ASK ARB – How
Many Lockers?

G’day,

I recently purchased a 78 Series troopy and I want to make it a fully sick machine. To do so, ARB Air Lockers are pretty much a given. 

So my queries are, is one locker enough? How much more beneficial is it to have both? Also, if lockers aren’t used for an extended period of time, will they still engage and disengage just as well? 

I’m grateful for any knowledge you can pass on.

– Gilz

G’day Gilz,

Thanks for writing in. If you plan to lock only one axle, then I recommend you fit the Air Locker where the greatest weight is. If your troopy will usually be empty, then you could consider the front as troopys are reasonably light. Otherwise, the rear is where you will get the most work out of your locker. But if being double locked (i.e. having both front and rear Air Lockers fitted) is a possibility for you, then we would highly recommend it.

Generally speaking, when you’re off road hitting the rough stuff, you will always have at least one front and one rear wheel firmly planted on the ground. An unlocked axle with one wheel in the air has zero driving force, so the non-lockable axle will end up as your intermittent two wheel drive conversion. If you fit both front and rear Air Lockers, you can be assured that both of those wheels on the ground have got maximum pull, keeping you going in difficult terrain.

As for your second question, not using your Air Lockers for extended periods is not a problem. The seals that ARB uses are all high grade certified elastomers and they will not crack, dry out or compression set. And the oil in your axle assembly will keep everything from rusting up or seizing. Just keep an eye on your oil and change it if you take on any water.

If you do plan to take your troopy off road, or even out onto slippery gravel or rainy roads, then we think you’ll end up using your blue dash buttons a bit more than you think you will, anyway.

Cheers,

– Daniel Bongard, Engineer
ARB Air Locker