Gray Wire Mod Advantages?

[CoTacoTRD]

Ok. I have seen and read about the Grey Wire Mod that allows the E Locker to be engaged in 2Hi or 4hi or whenever. But my question for everyone is what really are the advantages of doing this. When would you need the rear end locked that would not require you to be in 4 low anyways for the torque and for the extra wheel driving. So far the only thing I have seen is it allows you to do donuts easier and in one tragic case may have caused a Taco to roll over. So why do it?

I am now hearing on the national board that this mod may contribute to a future demise of the 05+ Tacoma 4 wheel drive electronics so as it stands now I don't see a reason to do it. Convince me otherwise :confused:

[ike]

No reason really to do it.

The only time i have used it is to baja in 2wd, much like the reason the pre runner was offered with it.

[mrdoug]

yeah, there's a reason I've forgotten to do it for so damn long. I can think of only the run up that hill for 4th of July (name escapes me at the momeny). I was too lazy to go to 4wd and did most the trail in 2wd. There was about one time I could have used it, and ended up just putting it in 4wd anyways.

I did it simply so it's an option if I ever need it. The writeup's on it are pretty clear and straight forward about how/when the ground wire is used. I can't see any down sides to doing the mod (for my truck) so why not?

[CoTacoTRD]

yeah, there's a reason I've forgotten to do it for so damn long. I can think of only the run up that hill for 4th of July (name escapes me at the momeny). I was too lazy to go to 4wd and did most the trail in 2wd. There was about one time I could have used it, and ended up just putting it in 4wd anyways.

I did it simply so it's an option if I ever need it. The writeup's on it are pretty clear and straight forward about how/when the ground wire is used. I can't see any down sides to doing the mod (for my truck) so why not?

OK. That doesn't convince me to do the mod but it also doesn't convince me not to it. I guess it comes down to if I had my truck entirely the way I wanted it and this was another mod to add to the list then I would do it.

AAAHHHH...... that one fine day when I have everything complete on my truck.......:slap: Oh crap I woke up again and it is time to go to work. :D

[Quick Draw]

Well I never had a grey wire to begin with, but I have flicked the switch when in High gear going about 15mph for some momentum up a hill. I probably didn't need the locker....but flipping it on -to minimize the risk of having to go for a second try - with out dropping into low and coming to almost a complete stop was kinda cool.

[ike]

i wouldnt feel safe putting it on when moving at speed. It gives alot of stress and chance for breakage.

[Quick Draw]

Yeah, but I've gotten away with it. I usually push in the clutch and try to go in a relatively straight line. Oh and its not something I would do unless the surface under me has quite a bit of "slip"

[ike]

As long as your wheel speeds are not that far from each other(ie not spinning one wheel) it shouldnt be to bad on it, but it is not something i would do.

[Sucka]

I did it this past weekend. I really can't think of any reason not to do it. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it i suppose.

Plus i'm hoping to get back to the desert at some point since i still have friends and family in CA.

The day after i did the mod this weekend me and my wife went to Rocky Mountain National Park for a drive. I pulled off the side on an uphill to let a car pass and get a picture. When i hit the gas i sat there spinning only my wheel in the snow while my other wheel was on the pavement. Of course 4wd would have done the trick, but i hit the locker just for fun and away i went :D

[ike]

Just have to watch for sideways drifting when doing that.

[Gerdo]

I know that allot of people don't ues 4lo all that much. My view on 4lo is, when offroading, other than dirt roads where you wouldn't need a locker anyway, I always use 4lo. That is what it is there for.

[thefatkid]

While I don't have to do the mod, when I romp around the sand dunes in 2hi it is nice to have the rear locked. I don't really use high range snow bashing or 4 wheeling.

It is fun on the street when it snows out and you don't feel like locking your hubs (not a issue for you), a little rearend snow drift never hurt anyone.

[mrdoug]

OK. That doesn't convince me to do the mod but it also doesn't convince me not to it. I guess it comes down to if I had my truck entirely the way I wanted it and this was another mod to add to the list then I would do it.

