Winch or Locker?

[DiTrani]

Since 99. 9 % of the time this truck will be on the highway, I went with 2x4. No regrets. Rides like a Caddy on the Interstate (well, as long as there are no bumps!).



The only thing I do off-road is go dirtbike riding, and the places I go aren't very remote, but I do have to travel fire roads to get there, which can be a little ugly early and late in the season. Nothing that 99% of the time you couldn't negotiate by simply keeping momentum up.



I'm thinking of getting some get-stuck insurance - either a receiver-mounted winch and a front receiver, or a locker of some sort. Costs of the two are similar.



I figure the winch will almost always get me out, but'll be way more a hassle than just driving through it. But will the locker really do much on this nose-heavy beast?

 

[craftybigdog]

Yeah I use to mud alot and I was running 35's and I had a detroit locker in the front and rear and I also had a wich well of the 5 years that I had the truck I used the winch to pull myself out once and alot to pull other people out if I were you I would just get a powertrax locker for the rear they say a 2wd with a locker in the rear will go farther than a 4x4 with open diffs I saw it first hand and its true the only thing with a winch you can only pull yourself out from the front so I would say get a locker a good set of tires and just watch where you drive hope this helps!

 

[Ted Constantine]

Either option will have its +s & -s. IMO if you are running 99. 9% of the time on the road a hard core locker like a detroit will not be much fun until you get very used to driveing with it and with the cummins out front and no 4x4 you will probably still get stuck. If I was going for lockers in a daily driver I would go with ARB air lockers but they cost $$$ and have to be maintained. Also the arb has to be modified to fit in your dana 80. A power trac LSD might be a better option for drivablitly. It is more agressive than a stock LSD and is made by Detroit.



A winch is a way of dealing with the inevitable moment when you get stuck. I have a warn m12000 on the front of my truck. Our trucks are heavy and if you burry it well you need a big winch. You can get away with a front receiver and a multi-mount system (also works on the back) with a warn hs-9500 or simlar. If you double up the pull with a snatch block you have enough power to pull yourself out of pretty much anything. You also do not have to carry the thing all the time if you have a multi-mount system. The m12000 and m15000 are 138 pounds so they represent even more weight on the front end.



When weighing your options I always go for the best option that does not reduce the versatility of my truck. "Real" lockers are scary on ice and slippery surfaces. Best would be both a multimount and a power-trac. there is a thread running around now on the power trac and drivablity but I can't find it right now. Do some searching.



Ted

 

[Ted Constantine]

here is the link to Powertrax?



check it out



Ted

 

[LarryB]

Ted

What does the maintenance on the ARB intail?

 

[craftybigdog]

The actual unit in the pumpkin and a air compress and a on off switch also a air line tapped into the pumpkin its quite indepth and exspensive all though its the best of both worlds!!!!!

 

[Scollins]

Some wisdom I heard back in my wheelin' days when I asked about getting a locker or a winch first:

"Having a locker means you'll get stuck much farther from the trailhead. Having a winch means you'll get back to the trailhead. "



Personally, I'd get both. But if you can only afford one, I'd go for the winch first... ... .

 

[Big K]

Winch- Warn 8274, supported by good batteries, cable replaced w/150' of 5/16", at least 1 snatch block, tree strap & couplers. This gets you out. If you want to get in, buy a Jeep!

 

[MUDDY]

Originally posted by Scollins

Some wisdom I heard back in my wheelin' days when I asked about getting a locker or a winch first:

"Having a locker means you'll get stuck much farther from the trailhead. Having a winch means you'll get back to the trailhead. "



Personally, I'd get both. But if you can only afford one, I'd go for the winch first... ... .

ditto

 

[jandtjil]

winch

A winch. As others have mentioned, you may not need to carry it all the time, just when heading up to the hills.

Tire chains might make a good investment also, I never leave home without them!



JJ

 

[Ted Constantine]

Larry,



Like craftybigdog said you have a locker in the axle that is actuated by air pressure. You have to drill a hole in the top of the pumpkin for the air line. Compressor for the air and elecronics for your controls. The maintenance is with the lines seals ect. If you have problems with seals in the pumpkin it can send oil up the lines to the compressor and kill it. You have to change the diff. fluid more often because the contaminents are harder on the air lines than on your gears. Air lines also age, need attention and are suseptable to damage if you get into real offroad situations, IE sticks can snag a line. Other than that they are the best because you get a normal open diff and a locker on demand. You also have a compressor that you can use for other purposes.



I like what Scollins said. A locker can get you into more trouble, winch only gets you out.



Multi mount system is probably the answer for the original question.



Ted