154 http://www.4X4australia.com.auC
ROSS-axle diff locks are undoubtedly
one of the best go-forward accessories
you can add to your four-wheel drive.
Sure, good rubber and suspension, as
well as increased power and driver ability
all help, but throwing in a set of lockers
takes any 4x4 to a new level of capability –
especially on a non-flexing Troopy.
Not that the rear leaf and front coils
don’t flex at all, it’s just that they are no
match for a super-flexy custom-coiled job.
Given this relative lack of articulation,
a set of lockers will help not just when
suspension flex runs out, but also with grip-
free situations like mud, snow, uphill and
downhill driving. Even sand driving will
see some benefit, albeit generally less than
other surfaces.
I’ve opted for a set of Harrop-Eaton
ELockers for my long-term project. Eaton
is a proven American-based company that
has been around for donkey’s years, while
Australian-specific models have been
developed via Melbourne-based Harrop
and sold via Harrop, Opposite Lock and
Terrain Tamer outlets.
The ELocker is manufactured with
precision-forged gears and four pinions,
providing superior strength and durability
over standard equipment. There are bothfront and rear locker offerings available for
most Australian-sourced 4x4s.WHY LOCK?
LET’S get one thing straight about
differential locks: You don’t have to be a
weekend warrior, rock-hopper or off-road
racer to enjoy the advantages lockers offer.
No siree – the average tourer, family 4x4
or long-distance adventurer will see just
as much bang for their buck thanks to the
‘get out of the muck free’ card that a locker
offers. Heck, even trying to haul a boat
trailer up a slippery ramp can be made so
much easier at the flick of switch – provided
you don’t wind the diff up by using it too
long on a hard surface.
The more difficult the terrain, the more
you’ll enjoy the benefits of a diff lock.
However, keep inmind that if you do get
stuck with a locker (or two) engaged, it’ll
probably be a massive recovery effort given
the extra go-forward drive they offer.WHY ELOCK?
FOR starters, an ELocker is simple. Once
the locker unit is installed into the diff
centre, all you need to do is run a wire to
each diff.
The ELocker is electromagneticallyactivated, being manually switched in-cab
by the driver. Once it’s engaged, all the
wheels will continuously drive until you’re
confident you can revert back to unlocked
diffs, which is achieved using the same
switches (one for the front and one for the
rear locker).
Lockers can also be used to help
negotiate and tackle obstacles slowly
without damaging your 4x4. Instead of
using momentum and crashing over rocks
or ruts, you can select a low gear and
crawl over (almost) anything without the
(possible) resultant damage.ONE OR TWO?
ONE ELocker is great, but two is better. A
great option with the ELocker pair is you
can use the rear, the front or both at any
time – it’s your choice. However, care must
be taken when locking the front diff, as
you lose steering ability when you ‘power
on’, creating a tendency for the 4x4 to pull
straight ahead.
ELockers can be fitted by competent
DIYers and most mechanics. I opted for
the professional services of Opposite Lock
South Sydney to install mine, as I knew
they had all the required specialty tools on
hand. They ensured all settings were correctgear
PRODUCT TEST –HARROP-EATON ELOCKERLOCK ’EM UP
WORDS AND PHOTOS MARK ALLEN
TWIN ELOCKERS ENCOURAGE THE ALBINO BEHEMOTH TO GO FURTHER.