Front air locker response from ARB

[C5 Pewter Coupe]

We would also love to build this Locker and we put the word out at the beginning of the year looking for that much needed support from the Explorer people to get this project up and running, but unfortunately the response has been small and it is still in the Feasibility stage at this time.
Best Regards,

Tim Lund
Tech Supervisor
Air Locker, Inc.
206-264-1669
20 So. Spokane St.
Seattle, WA 98134


(this would be for the newer 97+ explorer's front end)

Lets get the word out, and get this thing built...

 

[Michigander]

But what about me??

 

[Ray Lobato]

Below is the correspondance I had with Tim Today.
Basicly this really says it all. Now are there at least 75 95+ owners out there that WILL buy this thing?

I will be number 1 and will buy in advance.
Now all I need is 74 other people who will also buy in advance. so who's next.
Money talks and bull$hit walks.
Don't say I, if you are not willing and able to cough up the cash.




Raymond,

We only need 75 people, which is what surprises us that we haven't even
had that much response. I think right now we are up to about 20-25 people
and not all of them will guarantee a sale once we have them.
For contrast, when the Isuzu Trooper user groups wanted front lockers they
had 50 paid in hand orders within the first 30 days of our offer.
For the record, we do it this way with any axle that is not heavily
requested, it gives us an avenue to pay for all the tooling costs without
having to wait a year or two to make up those expenses.


Best Regards,

Tim Lund
Tech Supervisor
Air Locker, Inc.
206-264-1669
20 So. Spokane St.
Seattle, WA 98134






Tim,
Just out of curiosity, how many people do you need before they will start making this.
Regards,
Raymond Lobato

-----Original Message-----

Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2001 10:11 AM
To: Raymond Lobato
Subject: RE: Locker for 95+ Explorers


Raymond,

We have yet to start on the Explorer front. We were hoping to get some
response from the Explorer user groups once they got the word out, but to
date the response has been very small. It's real surprising to us.

Best Regards,

Tim Lund
Tech Supervisor
Air Locker, Inc.
206-264-1669
20 So. Spokane St.
Seattle, WA 98134




-----Original Message-----
From: Raymond Lobato
Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2001 10:07 AM
To: 'tlund@arbusa.com'
Subject: Locker for 95+ Explorers



Hi Tim,
How are things going, My rear locker is getting lonely. Has ARB put us on
the list for afront locker yet. I have the cash in my hot little hand. One
more thing. I would be glad to let you guys use my truck to test it out.
Best Regards
Raymond Lobato

 

[Michigander]

how much $$ are we talking?

 

[Ray Lobato]

$500.00 -$600.00

 

[GJarrett]

I've got #2.

I'll email Tim today.

 

[Ray Lobato]

Thank you Gerald, I knew I could count on you. Now all we need is 73 more people.
Now come on guys, it's time to put your money where your mouth is.

 

[COMMOCOZY]

I would more then likely be in on this also. But the chances of getting 75 people look real slim!

 

[Jefe]

I'm #3.

Must have locker. . must become Big Dawg

Email sent.

 

[Robert]

Don't know much about lockers so ...

How does it activate? Is it air? How well will it work with the Control Trac? Does the price include the pump? Installation? If not, what would be the complete price if I take it to a shop? After I get those questions answered, I might be number 4.

 

[Jefe]

Re: Don't know much about lockers so ...

Originally posted by Robert
How does it activate? Is it air? How well will it work with the Control Trac? Does the price include the pump? Installation? If not, what would be the complete price if I take it to a shop? After I get those questions answered, I might be number 4.

The ARB is an air activated locker. Since you decide when it engages and disengages it should work very well with the control trac. the air pump will run ~$200. and then you have the cost of install. I've heard its ~$1000 for parts and install but it may be a bit more seeing as how difficult it is to get to our front diff.

But it will be the best $ you ever spent on your truck. Trust me.

 

[soupbone]

I dont even have a rear locker "yet" but are our front IFS axels and stuff strong enough to be locked up? Would ARB front and LS rear be backwards? I think I heard from Ray that its good to get the front gears/locker done before you lift your ride because the front suspension has to be removed. $650 just for the locker isnt bad at all. Maybe i need a rear first though.

 

[Explorer Mickey]

I'll buy one and I might be able to get the dealership that I manage to carry a few.

 

[go off road]

I wanted a locker real bad when I had my 95 Explorer, but now I have a 2001 Ranger. Will this locker work on a Ranger? I think it will so we should get the Ranger board going on this too. I think there are alot of them that would like them too.

Wade

 

[rumney510]

I am without a doubt in for the front locker.
I'll be#4
lets get the 75..come on wheelers..nows our chance
If we blow this there will never be a locker for us

andy

 

[GJarrett]

Wade that's my thought exactly

Don't the late model Rangers have the same front end as ours?

Who's active on the Ranger boards? Let 'em all know! Between us and the Rangers, certainly we can ante up 75 of us and get this thing on the market.

Com'n people I want to be a BigDawg!

WOOF!

PS/ Andy did you email Tim Lund and let him know?

 

[rumney510]

yep I emailed him
andy

 

[Ray Lobato]

Cory,
Welcome to the board and Thank you for helping us out on this. It is much apperciated. I hope that we can return the favor.

Explorer Mickey Can I put you down as #5?

Soupbone Yes you can run a ARB in the front and an L/S in the back. And YES it would be much much easier to put the locker in BEFORE you do your lift.

Wade Yes it should work in your Ranger.

Now we have 6000+ members on this board and figure 1000 aren't Explorer/Ranger owners. That leaves us with around 5000 members, which you might figure that maybe 1/3 have 95+ models. Now out of that 1600 that have 95+ models, lets say that another 1/3 actually go off-road and of that 534 people, only 1/2 would need a front Locker. Now we have 267 that would use a locker, but maybe only 1/2 of those can actually afford to buy one. That leaves us with 133 people that we can count on. Well here are 4 out of that 133.
Can the other 129 people Please stand up!

 

[Michigander]

Man... this is a tough call. I'm just a college student with massive tuition bills twice a year. I'll have to give this a long thought (and double check my financial situation). How long do we have to gather 75 people?

 

[Ray Lobato]

How ever long it take us to find the 75 people that will pay their money up front before the locker is made.
Look, We are going to fork out our money first. then they are going to make them. This will insure that it gets done. We will get the lockers first, because we already paid for them.