Installing ZR2 Front Lockers?

[Tboss33]

I’m at a point where I have too low of an interest rate on a ‘22 TB 2.7 Turbo to trade up in Trim or even downsize to a Jeep Gladiator. I’m also not a Jeep person, but my wife is and she runs a lifted Wrangler on 37s.
I already did some upgrades for overlanding:
- additional 2” of lift for 35s
- bed rack with pop up tent
- front hitch receiver for a portable winch

Last Saturday, I had some issues getting up a trail. I had to get my buddy to winch me up (forgot to bring mine). I don’t do rock crawls or crazy stuff, but yeesh, a lot of local trails are steep and I need more help dragging this truck up them.

Has anyone considered installing a ZR2 front locker on* their TB?

 

[GETGONE]

I know lots of people initially talked about it, but I haven't seen anybody actually do it. I don't know if you can easily get one from GM. They're pretty hard to find on ebay when I've been looking. I did find a complete rear end though.

 

[Transient]

Why not go aftermarket? Would a sway bar release be more beneficial?

 

[JP20TB]

I’m at a point where I have too low of an interest rate on a ‘22 TB 2.7 Turbo to trade up in Trim or even downsize to a Jeep Gladiator. I’m also not a Jeep person, but my wife is and she runs a lifted Wrangler on 37s.
I already did some upgrades for overlanding:
- additional 2” of lift for 35s
- bed rack with pop up tent
- front hitch receiver for a portable winch

Last Saturday, I had some issues getting up a trail. I had to get my buddy to winch me up (forgot to bring mine). I don’t do rock crawls or crazy stuff, but yeesh, a lot of local trails are steep and I need more help dragging this truck up them.

Has anyone considered installing a ZR2 front locker on* their TB?

Has anyone installed an aftermarket locker to a trailboss front differential

 

[Transient]

Has anyone installed an aftermarket locker to a trailboss front differential

Why would it be any different than any other 4wd vehicle? Perhaps the real question should be whether to go with e-locker or air locker?

 

[Gangly]

Transient,
As far as I know, there is no aftermarket locker for the Silverado, GM is the only entity providing lockers for these vehicles as this time.

TBoss33,
Why not install a permanent winch system on your vehicle? Its easy enough to do with the factory bumper and is more a matter of time and patience than anything.

 

[JP20TB]

Transient,
As far as I know, there is no aftermarket locker for the Silverado, GM is the only entity providing lockers for these vehicles as this time.

TBoss33,
Why not install a permanent winch system on your vehicle? Its easy enough to do with the factory bumper and is more a matter of time and patience than anything.

Yeah that why I was asking to see if anyone has installed a front locker of any type .. yes I did installed a hidden bumper winch as well … just in case

 

[Transient]

Transient,
As far as I know, there is no aftermarket locker for the Silverado, GM is the only entity providing lockers for these vehicles as this time.

TBoss33,
Why not install a permanent winch system on your vehicle? Its easy enough to do with the factory bumper and is more a matter of time and patience than anything.

I'll admit and acknowledge when I'm in over my head, which I am. I have not looked into this at all. A quick Google search results in mixed answers. Some sources say they sell lockers for GM trucks. Other sources say lockers are not available due to the design of the front diff cover. I'm not at the point of looking into it myself. That's way down the road. I'm here to learn via asking questions and engaging in the convo.

Is that your video on YouTube I saw awhile back about using the Rough Country winch mount plate for a previous generation Silverado?

 

[Gangly]

No Sir. I used a Fab Fours winch plate from our generation truck, cut additional frame mounting holes in the winch plate to mount it to already existing holes in the frame rails since I was not using a Fab Fours bumper, and welded up a fairlead mount. I didn't have to drill, cut, or weld anything on the truck itself, just the winch plate and fairlead mount. I am not adverse to the Rough Country kit, I just didn't like the pseudo bull bar on the front.

 

[vezePilot]

... Some sources say they sell lockers for GM trucks. Other sources say lockers are not available due to the design of the front diff cover.

The diff cover is the issue? It's gotta be more than that. Cuz it wouldn't be difficult to have a new cover made, or an aftermarket cover, or a modded aftermarket cover. A lot of rock crawl folks use an aftermarket cover as standard procedure.

I've considered what it would take to get a front diff locker. A front receiver mount currently works for me, for a winch that is kept in the Bed if I am not fetching a load of firewood. So it's always aboard, and I've used it at least 5 times so far.

And in our trucks the locker would almost certainly be electric, not air actuated. I like how quickly the automatic, electric locker in the rear works. I also like how you cannot forget to flip that switch back to unlock it for pavement.

 

[mrcolieman]

I have seen videos of the Colorado guys installing ZR E Lockers into those trucks so it can be done... I think some of the confusion regarding the front diffs on half ton Silverados is that until this most recent T1 platform the IFS diffs were a clamshell style 8.25" with no cover plate. Putting a locker in this style of diff is a recipe for breakage so there is literally nothing available. Our T1 platform half ton Silverados now have a front diff with a proper housing like the Hummer H3/Colorado and 3/4 ton Silverado brethren which are strong enough for a locker. But... as stated previously, right now the only option is swapping in factory parts (which I believe are Eaton) as no aftermarket units are available. I hope this changes and it probably will if we all start asking for it! In the meantime, low tire pressures and winches for everyone!

 

[Transient]

No Sir. I used a Fab Fours winch plate from our generation truck, cut additional frame mounting holes in the winch plate to mount it to already existing holes in the frame rails since I was not using a Fab Fours bumper, and welded up a fairlead mount. I didn't have to drill, cut, or weld anything on the truck itself, just the winch plate and fairlead mount. I am not adverse to the Rough Country kit, I just didn't like the pseudo bull bar on the front.

Good info. Thanks!

 

[Tboss33]

Transient,
As far as I know, there is no aftermarket locker for the Silverado, GM is the only entity providing lockers for these vehicles as this time.

TBoss33,
Why not install a permanent winch system on your vehicle? Its easy enough to do with the factory bumper and is more a matter of time and patience than anything.

At the time I was looking for a winch, shops said they didn't offer it for the 2.7 due to needing to rework the turbo system's plumbing, so I went with a front hitch receiver. I also ran into this issue with 3.0s as well

 

[Gangly]

I'd be curious to know what is in the way. For instance, is it a horizontal space or a vertical space issue? The radiator for the 5.3 and 6.2 does not interfere with a winch mounted directly beneath it, and I would think that the lower edge of the radiator would be the lowest part on the front of the vehicle, but maybe the charge air cooler sits lower?

 

[vezePilot]

GM/Chevy gave Casey LaDelle a 2500 ZR2 to test drive for a few days. I thought these were delivered with a Front Locker, but in the recent video that he posted he didn't say that it had one.

He also did not do a very good job of driving it to make the Big ZR2 look good. I guess he wasn't being paid for the advert.