Has anyone heard if there are front lockers being made available for the H2?

Has anyone heard if there are front lockers being made available for the H2?

Yeah. IIRC, there is an Eaton E-Locker (similar to what is in the H2's rear end) coming out for the front of the H2. Also, I believe ARB makes an air locker for the front of 3/4 ton GM trucks, which I'm pretty sure have the same front diff as the H2.

If you go to the tech forum and do a search, there's a pretty large thread on this very topic. I think it was Steve R who started it, back in Feb.

Allen.....my man!!!!

Allen here finally made it out to one of our events. This guy saw fit to challenge the hardest, nastiest and loosest route up a nasty hill.....AND MADE IT!!!!!

I know exactly what your thinking when inquiring about a front locker. As soon as one if available I'm going to get one too!

Even my buddy with his H1 had to work to get up that hill. And he has huge-fat PJ dirt-grips aired down to about 12 pounds: big-time advantaage.

Allen ran that hill so hard that at one point the dust/dirt completely encompassed his rig and we couldn't even see it....but sure enough, he emerged atop the hill...victorious!

I suspect you weren't aired down much....your tires looked pretty firm and square....but you still made it!

Allen:

I asked about this topic a few weeks ago. Eaton appears to be the only source that is developing a unit. As you know, the Traction Control currently takes the place of a Front Locker, so I'm not sure how a Front Locker might pair with the TC system on the H2.

I'd think that the TC would have to be overrided, since the front axle will be locked and there's no longer a requirement for the system to send torque to the wheel with less rotation (i.e. more grip)? I like the predictability of Lockers, compared to the Traction Control that can engage when it feels appropriate. The downside to Front Lockers is that the rig can drive a bit "jerkey" on harder surfaces like packed dirt [especially when turning].

I think the T/C and "traction on demand" are differnt animals. The T/C is by brake on each wheel, and so doesn't cut out when you lock the rear diff -it wouldn't matter at all if all 4 were locked, since none could spin faster than the others. It just wouldn't ever kick in.

I am disappointed that you can't turn off the T/C in regular 4X mode though...

-Jack
Yellow H2 adv. pkg.
Alaska to ??? June '03
www.sunspotnatural.com

So if you let air out of your tires to off road, and you drove along way to get there, or you get stuck and let the air out of your tires, how do you get home on 12lbs of air on a highway where you would normally drive 70mph?

"Let me show you my gun collection"

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Steve R:
I know exactly what your thinking when inquiring about a front locker. As soon as one if available I'm going to get one too!
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

If you guys start running front lockers you're gonna have to modify your "no breakage" rule for your trailrides.

Snap, crackle, pop...now that's good wheelin'!

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I don't know if you would ever really need a front locker for the trails in socal that an H2 would fit into. Maybe in the sand or mud. From what I saw last weekend the traction control works pretty good!

If you are having trouble making it work correctly I suggest that you badger Manny (OLE YLLR) on this board for personalized instruction, cuz he definitely knows how to use it!

By the way Manny. If you have any takers on the lessons, I get half.

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John...are your axles always locked? or can they by unlocked? Just curious....

I'd have to say (from what I've seen) that a driver has to learn to use the TC...not gas into slippage and blow-past the "window of detection" or sensoring capability too quickly. The TC can do a lot more then most drivers realize, you just have to understand how it works and work with it.

still, I've still seen situations where the gap between pure-locked and TC can make the difference. TC (in my opinion) only goes about 70% as far as a locked situation.

Given the option, I'd definitely get a front locker, but drivers would really have to be trained and experienced to properly utilize it.

I won't say who.....but one of the H2 drivers was pushing the TC2 button thinking it activated a front-locker-like condition. Another guy thought the rear-locker button locked both front & rear: Lots of inexperienced and poorly informed folks out there.

And John...I know where this is going....don't go there!

Sona:
That is a great reason to have the air suspension. Just pump them up right then. Otherwise, a $40 air compressor will work.

Now that I took the time to type this I am going to post it, but I think your just razzing us judging by the number of your posts. Joke is on me

Black Lingenfelter Lux

Steve:

I am that guy who thought that T/C worked like front lockers. The 1st time I tried that "nasty" hill, I had T/C engaged and I got 3/4 up and just spun and hopped.

After backing down...dis-engaging the T/C - getting up alittle more momentum, it seemed like I made it up far easier....in other workds, I made it up. Picture to follow. By the way Steve, where are all of the pictures of the event last weekend?

