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Take a buddy and some common sense OK, seriously, I would say a winch, too, because if you get stuck you will have a good chance of getting out. A locker makes you go further before you get stuck.
I live in Northern MN as well and installed a Detroit EZ locker in the rear of my pickup in December. I also added about 500 pounds of weight to the rear. I can go through twice the amount of snow now that I could before. Highway driving isn't a problem either. That is as long as I use my head and go easy on the throttle. If you do a lot of driving in the snow, your eventually going to get hung up. Thats the only thing that slows me down. I do a lot of ice fishing and I always try and make sure I know someone else who is out there. That way I can always get a tug when I get hung up or stuck. As for a locker or a winch. I would go with the locker. I have been really pleased with the decision of putting one in my pickup. You just have to know your limitations and the trucks limitations. When I start pushing snow with the bumper, I know its about time to back up and turn around. Although, a winch would be really handy to.....or a good shovel..........
Can't he leave one hub unlocked? He'd be effectively open diff at that point, no? Have a locked front when he needs it?
So is that to say that in this situation it'd be best to leave the front completely open? I'd have thought that having some sort of traction device in teh front would be best since it has the drivetrain's weight pressing directly on top of it.
I put a locker in my 76 f150 a few months back and I love it. I also have a highlift jack, shovel and I guess you call it a pull pal with me when I am off road.
the tabor winch is warn's more affordable winch. i'd stay with the main line or warns or go mile marker. i'm perosnally looking into the mile marker 12000 lb winch right now. if i make the purchase i'll let ya know how i like it.
the only issue i've heard with the hydrolic winchs is, if you can't start the truck for whatever reason you're SOL. the hydro winch runs off the power steering pump(Correct??). if the belts ain't turning the winch ain't working. Some people may argue that without the truck running an electric winch will not me TOO useful. however it's more useful than a hydro winch in that specific situation.
Who says you have to use the ps pump ? You can get 12 volt electric hydraulic pumps to power the winch as long as the flow is up to snuff. I would personally run another pump just for the winch if i ever get a hraulic winch.
If you don't have air you could fabricate a bracket and add a power steering pump just to power the hydralic winch instead putting more strain on your existing pump. Just a thought.
the only issue i've heard with the hydrolic winchs is, if you can't start the truck for whatever reason you're SOL. the hydro winch runs off the power steering pump(Correct??). if the belts ain't turning the winch ain't working. Some people may argue that without the truck running an electric winch will not me TOO useful. however it's more useful than a hydro winch in that specific situation.
Keith
very true.. however, unless you have some hardcore batteries, a electronic winch won't pull for long
either way your motor is dead you are screwed! although you can still pull with an electric for a short amount of time. maybe enough to get it back on the trailer or off the 30' ledge yhour rear pass side tire is haning off of!
if i could choose and do it the way i want i would put a 30 ton PTO winch on the front and then run a hydro out back. but also have an electric winch on a receiver hitch to use in the rear or front mounted hitch!
Diddo on the pto winch, but i would mount the hydraulic on a reciever and rig the hydraulic with quick disconnects, i trust hydraulic motors more than electrics motors myself.
I would go with a hydraulic winch first then a selectable locker for the rear because a automatic locker or even a lim slip can make it scary on icy roads which is what it sounds like you get a lot of.
the only issue i've heard with the hydrolic winchs is, if you can't start the truck for whatever reason you're SOL. the hydro winch runs off the power steering pump(Correct??). if the belts ain't turning the winch ain't working. Some people may argue that without the truck running an electric winch will not me TOO useful. however it's more useful than a hydro winch in that specific situation.
Keith
1 MM 12,000
2 hydraulic pumps (10-15 GPM)
1 spool valve (the one they send you is crap)
1 25 hp briggs
1 pump on engine and 1 on the Briggs. Engine not running, no problem. The motor on the MM 12,000 will handle 15 GPM. power steering pumps only puts out about 3-4 GPM. The pump is the heart of any hydraulic system.
The people that complain about MM hydraulic winches being slow or weak are likely using a PS pump.
Last edited by F150daniel; Feb 15, 2005 at 05:11 PM.
Another good thing about that is you could set to motor up so you could switch to run an air pump or the hydro pump depending if you needed air or not.