I'll post to sent this item to the archives. As far as I'm concerned, the auto locking differential is great, at least when going forward. I need the reverse only when backing out of my parking place. I need the forward traction when coming up the hill on my driveway... and it works. The lock makes this pickup come up where I have seen front wheel sedans have trouble. This is especially true if I can find some strips of clear blacktop, one wheel in that track and I can't detect any slippage.

I recommend the ALD if you don't need AWD or 4WD. And, the ALD doesn't add any significant weight or friction - thus there is no loss in gas mileage that comes with AWD/4WD. The option cost is very low, as I recall. It was the main reason I bought the Colorado over a Ranger, Ford didn't offer a locking (rear) differential of any kind.