Here it is

here I am at the top

OK here is the pic

HEY JOHN DID ANYONE IN YOUR GROUP GET ANY PICS. MY WIFE WAS TO FRAZZLED TO TAKE ANY PICS. OLE YLLR

Allen,

Great pic....just shrink it down so we can all see it!

Don't ya hate the way pictures rob the true dimensions of a hill? That hill was soooo steep that you couldn't possibly walk up it...yet the picture depicts a mere incline. sucks huh?

Btw....you had turned on your TC2 and then later turned it off. TC is always "on" and can only be modified into a different variation by pressing TC2. You had mistakenly thought the TC2 button was a front-locker of sorts...eek!

Thats a big picture - look like a great hill

"It's what you learn, after you know it all, that counts - John Wooden

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Steve R:
John...are your axles always locked? or can they by unlocked? Just curious....<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I have Detroit Lockers front and rear. In other words fully locked and all mechanical. I'm not to hep on air / electric lockers, or fuel injection for that matter. If I can't fix it with a wrench, hammer or my favorite tool, the on-board welder I don't want it on my rig. On the Dusy-Ershim trail a few years back I welded a broken locker solid, turning it into a spool. Without the welder it could have easily turned 3 fun days of rockcrawling into a week of crying and stuff.

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Ok, I am confused. Gong up a big hill with loose dirt, do I hit the t/c button thereby the orange light on the button going on or simply leave it alone, put it in 4lo/lock back diff and gas it.

BTW - I am sory ofr large picture. Originally it was 763 KG, I compressed it to 185 KG??? How do I do it smaller with HP Photo Print??

BTW - It was nasty - 2/3 up there was a rock ledge about 8-12" tall preceeded by rutted sand.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by OLE YLLR:
HEY JOHN DID ANYONE IN YOUR GROUP GET ANY PICS. MY WIFE WAS TO FRAZZLED TO TAKE ANY PICS. OLE YLLR<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

The guy spotting the first hill (and his wife) got tons of pics. His dad in the big red Cruiser took lots too. Mike (white bronco) has tons of video and my wife took ten or so. I'll have 'em for ya soon.

Is there another cover pic in there somewhere?

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Hey Allen! When you were gassing it up that hill (congrats by the way) your rig was making quite a bit of noise. Sounded like your transfer-case chain skipping. Is everything working OK?

Might want to check it out before wheeling again.

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Ol Yeller - I have a 6 meg video of your H2 going up the first awsome hill of the day...btw the ONLY H2 to try..I could try and e-mail it to you

Rockn'fj - Had it into dealer yesterday to do a check...GM says A-OK!!! Alot of dents in the front skid plate????? maybe that was the sounds you all were hearing

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Allen:
Rockn'fj - Had it into dealer yesterday to do a check...GM says A-OK!!! Alot of dents in the front skid plate????? maybe that was the sounds you all were hearing<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Good deal! I'll get right to scheduling another run with Steve.

I know that you guys have never heard of the BC 109 trail. I'll prerun it soon. In fact, it would probably be a good idea to have one or two of you prerun it with me. We might have to construct a few bypasses, but it would be fun!

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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Allen:
btw the ONLY H2 to try..<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hahahahaha! And Steve was afraid that I would be the one to let the cat out of the bag.

Good one Allen!



Steve...?



Hello....



Is this thing on?

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Sorry Steve, but he was very concerned that the other s found their way to the bypass and safely through the logging roads (no ruts or rocks) to meets the rest at the top. Thanks Steve for leading the way through the bypass and protecting the rest of us

Nice Save!!!

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What is BTM?

Sorry to bring an old topic up...but can you guys tell me more about your rear locker?? Is it clutch-based or gear-based?? Is it a durable unit?? Does it engage immediately when you switch it on??

I like it that more and more SUVs have the optional rear locker. Very cool.

The rear locker is actually activated by a ball and ramp via an electromagnet.

This in turn pushes locking pins that lock the spider gears together, making the two axles locked together.

A video of the operation is here:
http://www.traction.eaton.com/images/ELockeranim.mpg

Ditch the front locker idea. I was speaking with Mike Sabarresi, Cerritos Hummer Service Manager and H1 Racer. He said that a front locker would put far too much stress on the front end. Enjoy the truck you have!

Thanks for the explanation.