AAAHHHH...... that one fine day when I have everything complete on my truck.......:slap: Oh crap I woke up again and it is time to go to work. :D

good, so you understand the mod:) yeah, I was in that same position and found that it just wasn't that important to me. I probably still wouldn't have it if Sucka and Yanman hadn't been interested in doing it last weekend.

If you're on the fence and can't decide to do it, then don't, wait for a couple of times when you're driving and thinking to yourself "I wish I had a locker right now". If you find yourself saying that enough, then you can take the 10 min to actually do it, if not, then save the time to open another beer.

[Jacket]

I wondered if all those wiring mods tacosupreme did would ever come back to haunt him. Looks like it may have - but he also drives his truck pretty freakin hard so it could be that.....

I used to try and keep it in 2wd or 4hi whenever possible until I heated up my AT fluid above normal limits trying to climb a steep, loose bit of rocks on Hayden Pass. Since then I'm with Gerdo - just use 4lo on anything but dirt roads where speeds will be consistently above 20mph.

[00regcab]

Its probably already been discussed. However.

I like being able to lock mine WHENEVER, mainly because of my front full-time locker. When it snows, i just stay in 2wd, but kick the locker on. Also, blasting across sandy washes/areas in moab isnt really fun, or easily do-able in 4lo (between how slow you go, and all the stress it'll cause on the engine/drivetrain), or in just plain 2wd. Its a hell of a difference with the locker on when you hit the gas in the sand.

[00regcab]

Just have to watch for sideways drifting when doing that.

ehhhh, i think this is bogus. I absolutely LOVE lockers on the snowy/slick roads.

Yes, the rear end will slide out easier, however its very manageable and very easy to control/predict. Plus, i've noticed with the locker on, and some practice driving that way you can get a very tiny little bit of over steer out of it on slick snow/ice covered roads and makes turning 100X easier.

Even in 4wd with the front locker and such, i dont have problems turning, or problems with side-hill/off camber type stuff. The truck has never tried to slide down hill on me. Plus its saved my ass with stopping a few times. Just dump it into first and let the clutch out. The truck will still slide a little, but not near as much as it would if the brakes were locked, and its hard on drivetrain components, but better than an accident.

[RedRunnertc]

If you have push button 4WD and do the 2LO mod, the grey wire mod makes a lot more sense

[Quick Draw]

Yes, the rear end will slide out easier, however its very manageable and very easy to control/predict. Plus, i've noticed with the locker on, and some practice driving that way you can get a very tiny little bit of over steer out of it on slick snow/ice covered roads and makes turning 100X easier.

I occasionally flip my locker on when I'm on my way to Winter Park going down Berthoud Pass. Often times the truck has a tendency to understeer in 4HI which is concerning particularly in the tight right-hand corners where understeer could mean a head-on collision. So flip the locker on, and suddenly you've got a little bit of manageable oversteer. I feel much better that way.

[extremepaint]

my reason for the mod, i can peel out both rear tires and feel like a BAD ASS! haha

simple as that oh and i can turn off my abs easly that way, i hate abs in snow, period! fricken red light death trap right there!

[Gerdo]

It's easier to do a burnout around corners when locked!

[CoTacoTRD]

Lot's of good feedback guys thanks! Although it seems that mostly it is for fun. One good point was Nate and having a full time front locker with manual hubs. I could see a reason in snow for it and not wanted to engage the front. Other then that I really don't see myself hitting dunes, bajaing, or doing burnouts. Guess I am just getting old! I do agree with Gerdo and Jacket that 4lo is for off road and then the locker works anyways. I guess I will shelf this mod for now until I really feel I have a need for it.

Besides saving the time and being able to crack open a beer sooner is much better. :xbeer3:

[fondigley]

I will tell you that I may have needed it at least once and didn't have it. The 4wd system on my 01 Tacoma has 3 different electronic switches and one was out on my truck and I knew the 4wd wouldn't engage, but still wanted to play a little in my truck. Since I have a winch I wasn't too worried about getting stuck. And of course I couldn't climb the road out, one wheel was spinning. If I had done the grey wire mod there is a good chance I wouldn't of had to winch myself out.

