JohnBill53
New member
like the title says, what should my next purchase be? a locker or a winch? it won't be until this summer since I'm flat ass broke but yeah...
Locker or Winch?
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sn0wrunner
New member
My vote would be for the winch. I think lockers are over rated, but I know I'm one of few that think that way. :biggrin1:
Edit: just read yours is 2wd... That does sway my opinion slightly. Not trying to bag on your current vehicle, but I would really consider selling it and buying one with 4WD if you plan to off-road it. But if it has sentimental value to you or something like that I'd say a locker will help you more than a winch. With 2wd it's less likely you'll be in as many situations that you'll need the winch. You'll have more fun off-road with a locker than a winch.
Edit: just read yours is 2wd... That does sway my opinion slightly. Not trying to bag on your current vehicle, but I would really consider selling it and buying one with 4WD if you plan to off-road it. But if it has sentimental value to you or something like that I'd say a locker will help you more than a winch. With 2wd it's less likely you'll be in as many situations that you'll need the winch. You'll have more fun off-road with a locker than a winch.
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TheeMikeB
New member
I actually think the exact opposite. A traction device is well proven to improve offroad capability. I've wheeled many times open but can say with certainty that my lockers have vastly improved my ability to tackle obstacles.
Especially since the OP has a 2wd I would most certainly get the locker. Just like Natemob said, the locker will help you not get stuck.
Ultimately I'd say save your money and get a 4wd but to answer your question, I say locker hands down.
JohnBill53
New member
[MENTION=47731]TheeMikeB[/MENTION] [MENTION=21950]sn0wrunner[/MENTION] input is much appreciated I was leaning towards a locker since I agree with the fact a locker will help prevent situations a winch is supposed to fix.
I also forgot to mention selling it is out of the question, theres no way in hell I'd be able to find the cash to buy a new 4runner not to mention I wouldn't have time to do the parts swap and most of the stock shit is either trashed or lost somewhere in my garage not to mention I don't want to let go of my baby, I'm too deep in the game with it haha
I also forgot to mention selling it is out of the question, theres no way in hell I'd be able to find the cash to buy a new 4runner not to mention I wouldn't have time to do the parts swap and most of the stock shit is either trashed or lost somewhere in my garage not to mention I don't want to let go of my baby, I'm too deep in the game with it haha
JohnBill53
New member
it won't be 2wd forever :baby: atleast thats the plan now that I might actually graduate on time fortunately/ unfortunately
sn0wrunner
New member
Keep in mind I said that they are over rated. I didn't say they aren't useful.
Let me ask you a question. Have your lockers really improved your ability to conquer obstacles, or have they improved your vehicles ability to go over the obstacles?
Let's say you're on a trail and you've attempted to get over an obstacle 2 or 3 times and you decide I need to turn my lockers on. You turn them on and you crawl right over the obstacle. Did the lockers make you a better wheeler? In my opinion, no. They made your vehicle a better wheeler. You didn't do anything differently besides hit a magic button. My point is I think people are too quick to reach for the locker button. These vehicles are so capable open open and I think bad wheelers can use lockers as a crutch so to speak. Through my wheeling experience I've found that if you stop and analyze the obstacle some more, there is more than likely a way to get up it open/open. Out of all the trails I've run I think I've only ever really "needed" a locker once. And it was a front locker, not the rear.
As stated in my first post, I know I'm only one of few that think this way. And I did edit my first post right before you had posted. I think he should go with a locker too.
thebrandon
New member
I think a winch would be "safer" if you go out by yourself. And that is assuming that if you get stuck that there would be something for you to attach the winch to strong enough to give you the extra leverage you need to get out.. If you have a friend that goes with you in their own 4x4 I'd say go for the locker and a strap 
.
Or, get both.
. Or, get both.
JayRolla
New member
Lockers are not overrated, especially in his 2wd. It would be like night and day.
Open diff you force your truck up the hill. Have to bounce yourself up once you get limited by the diff.
Locked you crawl up the hill. You don't get limited when a tire comes off the ground or its wet outside. But it is a lot more harsh on the drivetrain if you don't know what your doing if still running IFS.
Open diff you force your truck up the hill. Have to bounce yourself up once you get limited by the diff.
Locked you crawl up the hill. You don't get limited when a tire comes off the ground or its wet outside. But it is a lot more harsh on the drivetrain if you don't know what your doing if still running IFS.
snivilous
Senior Member
Course if you get stuck with the locker, you are really screwed and more so than if you just had open diffs.
I vote winch, though my philosophy is you should have enough recovery gear to not need help getting unstuck and then you can start increasing your traction.
I personally thing that 4wd is overated. My point is I think people are too quick to reach for the 4wd lever. These vehicles are so capable and I think bad wheelers can use 4wd as a crutch so to speak. Through my wheeling experience I've found that if you stop and analyze the obstacle some more, there is more than likely a way to get up it in 2wd. Out of all the trails I've run I think I've only ever really "needed" 4wd once. And it was a front differential, not the rear. blah blah blah......
Aside from the previous posted BS, a lunch box is probably the best value and single best mod for improving your vehicles off road capability. For a little more that $200 and 2 hours for installation it can help a great deal. I have been able to run trails and obstacles with all season highway tires and a rear locker that people got stuck on with all terrains and open diffs.
