Cost of Traction Control Option Vs Diff Lockers

[blackbird64 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close blackbird64]

Hi All. I am looking at buying a new GXL and am concerned by the number of people with Diff failures. Given that this is a fundemental weakness in what should be a capable reliable 4x4 with some good road manners. Whats the cost difference likely to be to get the option pack with T/C and VSC as opposed to after marekt diff lockers ?? Or should I just leave it as standard and "pray" that this never becomes an issue.. ??

I am looking for a Diesel Auto ...very impressive engine/trans combination !!

Prices I have got so far are $62000 on road(qld) ( seems high to me but they say there is some room to move this ///this is probably rec retail price but since there is such a demand for this vehicle, am i likely to get much of a discount ?

plus

$ 1800 Toyota Sovereign B/B
$ 500 Toyota TowBar
$ 200 mats
$170 seat covers.

The other option is to just get a base GXL and add bits on later ..any thoughts here appreciated !

Regds
Blackbird64

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

While I can't help you with the prices on Option pack v's Diff locks I would ask one question .... What do you want to do with it ???

I reckon that having a clear picture of what you want to vehicle to do makes the purchasing decision much clearer.

I did not really know what I wanted. I knew I was after something that seated 7 or 8 and could tow a camper trailer around Oz. The only obvious accessory from there was the bar.

Then I found this forum and met up with some WA Pradopointers and got bitten by the 4WD bug .... now all of the original plans have changed and the accessories list is longer than a roll of dunny paper :lol:

I do like the blank canvas approach ... and build it as you need it.

I also reckon I would look at tyres and suspension before TC or Lockers ... [I've put my flame retardant suit on] :lol:

Cheers, and good luck on your decision
Chippy

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

Hi Blackbird64,
Welcome to a great website, the prices you have been quoted are not bad, I was quoted similar, but did better on the final deal for a D-4D GXL Sov. Bar, Towbar, Spare wheel cover but didn't bother with the seatcovers or mats, and I am slowly putting on more extras as time permits. Did not use Novated Lease or Fleet deals to purchase vehicle.

As always Chippy has offered a sensible approach, buy a base GXL and maybe add to it as required.

As you live in Brissy I guess you will want to give Fraser Is. heaps so perhaps do tires, and suspension, recovery kit, and coat all fittings underbody with Tectyl.

If you are a mad keen rockcrawler, submariner (Chippy) or want to tackle big dunes then maybe look at a rear diff locker.

Or perhaps you just want the rig to tow a boat and tour (thats Me) then I wouldn't worry too much about a Locker and keep fingers crossed for the standard LSD.

[blackbird64 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close blackbird64]

Hi Guys... Thanks for the responses.. Mostly i guess it will be used as a shopping trolley and school bus... but for the odd adventure to Fraser and maybe up North/West to take the kids camping somewhere ...It would make some great memories with the kids !!

I am just worried that I am going to go on the sunes at fraser island and have to get towed out by a Patrol !!!!
Regds
Blackbird64

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

I am just worried that I am going to go on the sunes at fraser island and have to get towed out by a Patrol !!!!

never going to happen.. the prado's are pretty unstoppable in the sand (well my v6 is ) i would go a suspension lift tho, as it really helps when teh going gets tough in sand (less bottom outs = more momentum)

if you are mainly doing sand runs, i would steer clear of traction control, as it is quite often a hinderance.

i will be going a locker only if my back diff goes bang. there are driving techniques for mimicing traction control when you lift wheels.

[matty Member Find all posts View Profile Close matty]

hi blachbird64,
answering your question bout lockers v trac control, not sure about price of trac control but front n rear lockers cost me $3600, i chose the 07 GX as it looks like the GXL and was cheaper, cost me 51000 drive away and was kitted up for NT gov deal but fell through, had tow bar, black duck canvas seat covers, rubber mats through out and cargo barrier. As for your bull bar (sovereign) i feel that aluminium bars are a waste of time, but this is a personal choice, though steel is cheaper ($1600 ARB winch bar) and more durable.

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

Totally agree with the consensus. It depends on what you are going to use the car for. Other thing to remember is (and I read this somewhere)that traction control will fail after a period of heavy use as it is based on your ABS. Go the lockers, mine is unstoppable (within reason )

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

if you are mainly doing sand runs, i would steer clear of traction control, as it is quite often a hinderance.

