Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close lc120_man]

Some interesting comparison videos of 3 Prados...

Air Locker vs LSD vs Traction Control Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2wkW05P ... re=related

Air Locker vs LSD vs Traction Control Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNFacsKn ... re=related

[Hutch Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hutch]

Re: Prado Air Locker vs LSD vs Traction Control

Have seen this on the DVD, it is an interesting comparsion. You would have to say factory traction control is not a bad option.

[Trev L Member Find all posts View Profile Close Trev L]

Re: Prado Air Locker vs LSD vs Traction Control

Hi LC120_man

Thanks for the post wife was impressed

cheers
Trev L

[LiveFreeAndRoam Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LiveFreeAndRoam]

Re: Prado Air Locker vs LSD vs Traction Control

Have seen this on the DVD, it is an interesting comparsion. You would have to say factory traction control is not a bad option.

I think ARB's perspective is, save the money by not buying the factory TC and put it toward their more capable locker solution. Not a bad argument imho. All the same, I agree the factory TC is pretty damn good.

LFaR.

[Snappa Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Snappa]

Re: Prado Air Locker vs LSD vs Traction Control

Thanks for posting the link LC120_Man

Following on from LFaR, it would also appear that a rear locker would be better value than a suspension lift. Food for thought given that most people go for a lift as one of the first things to spend money on as it is a "must have" and yet don't consider lockers as they are a "luxury". After watching the video, I will seriously consider a rear locker before a suspension lift - I just have to ask the Minister of Finance and Warfare first......

Snappa

[FlyingBushPig Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close FlyingBushPig]

Re: Prado Air Locker vs LSD vs Traction Control

I've wondered this especially after Robe at Easter. On sand it appears that extra lift wont really help that much in a lot of situations (diff height is the problem) but then I'd only want lockers going up rutted dunes as they can cause more problem on flat sand I believe. I guess it all depends what you use the prado for. Most of my driving will be in the high country so it's a bit hard to say which would be a better start. I guess wheels are still going to lose traction after a lift so maybe the locker is a better option first...but more expensive :?

[LiveFreeAndRoam Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LiveFreeAndRoam]

Re: Prado Air Locker vs LSD vs Traction Control

it would also appear that a rear locker would be better value than a suspension lift. Food for thought given that most people go for a lift as one of the first things to spend money on as it is a "must have" and yet don't consider lockers as they are a "luxury".

That's a good point Snappa. Certainly, it will depend on how you intend on using your vehicle. The differentiator for me is that suspension is working for me *all* the time, every bump, every corner, every step, high speed, low speed; the suspension is doing the work. The lockers will work for you only when you decide to turn them on.

Though, there is a solution to this conundrum... Lift-AND-lockers.

LFaR.

[lc120_man Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close lc120_man]

Re: Prado Air Locker vs LSD vs Traction Control

Guys,

You are missing one very important variable in all those reviews.
Driver - 80%, Car - 20% :!:

You can tackle most of the tracks they showed in Prado with standard LSD and better tyres (and picking the better path over the obstacles)
Personally, the first 2 mods I would do (and did) are lift and tyres...

Just my 2 cents

Cheers,

Stan

[Matt Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Matt]

Re: Prado Air Locker vs LSD vs Traction Control

You can tackle most of the tracks they showed in Prado with standard LSD and better tyres (and picking the better path over the obstacles)
Personally, the first 2 mods I would do (and did) are lift and tyres...

exactly what i was thinking.. when you start looking at tracks that require lockers.. and if its something you want to do for "Fun".. then a prado isnt really the best choice of vehicle.. you would be better off buying a 105/80/patrol..

[photoprado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close photoprado]

Re: Prado Air Locker vs LSD vs Traction Control

The take-home message I got from those videos is that the Lockers allow you to approach with less momentum, minimising potential damage to the vehicle and the track.

Ultimately, it's going to come down to the combined abilities of the driver and the vehicle. Having seen those demos and heard about the potential for diff problems on the Prado, Lockers look like a pretty good option for anyone who finds themselves in difficult terrain on a regular basis.

