[inglisleslie]

I have ox lockers in my 8.8 and hp 30...I love them both...get some popping from the 8.8 when going into reverse or in 1st gear starting...but maybe only 3-5% of the time

[JFjeld]

Originally Posted by Jerry Bransford

My personal observations are that since the Ox Locker came out, I've never noticed any well-known competitors choosing to run it. Those pro competitors who run selectable lockers, in my personal observations, chose ARB.

I'm not going to take sides in the Ox versus ARB debate. I happen to have dual Ox lockers, but I feel I would've been just as happy having dual ARBs. I think they are both excellent products, and I think that most pro-Ox guys here would agree that ARBs have an excellent reputation.

But in response to your point, Jerry, I believe ARB's 30-year history, along with its excellent reputation, has a lot to do with it. I don't think that this point necessarily means ARBs are better, but if you have a product that you've been using for such a long time, and you've had great success with it, why would you change? ('If it ain't broke, don't fix it.')

I think that, as Ox has time to develop its history over 30-years, maybe we'll see those numbers increase. And I think the biggest question, that probably no one can answer: did ARB have such a great reputation after ~ 5 years, or did it take time to develop?

[rondak46]

5 years on Dual ARB's, Dual D44's and not a single problem. I am a woods wheeler and my air lines have never got hung up, broken, kinked or snagged.

[ftgiles]

Originally Posted by JFjeld

I think that, as Ox has time to develop its history over 30-years, maybe we'll see those numbers increase. And I think the biggest question, that probably no one can answer: did ARB have such a great reputation after ~ 5 years, or did it take time to develop?

I had a couple ARB lockers as far back as the late '80s. People used to say awful things about them. "Why spend all that money for all those potential problems when you could just have a Detroit Locker for a lot less and not have to worry about it?"

ARB's history has not been perfect. They've improved them along the way. New seal designs that are more robust and don't require drilling the bearing cap and a complete redesign of the Dana 30 model because of a few issues, for instance.

[clintrivera]

Originally Posted by Jerry Bransford

My personal observations are that since the Ox Locker came out, I've never noticed any well-known competitors choosing to run it. Those pro competitors who run selectable lockers, in my personal observations, chose ARB.

For example, the winning rig (built by John Currie and Gerald Lee at Stinky Fab Racing) of this year's Every Man challenge at King of the Hammers chose the ARB. Not Ox. And no, ARB was not a sponsor that gave them their locker. I was at King of the Hammers again for 2012 (and worked one of the check points) and saw the vast majority running through my check point were running ARB air lockers.

Out of 189 vehicles in the 2012 King of the Hammers listed at http://ultra4racing.com/racers/grid/ that identified their lockers, there were only two Ox Lockers and the rest running selectables were running ARBs. The top four competitors in points standings are ALL running ARB lockers. Ox doesn't even show up until you get to the 80th position in the points standings.What does that say?

If Ox Lockers are so good, why don't more professional competitors run them? Those that run ARB Air Locker read like a Who's Who of well known competitors. To me, that says it all right there.

How is this post not the end of the thread? People who compete only care about one thing. WINNING. If there was a doo-dad that was available that would give them a sliver of competitive advantage, it would be on their rig.

PERIOD.

So, for the original question: Is OX on par with ARB?

No, it isn't. Sure it may be good - just as the E-Locker (and to a lesser extent Ected).

At the end of the day, ARB is enough better that it is the choice of people who care about winning.

[05TurboS2K]

Originally Posted by clintrivera

How is this post not the end of the thread? People who compete only care about one thing. WINNING. If there was a doo-dad that was available that would give them a sliver of competitive advantage, it would be on their rig.

PERIOD.

So, for the original question: Is OX on par with ARB?

No, it isn't. Sure it may be good - just as the E-Locker (and to a lesser extent Ected).

At the end of the day, ARB is enough better that it is the choice of people who care about winning.

Did you not read what I wrote in regards to his post?

[05TurboS2K]

Originally Posted by mrblaine

The only point you drastically overlooked is the ARB is a recreational locker that survives in competition. Entirely different than Race parts that work recreationally.

That wasn't overlooked. The ARB fail safe is to run unlocked, probably because it's meant to be used on a freeway and if the airlines were to bust at 70mph on the freeway in icy conditions in a corner our wives might die while driving them. AS SUCH, it means that any kind of air supply loss leaves us high and dry deep in no mans land. At least potentially.

I don't think that a manual switch is the reason to base your decision, I said it'd be nice to have.

[clintrivera]

Originally Posted by 05TurboS2K

Did you not read what I wrote in regards to his post?

I did read it. I've read every post in the thread. You are wrong.

People running rigs with ARB's use them BECAUSE of their reliability and longevity, not in spite.


The vastly outsell OX. They are preferred in competition.

[WJ04]

I think in the racing scene it's not cause its better but more because it's quicker, a racer doesn't want to turn a knob then shift then turn the knob again. They rather just press a button and be done. Does that make the ARB better. No. Does it make it a better choice for quick engagement sure. In the real world i think most poeple chose the arb cause its the most hyped locker. I see them like sneakers lots of people want Nike airs cause that's what a lot of the athletes wear, but there are other sneakers just as good if not better like new balance but your kids don't want new balance they want Nikes cause theres alot of hype and thats what all the other kids are wearing. I've said it before I think ARB's are great but I think the OX is just as good.

[Wheelin98TJ]

Originally Posted by WJ04

I think in the racing scene it's not cause its better but more because it's quicker, a racer doesn't want to turn a knob then shift then turn the knob again....

Not because its better, but quicker??

It its quicker, wouldn't that make it better for a racer?

[mdm]

Originally Posted by WJ04

...a racer doesn't want to turn a knob then shift then turn the knob again. ...

What knob are you turning before you shift and then turning again after you shift. If you are talking about the lock out feature in the OX lever, why are you turning it twice every time you throw the lever? There's no need for that. When off-road where you will be shifting in/out, just "unlock" the lever and leave it that way.

[WJ04]

I always lock it so I don't accidentally hit it with my leg and disengage it. So yeah I turn the knob shift to lock then turn the knob again to secure it.

[mdm]

Originally Posted by WJ04

I always lock it so I don't accidentally hit it with my leg and disengage it. So yeah I turn the knob shift to lock then turn the knob again to secure it.

If I hit the lever hard enough to shift it, I'd have a broken bone or at the least some pretty bad deep muscle brusing. Either way, at that point, the accidental shifting would be the least of my worries.

[clintrivera]

Originally Posted by WJ04

In the real world i think most poeple chose the arb cause its the most hyped locker. I see them like sneakers lots of people want Nike airs cause that's what a lot of the athletes wear, but there are other sneakers just as good if not better like new balance but your kids don't want new balance they want Nikes cause theres alot of hype and thats what all the other kids are wearing. I've said it before I think ARB's are great but I think the OX is just as good.

People drop $1000 on a locker because it's fashionable? You can't be serious. If you are going to start making things up, at least make it somewhat believable.

[WJ04]

Originally Posted by Wheelin98TJ

Not because its better, but quicker??

It its quicker, wouldn't that make it better for a racer?

Yeah in that way it would be the better CHOICE for the racer, doesn't make it the better locker in general. Remove the racer and put someone who doesn't care about speed of engagement and now they become equal. The argument of why the racers all use ARB was mentioned, I think its that quick engagement that makes racers choose ARB.