I disagree, I've never found it to be a hinderance..! The only time time it gets a bit defeated is if you are bellied out and at that point it doesn't matter if you have traction or lockers or the standard LSD, you ain't goin nowhere fast.!! :twisted:
I think maybe there were issues in the 90 series where it would sometimes make a nuisance of itself.!
I would rather have it than not, but if it's an optional extra then it comes down to the price difference and what you really want.

[Ba77hy Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ba77hy]

Hi Blackbird64, Welcome to the best 4x4 forum on the web,

Like Chippy said, what do you want it for, and work it out from there..

a couple of things,

Yes the Rear diff can break, so can the rear diff in a multitude of other cars also!!
the earlier model prado also had a recall for a rear axle flange,

http://www.recalls.gov.au/view_recall_d ... Auto=14110

This guy is being a bit overkill but true all the same

http://www.lonards-automotives.com.au/prado.html

He says

"Rear diffs will break especially in the 4.0 litre V6 and if you lift a wheel whilst 4 wheel driving. When that wheel comes back down the torque from that wheel travels back through the driveline and it is usually the teeth on the rear crown wheel which will strip off. Be careful."

Ok it CAN!!!!!!!!! happen, but it is rare!, and like I just said, this problem can also happen in any car!!!

2 things with rear diff problem,

1 - I don't know anyone who has had a break, although there maybe some on this forum (we do have 1200+ members) I don't know of anyone.

2 - If it does go!!! Great excuse to get that rear locker!!!!! ( missus carn't argue that you don't need it!)




NOW the other issue PRICE!!!!!.

I got my Manual GXL D4D, with roof racks, Sovereign Bar, Hard Spare Cover, Rear mat, headlight and bonnet protectors, Full Tow pack, drive away for

$55,000.

So don't go for the first quote, shop around,

or even do what i did, read about it here

http://www.pradopoint.com/viewtopic.php ... c&start=15

Nuff Said!

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

a traction aid that applies the brakes isnt going to do you any favours in sand. Toyota have tuned the TC very well in the 120, but, in sand, id rather not have it..

i have also seen the TC computer go belly up, but its no biggy, a simple shut down and restart has always fixed it (seen it happen with both the 120 and the 100)

usually tc kicks in at the worst time on sand, like a 90 degree incline, while you are at full tilt throttle in powder soft sand.

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

Hi Guys... Thanks for the responses.. Mostly i guess it will be used as a shopping trolley and school bus... but for the odd adventure to Fraser and maybe up North/West to take the kids camping somewhere ...It would make some great memories with the kids !!

I am just worried that I am going to go on the sunes at fraser island and have to get towed out by a Patrol !!!!
Regds
Blackbird64

Blackbird, if this is your plans, a GXL with no lockers or ETC would easily do what you want it to do, spend that change on doing a sand driving course if you haven't already and buy a decent tyre gauge to drop the tyres to 20 psi on the beach and a good pump to put them back up. Follow these rules and you never need any pootrol's to pull you out.
Check out our trip to fraser, no fancy gadgets in this baby.
http://www.pradopoint.com/viewtopic.php?t=1570

[blackbird64 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close blackbird64]

Hi Guys... Thanks heaps for the responses !! Yes I agree best forum of any of the 4x4 car blog sites.
Heaps of good info.. i have now spent 2 days solid reading various posts and opininions about all sorts of stuff.. specially the tasty in-dash NAV stuff.. ..
( i am looking at Eclipse and VMS at the moment ..)


Thanks heaps also to the poster who mentioned reverse auction ! I am pretty sold on the standard diffs.. thanks for the reassurrance..

Hoping to get one of these toys in the new year ..

Thanks again chaps !

Blackbird64

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

Hi blackbird64

bush tracks and rock hopping.
Standard is OK.
Lockers are better.
TC is phenominal.



sand and beaches

Standard is OK.
Lockers (i have read) offer no better drive that standard (4WD Monthly mag)
TC listen to justo, He has it.

[leachy_9 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close leachy_9]

My experience is that diff locks are great for ruts, hill climbs and cross axle work but for sand work a rear locker does bugger all.
As far a for a front locker, since momentum is key in the sand and a front locker hampers stearing (not a good thing at any speed above a crawl) I doubt it would be of any benefit.
The most important thing in the sand is tyres and in particular tyre pressures.

Leachy

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

Can you disable your TC when in the sand?

I know Justo likes it and I also believe the proof is in the pudding.

Some articles I've read stated that TC on sand is not optimal. Logically, I can appreciate that point of view... after all, you actually want to encourage some wheel spinning in sand, and TC would seem to go against that grain.

LFaR.