Michael

[FlyingBushPig Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close FlyingBushPig]

Re: Prado Air Locker vs LSD vs Traction Control

The take-home message I got from those videos is that the Lockers allow you to approach with less momentum, minimising potential damage to the vehicle and the track.

Ultimately, it's going to come down to the combined abilities of the driver and the vehicle. Having seen those demos and heard about the potential for diff problems on the Prado, Lockers look like a pretty good option for anyone who finds themselves in difficult terrain on a regular basis.

Michael

That's how I'd look at it too. Sure a Patrol (shudders at the thought ) might be right for some but even driving up my driveway i do damage with the Mickey T's. Lockers would minimize that (not that i'd use them in that situation of course but would in many situations on tracks). Driver skill is important on the harder tracks, tyres help both on harder tracks and minimizing track damage as do lockers. A lift pretty much minimizes vehicle damage and offers a little more traction through articulation.

[gwatts21 Member Find all posts View Profile Close gwatts21]

Re: Prado Air Locker vs LSD vs Traction Control

Have seen this on the DVD, it is an interesting comparsion. You would have to say factory traction control is not a bad option.

I think ARB's perspective is, save the money by not buying the factory TC and put it toward their more capable locker solution. Not a bad argument imho. All the same, I agree the factory TC is pretty damn good.

LFaR.

The implication is that all you get for your extra 20K spent on the Grande is ETC compared to only 3K for an ARB diff lock setup. From memory you also get the following on a Grande for your extra 17K: VSC, leather, additional airbags, sat nav, power seats, console cooler, alarm, sunroof, rear aircon ..... I don't want to argue the relative merit or value of any of these options just to point out that you save 17K by going for ARB lockers is just a throw away marketing line in this infomercial for ARB.

Ultimately I have to agree that lockers are the way to go for the best traction, I just don't agree with the cost / benefit argument presented.

Was it me or did that ARB Prado look like it had non standard suspension as well.

Cheers

Gaz

PS Before anyone asks I do own a Grande. :-)

[sako Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close sako]

Re: Prado Air Locker vs LSD vs Traction Control

are prado lsd's really that bad??

my old gu patrol's lsd was very effective offroad

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

Re: Prado Air Locker vs LSD vs Traction Control

are prado lsd's really that bad??

my old gu patrol's lsd was very effective offroad

Yes... Toyota LSD are below average.... Nissan's are renowned for being very good.

You''ll find yourself using the handbrake a lot to load it up in rough terrain.

Mick

[LiveFreeAndRoam Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LiveFreeAndRoam]

Re: Prado Air Locker vs LSD vs Traction Control

Have seen this on the DVD, it is an interesting comparsion. You would have to say factory traction control is not a bad option.

I think ARB's perspective is, save the money by not buying the factory TC and put it toward their more capable locker solution. Not a bad argument imho. All the same, I agree the factory TC is pretty damn good.

LFaR.

The implication is that all you get for your extra 20K spent on the Grande is ETC compared to only 3K for an ARB diff lock setup. From memory you also get the following on a Grande for your extra 17K: VSC, leather, additional airbags, sat nav, power seats, console cooler, alarm, sunroof, rear aircon ..... I don't want to argue the relative merit or value of any of these options just to point out that you save 17K by going for ARB lockers is just a throw away marketing line in this infomercial for ARB.

Ultimately I have to agree that lockers are the way to go for the best traction, I just don't agree with the cost / benefit argument presented.

Was it me or did that ARB Prado look like it had non standard suspension as well.

Cheers

Gaz

PS Before anyone asks I do own a Grande. :-)

Gaz, that's a totally appropiate and fair appraisal. TC is also offered as an option in the GXL and comes standard in the VX as well as the Grande. So the tradeoff needs to be considered depending on how one chooses to makeup their Prado. In the end, I guess it depends where the balancing beam lands... more fruit or more offroad capabaility (or have the fruit and ditch the TC for a locker).

LFaR.
PS: Minor correction, rear aircon is also standard on current model GXL. Still doesn't detract from the point you make.