I have owned my last 2 wheel drive pickup

[scaredychicken]

You will have to research that. Find out which axle is in your truck, and then check on line to see if a locker is available for it. Or - if you have a trustworthy shop nearby, have them check to see which axle is under your truck. The same model truck can have several different axles depending on when it was built and how it was spec'd out. I know my F150 had two different axles available when I bought it. There is usually a tag on the rear differential cover, or some numbers stamped there or on the axle tube, that tells you the model of the axle and what gear ratio it has.

If there is a locker made for your particular axle then there is no reason why that locker can't be installed...other than the cost.

There is a truck customs shop nearby that I am familiar with - my buddy owns it, and he is exceptionally skilled and knowledgeable. I'll discuss with him next week when I see him. Thanks for the tips. That is all new to me.

 

[MossRoad]

, this current 2wd truck that I have will be my last 2wd.

I have a '93 Silverado C2500 Z71 ...

https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/docs/gm-heritage-archive/vehicle-information-kits/Chevrolet-Trucks/1993-Chevrolet-Truck.pdf

 

[gtbensley]

That looks like a case of street tread tires and no lockers. Tires that are nice and quiet on the road and on wet pavement conditions are never any good in wet grass and mud. A better all-terrain or even better a mud tire and lockers front and rear and you would probably just drove out of that situation, well if you locked the lockers prior to spinning and digging in too deep.

Nope....duratrac tires, rear axle locked, all four tires spinning.

The far side of the truck was more sunk than that picture implies.

That trailer also had two yards of dirt in it when I got stuck and it sunk pretty good. Going forwards is up a hill and it just wouldn't go once it found the mud.

Can sorta see the tires and normal height of the truck here.

 

[gtbensley]

There is a truck customs shop nearby that I am familiar with - my buddy owns it, and he is exceptionally skilled and knowledgeable. I'll discuss with him next week when I see him. Thanks for the tips. That is all new to me.

Personally I don't think a locker will make much difference on WET ground or soft ground. They work awesome for some things and are better than nothing but I imagine stuck will be stuck 99% of the time in a 2wd with the rear axle locked or open.

You should be able to look at the RPO codes (potentially in the glove box) or a Vin decoder online to see what rear axle you have. There are many different styles of lockers out there and likely one for your truck.

 

[MossRoad]

https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/docs/gm-heritage-archive/vehicle-information-kits/Chevrolet-Trucks/1993-Chevrolet-Truck.pdf

Scaredychicken,

This link goes to a PDF file that shows everything your truck was available with.
Page 13 shows all the different axle options that were available.
Page 16 shows all of the RPO codes for the options.
In the left column, you can see the different axle ratios and the code G80. That's for the rear axle locking differential option.

If you open the glovebox, there should be a label with all of the RPO codes that your truck came with. If you see G80 among those codes on your sticker, you already have a locking differential from the factory. If you do not see that G80, then you don't (from the factory).

For example, my 2003 Suburban's label. It shows RPO code G80. That's an automatic locking differential (circled in red).

 

[MossRoad]

Also, if you look at my codes, just before G80 is G65, self-leveling shock absorbers that are about $400 EACH! . And GT4, which indicates 3.73 rear axle ratio.

There's all kinds of stuff you can figure out from the RPO codes on that label.

It's really interesting and kind of handy to take a picture of that label and then use google to find out what each code means, and write it down for future use.

 

[Jstpssng]

The G80 won't lock at over 20 MPH. My Colorado is equipped with that and while it does help, I still couldn't go very far this time of year without 4WD.

 

[gtbensley]

He has a Ford F-150, not a GM. It won't have a g80 locker

 

[Jstpssng]

He has a Ford F-150, not a GM. It won't have a g80 locker

Moss and I were referencing this:

I have a '93 Silverado C2500 Z71 that I bought seven years ago for $2500. It is low Kms, and in great shape, it owes me nothing. I can't even think about replacing it yet (we have a 4x4 SUV for most winter driving). Rarely do I get stuck, but it has happened. I am in the process of buying new tires for it ... All Terrain, 10 ply, Light Truck knobby tires, rated for every season. That alone should be a significant improvement, on the almost 20 yr old all-season tires that are on it now. The Old Body Style (OBS) trucks are retaining their value at this point, so I will hang on to it for now.

I also have a project truck (son hit a deer / tree), that I plan on repairing and returning to the road ... 2004 Mazda B4000, 4x4, 4L, v6, in otherwise good condition.

not sure what you mean by "installing a locker" ? I'd like to look into that. Thanks for any other details that you may have.

although it appears that he is referring to something other than his Z71.

 

[MossRoad]

The G80 won't lock at over 20 MPH. My Colorado is equipped with that and while it does help, I still couldn't go very far this time of year without 4WD.

I am under the impression that the G80 option differential will lock anytime one of the axle speeds exceeds the other by 120rpm. It has no way to determine actual MPH.