Aside from the previous posted BS, a lunch box is probably the best value and single best mod for improving your vehicles off road capability. For a little more that $200 and 2 hours for installation it can help a great deal. I have been able to run trails and obstacles with all season highway tires and a rear locker that people got stuck on with all terrains and open diffs.
sn0wrunner
New member
Gerdo
New member
The locker can get you further and when you get stuck, better stuck.
The winch will get you un-stuck or over that impassable obstacle.
Crawl box and locker. Lower final drive ratio and more wheels being powered.
Or save for a doner 4x4 (wrecked body and frame) and swap the drivetrain into your rig.
The winch will get you un-stuck or over that impassable obstacle.
Crawl box and locker. Lower final drive ratio and more wheels being powered.
Or save for a doner 4x4 (wrecked body and frame) and swap the drivetrain into your rig.
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What's all this about lockers being for cheaters? Why is there a penalty in most rock crawling competitions for winching and not for using lockers?
Without knowing what you plan to do with it, it's a little hard to say. In most situations a winch is a last resort when you really screw yourself. I have lockers in my Toyota pickup crawler and no winch, and I have never been in a situation where I needed one. I honestly don't use them that much. With the rear locked, it goes up most anything, and the front is a last resort.
The two things I always tell people are:
1. Get some good tires, and wheel with them aired down
2. Get a rear locker
This will literally get you up everything you would ever want to in a mostly stock vehicle.
Without knowing what you plan to do with it, it's a little hard to say. In most situations a winch is a last resort when you really screw yourself. I have lockers in my Toyota pickup crawler and no winch, and I have never been in a situation where I needed one. I honestly don't use them that much. With the rear locked, it goes up most anything, and the front is a last resort.
The two things I always tell people are:
1. Get some good tires, and wheel with them aired down
2. Get a rear locker
This will literally get you up everything you would ever want to in a mostly stock vehicle.
JohnBill53
New member
I've had very minimal issues getting stuck in reasonable terrain. I agree that you have to be a better driver wheeling in a 2wd aswell. I've wheeled my 2wd for so long now that 4wd seems as if it is merely a luxury honestly haha there have been very few things that I've run into I can't get around or over. my main problems in terms of getting "stuck" are sand and loose gravel on steep angles
as far as crawling goes I've done everything I would do in a 4wd (those things you look at and say "hmmmm I don't know how I feel about shit'll buff out today") I just spin a little tire and hit shit hard and fast haha
now having said that don't get me wrong I've gotten stuck and pulled out of my fair share of shit and I realize I'm limited in a 2wd haha the 4wd will come within the next 5 or so years but where I'm at in life just doesn't warrant such a project financially or time wise
so I guess I'll refine my preference even more. the purchase is supposed to resolve
1. not getting stuck while wheeling / exploring alone
2. freaking sand I'm so tired of getting stuck in the sand I could shit. (theres alot of sand in river beds and such around here)
3. long term use since I want to convert to the darkside of 4wd in the future
P.S.
[MENTION=82211]TCMach[/MENTION] :moon: Sorry I don't have Micky Thompson's :flipoff: you know from seeing them in ponca my tires only have a few thousand left on em, since I'm in school my pops graciously offered to pick up my next set within reason. having said that. Durratracs.
as far as crawling goes I've done everything I would do in a 4wd (those things you look at and say "hmmmm I don't know how I feel about shit'll buff out today") I just spin a little tire and hit shit hard and fast haha
now having said that don't get me wrong I've gotten stuck and pulled out of my fair share of shit and I realize I'm limited in a 2wd haha the 4wd will come within the next 5 or so years but where I'm at in life just doesn't warrant such a project financially or time wise
so I guess I'll refine my preference even more. the purchase is supposed to resolve
1. not getting stuck while wheeling / exploring alone
2. freaking sand I'm so tired of getting stuck in the sand I could shit. (theres alot of sand in river beds and such around here)
3. long term use since I want to convert to the darkside of 4wd in the future
P.S.
[MENTION=82211]TCMach[/MENTION] :moon: Sorry I don't have Micky Thompson's :flipoff: you know from seeing them in ponca my tires only have a few thousand left on em, since I'm in school my pops graciously offered to pick up my next set within reason. having said that. Durratracs.
Gerdo
New member
Snowrunner is right. Build your skills and for most obstacles, you don't need lockers. I have a locker and rarely use it and I have been some situations that you would not believe that a 4runner could ever be.
2wd, different story. No matter (rears locked or open) you will still be pushing the front wheels over obstacles. When the fronts are driven, they will pull over the obstacles.
OP, what is the terrain that you are and want to wheel on? A 2wd will never be a rock crawler but works well on dry desert trails.
2wd, different story. No matter (rears locked or open) you will still be pushing the front wheels over obstacles. When the fronts are driven, they will pull over the obstacles.
OP, what is the terrain that you are and want to wheel on? A 2wd will never be a rock crawler but works well on dry desert trails.
JohnBill53
New member
sorry, read newest post haha when I talked to [MENTION=25058]ChildrenOfBodom[/MENTION] about it we talked about doing a manual swap aswell with locking hubs to avoid the wiring headache. I'll swallow my pride on this one and say that would be way out of my ballpark as far as abilities. I would need significant help. hell I'm going to need some significant help when I do it no matter how I do it
and sadly between texas and oklahoma I do a bit of rock crawling as well as dryer trails
