This is a part available from Toddco Suspensions. Has anyone heard anything about it or have you installed one? I've been looking for something like this to improve my gas mileage for a while, but was hoping someone out there would have guinea pigged for me!

 

Yes, this is an old part that many manufacture used to have on all their 4wheelers, but don't waste your time and money. It will cost you easily $1000 plus parts and if you save a mile a gallon, you will never pay it off, much less you would also have to modify your rear drive shaft for another $400 or so.
What sort of mileage are you getting now, and what have you done to try and improve it so far?

 

Even if you did install that you'd have to install a much stronger differential and axle shafts. The stock ones are pretty strong for full time 4 wheel drive but in 2 wheel drive they won't be able to take the stress. At least not over the life of the car, it's fine for a "limp home" situation.

 

With the added weight of the unit you wont save any mpg.
If you remove your front driveshaft you will save at the very most 1 mpg.
Now add the extra weight of this thing and you will loose mpg.

 

this product claims 2wd high and low normally and 4wd high and low when you engage the diff lock. is this the same thing you guys are talking about? the part itself is only 319 bucks.

 

Can you post a link to it?
No matter what they claim a LR is a full time 4x4 and thus designed to be driven as such and you will not save any money by running it in 2wd.
If you want to try it for yourself just remove your front driveshaft and see what your mpg is.
Start checking it now, for 3 weeks with the truck as it is, then average that out.
Then remove the front driveshaft, drive for 3 weeks keeping track of your mpg, average that out.
Now once you have figured out how much money you saved on gas it will be time to buy a new rear diff.

 

You can fry your rear diff by Driving without the front driveline?

-DrCox

 

Here's the web address for the item in question.
http://www.toddcosuspensions.com/lt230pati2wd.html
Let me know what you think Spike.

 

Yes, the spider gears in the differentials are very weak and break under the load of powering the whole truck. The differentials are designed to work as a full time four wheel drive so the load is split between the front and rear diffs. As was stated earlier, you can drive with just the rear driveshaft in an emergency but prolonged driving like that will destroy your differential gears.

 

Yes, if you have your front driveshaft out for a rebuild your truck should be on light duty.