[packrat1]

I use this mod all the time, but then I have 2wd low. :p So for me this mod was a must-do. Otherwise, while still mostly stock, I just used it for goofing around. But it made goofing around a lot more fun, so I would do this again on a stocker in a skinny minute.

[CoTacoTRD]

Still not convienced. 4low is my friend. Keeps everything under control and I can be locked then too.

[Sucka]

I used it a few times this week. I didn't "need" it but i was happy to have the mod. No compelling reason to run out and do it, but i don't see a reason not to do it either.

Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. Who knows, might come a time when you break a CV and need that extra grip for that extra traction to get you to a point where you can wrench on your truck.

[CoTacoTRD]

Sucka that is a good point. I think I finallly have the right reason. Nice!!!! Hey great photos by the way of your trip.

[fabjunkie]

If you have push button 4WD and do the 2LO mod, the grey wire mod makes a lot more sense

2LO isn't as easy on the new gen as the older trucks. TacoSupreme did it for a short time but it used a DPDT switch and you still had to shift the transfer into LO with the stock switch on the dash. I'm 95% sure I figured out a way to do it with only one switch and the stock switch stays in 2wd. I need to have someone check me before I try it. Should talk to Darrell probably.

Sucka that is a good point. I think I finallly have the right reason. Nice!!!! Hey great photos by the way of your trip.

About time. Swing by and we can knock it out in about 20 minutes. :saw:

[Doughboy]

I am glad that I did the grey wire mod on my Taco... Out playing in the country side of south east colorado. I don't think I used 4 hi or lo all day long, and never got stuck once...:):):)

[arrrghhh]

yea can't exactly do the grey wire mod in the 05+ tacos... i'm looking into doing it in my '09, but i'm kinda worried. gotta play with quite a few wires. i have the writeup somewheres... can't find it right now.

[yaker]

When you can lock it in 4hi you do a hell of alot beter in mud then you would with open 4hi, and 4lo just sucks ass in mud.

[extremepaint]

yaker, at altitude 4low is your only hope in mud... i will bog down in 1st gear 4hi when im above 7000...ish, back in buffalo i would hit all the mud in 4hi 1st b/c you could get some decent wheelspeed and clean the treads and hopefully get enough momentum to clear the pit before you come to a halt.

i did a small pit on saterday and i started to bog down in 4lo 2nd but that good ole taco pulled through spun the mud off the tires and pulled its self out of the hole. id say it was a good 6"-1' of goo and about 2 feet of water on top of that with a mild climb at the end that was roughly a foot to a foot and a half above the water line at the end.. im sure if it was any deeper or steeper i woulda stalled out and been stuck!

oh and locker for sure... since i usually dont know what im getting into its better to have it on and not need it then need it and not have it right!? lol thats why i bought it in the first place!!!

[RedRunnertc]

Kinda hard to discuss mud on a forum ... so much depends on the particular mud on that particular day. Sometimes you want to crawl over it, kinda like sand - other times you need to dig in and spin the wheels.

[yaker]

Kinda hard to discuss mud on a forum ... so much depends on the particular mud on that particular day. Sometimes you want to crawl over it, kinda like sand - other times you need to dig in and spin the wheels.

True.

[vwfastg60]

i wouldnt feel safe putting it on when moving at speed. It gives alot of stress and chance for breakage.

I have had a few times in the snow where i have flipped it on while moving and it was fine. sometimes even flipping on the locker while moving it wont lock for a few seconds tell everything is lined up. I like mine for the street when its slick. I have used 4wd once with the locker and it was snowbashing in a parking lot with huge drifts and i went in way too slow. other then that i run 2wd on the streets and if its slick and im not coming away from lights well i flip it on(hardly need it with the tsl's lol)


The only reason you need.... cookies/drifting in the snow!