Off Roading winch or locker?

[CFast]

After playing in the snow this weekend up in the mountains I realized I need more traction. I was thinking about getting a detroit locker for the front axle. My dad suggested a winch, because everyone gets stuck from time to time, even with REAL 4 wheel drive. I'm not rock crawling with this truck, mostly muddy mountains or sandy beaches. What do you guys think? What do you guys use? As far as lockers and winches. I was thinking the warn 9000 for the winch. Thanks.

 

[BigDaddy]

Originally posted by CFast

What do you guys use?

BFG M/Ts and a Mile Marker 12K

 

[XJSuperman]

Winch.

The locker won't prevent you from getting stuck. You'll just be a LOT more stuck when it happens.

 

[fkovalski]

Not trying to be a smart ass, but why not do both? Then approach the dilema as to which one first! Both have thier good points. I would opt for the winch first.

 

[CFast]

eventually I'd like to do both, but was wondering which one should come first. How strong of a winch?

 

[BarryG]

If I recall correctly general rule of thumb for a winch is 1. 5 times the weight of the vehicle.

 

[XJSuperman]

The 1. 5X the vehicles weight is fine if you are only a"little stuck"



FIgure a jeep wrangler weighs about 3500 lbs with various lift/tire combination (some weigh a lot more) so 1. 5X that is good to rund up to 6000 lb winch. WIth that said VERY FEW people with wranglers run less than an 8000 lb winch. The 6,000's just won't cut it if it gets real ugly.



Figure our trucks weigh close to 7,000 lbs... unloaded. So that's at least 10,500 lbs... . the absolute smallest I would go is 12,000 lbs... and I would not go with that. I;d look into at least 15,000... but I'm opting for the warn 16. 5K once $$ is available.

 

[NC_Mog]

I'd go with a winch. A front locker is fine, but handling on ice/snow covered roads is a pain with a front locker. A selectable locker is always the preferred choice for front axle installations.



With regards to a winch, a 12k would be the lightest I'd go with. Then you have the descision of electric versus hydraullic...

 

[fkovalski]

Originally posted by NC_Mog

With regards to a winch, ... ... . you have the descision of electric versus hydraullic...

Can you go into these differences. I thought they were all electric. Not too familiar with the options. Is the hydralic a PTO version?

 

[Boomer II]

I've got Detroits front and rear and a Warn 9K winch in my CJ-7. The winch would be the first choice if you're not rock crawlin.

 

[XJSuperman]

A hydraulic winch is going to usually be run off the powersteering pump. As long as the engine is RUNNING you have a winch ... and it is preferable to the electric. BUT as soon as the engine is OFF... no more winch.

The electric will keep running as long as your battery(s) have some juice left... so if the engine shuts off the winch will keep running until it kills the battery(s). . which can mean the difference of a quite a bit.



A PTO winch is just that . . it runs off the Power Take Off with a shaft (usually). Again the engine must be running... and you have to "shift" the transmission or T-case into PTO to get it turning. Again... a good choice... BUT if the engine dies you're not moving any further.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

winch is easier to install and will actually get you un-stuck... a locker would be nice, but the winch has more overall function/value IMHO

 

[NC_Mog]

Originally posted by XJSuperman

A hydraulic winch is going to usually be run off the powersteering pump. As long as the engine is RUNNING you have a winch ... and it is preferable to the electric. BUT as soon as the engine is OFF... no more winch.

The electric will keep running as long as your battery(s) have some juice left... so if the engine shuts off the winch will keep running until it kills the battery(s). . which can mean the difference of a quite a bit.



A PTO winch is just that . . it runs off the Power Take Off with a shaft (usually). Again the engine must be running... and you have to "shift" the transmission or T-case into PTO to get it turning. Again... a good choice... BUT if the engine dies you're not moving any further.

All true statements. For most folks, an electric winch is a good choice because you have the limited use while the engine is dead.



On my trail rig, I run a PTO winch and want to add a commercial grade hydraullic in the rear. While the engine must be running, I have more pulling power than two electric winches combined and have no worries about overheating. Mix that with a reliable diesel with snorkel... it is an awesome recovery vehicle.

 

[Cummins Pilot]

I've got a 9. 5 warn on the F-150, soon to be on the Ram. Someday that winch will head to the rear and I'll get a more powerful Warn on the nose. But for now I'll just run a snatch block.

 

[Speedo]

PTO winches

Originally posted by NC_Mog

All true statements. For most folks, an electric winch is a good choice because you have the limited use while the engine is dead.



On my trail rig, I run a PTO winch and want to add a commercial grade hydraullic in the rear. While the engine must be running, I have more pulling power than two electric winches combined and have no worries about overheating. Mix that with a reliable diesel with snorkel... it is an awesome recovery vehicle.

I too, have a PTO winch and it will out pull any electric winch that I have seen easily and it works awesome for pulling others out but it sucks for self recovery. I'm going to put an electric winch on the front of my rig.



Gus

 

[JGheen]

I am running a Warn M12000 and it has served me VERY well. I wish I had purchased the M15000, but I get by sufficently enough with the 12000. Only used it 4 times since I bought it like 3 years ago.

As for a locker, the stock rear posi is doing me justice for now but when the money comes available, the classic and proven Detroit is going in. I am definately looking into a air locker or something selectable for the front. But all this is going to get done with the addition of 4. 10 gears as well. But money is the key, so saving is the answer.

 

[MMiller]

Question in my mind is do you go alone or always with someone? I buy lockers first, never had winch. One buddy had a winch and then removed it, because we rairly used it. Another friend has one in the bed of his willy's. Been wheeling lots and use it rairly. The times we have used it another truck would have done the job. Just wanted a little more conrol in the situation at the time. My friends and I never go wheeling by ourselves. I have always tossed the idea around, but never have made the leap and purchased a winch. I believe the lockers were the best investment for my offroading truck, and go hand in hand with the super swampers.



Others are right that they will dig you in deeper, but that is not the lockers fault, that is DRIVERS fault. I run around with guys that run 44's, but very rairly do they get too stuck for another truck to recover with a strap. We run trails, some mud here in the midwest. Usually when we are "stuck" its because we are high centered on something rock tree ect.



This is how my friends and I run, not saying its the only way, just the way we do it. We all run full size truck chassis, some have put ranger/s10/willy's bodies on the full size frames. We do wheel large trucks



Michael

 

[shorty2500]

i have a warn hsi9500, and it has worked just fine for me. i have never been in a situation where i wished that i had more puling power than 9500 lbs. that's what snatch blocks are for.



i recommend getting a winch before a locker. it will be more useful than a locker if the trail is slick, and you need to get out of a tricky spot. a locker will do you no good if all wheels are spinning, and you are stuck in a gully.



if you do it right, you can weld your front diff and have a cheap and easy locker. just be sure you take care of the turning problem by modifying the center axle disconnect.

 

[Fred Swanson]

My vote, winch.

My vehicles:

WARN 12K on my 03

WARN 9Ki on my Samurai, locked F&R

WARN 2500 on my Artic Cat 500i 4x4



I don't get stuff very often, but it's great insurance you can get home.

 

[frankram]

I have ARB Air Lockers front and rear, and a 16. 5 Warn Winch.

Got both off of Clemson 4wd. I have used the lockers a lot more than the winch. In the mud a 9000 winch would make me nervous.