just looking for some feed back on the Trail Tough mini spool locker - are they better than the lock rite or about the same? cant quite afford $1000 cdn for an ARB unit. any input would be great!

ps. anybody living close to vancouver b.c.? looking for people to wheel with

I think a mini-spool is a fixed piece that is always locked.  Whereas a lock-right releases when you let off the gas.  On the road a lock-right would be easier to live with.

Mini-Spool ties the rear tires to ALWAYS turn the same amount in relation to each other. Lockrite does allow ratcheting so that you're not hopping everytime you go around a corner.

I've got the spool in the rear of my '87, with 31x11.50 baja claws, and no complaints. I don't drive it on the road, locker-bang makes me uncomfortable, and you can't beat spool-traction for the price, unless you're comfortable taking the time and knowledge to weld it yourself.

If it's a street rig, I wouldn't suggest it, or at least not if you aren't running cheapy-tires.

Its probably the best $100 bucks you could spend on a zuk. Youl be able to go in two wheel where you had a hard time in 4X4. I drive mine on the street all the time.The only time you even notice it is in the parking lot and parallel parking, nothing power steering wont fix.

The only "bad" thing about it, is that it's really easy to break the tires loose turning in the snow and rain. But I love it!!! When we get a bit of snow on the street around here I go out and drive around just to drift corners to see if I can make it all the way to the next block sideways.

We LOVED our mini spool,

...until we started braking axles and wearing out tires...

I'd say it was the best $100 spent for traction,

and the worst $600 spent on axles and tires.

~Nate

Mini Spool 5 Axles 0

Score card is impressive,
snaps axles like a champ.

I'd say it was the best $100 spent for traction, and the worst $600 spent on axles and tires.

And what did you spend (so far) on e-lockers?
(I bet they were cheaper than ARB's!)

And what did you spend (so far) on e-lockers?
(I bet they were cheaper than ARB's!)

The lockers came with the axles...so i really can't say.
I bet they are cheaper to replace/install then ARB's though.

buy a lockrite for an extr $100 and save ur self all the axle twisting on road which leads to stress fractures which leads to broken axles. lockerite sty off the gas in turns can't go wrong for the price.

buy a lockrite for an extr $100 and save ur self all the axle twisting on road which leads to stress fractures which leads to broken axles. lockerite sty off the gas in turns can't go wrong for the price.

Yup, the lock-rite was much easier on equipment.

(even though we twisted plenty of splines with our lock-rite too)

~Nate

buy a lockrite for an extr $100 and save ur self all the axle twisting on road which leads to stress fractures which leads to broken axles. lockerite sty off the gas in turns can't go wrong for the price.

I don't like unexpected lane changes the poping and clicking or the fact that if you get the SLIGHTEST bend in the axle it wont work anymore.

Not to dis them,,,,,,I have one in the front.

my passenger side rear is twisted about 1/4 turn do to wheeling the hell out of it it still works fine i carry spare shafts though.