I've never been 4 wheelin but my '96 bronco has an open diff in the front and rear axle. So would it be better to get lockers for the front and rear or a winch? I'll get both sooner or later but I want to go play now so which should I choose first? I'd say the winch but then you have to be close enough to something to hook the winch to. Also is there any brand of winch to steer clear of?

 

Locker in the rear is what I would do first.

 

Lockers may reduce the immediate need for the wench.

 

Lockers would be my choice. Its not really 4 wheel drive without them. But even a light winch can be a big help. I have gotten out of lots of jams with only a 2000 lb winch. But get it set up to pull forward or back. Most times when your stuck, you dont want to go front.

 

if you plan on installing lockers think about doing gears at the same time. it will be way cheaper in the long run. a winch can always get ya unstuck compared to lockers and how often are you really going to wheel? what else have you done to the rig and what size tires are you running.

 

I stuck my 4X4 ATV in a branch where the slope mud may as well have been ice. Nothing was close enough to wench it out. I could not stand up on the mud. Bronco rescued it with OEM limited slip in the rear. I have named that spot slippery creek and highly respect it now. Check the code on the door area to check the rear dif. and tag also on the dif.. I now carry a long cable and come a long for 4-wheeler and do not worry about the Bronco with LS rear.

 

I'd say lockers, but it depends on what you wheel in and how often w/how many buddys.

 

i'll be doing a 2" suspension lift and I have 31x10.5 right now but will be running 33x12.5 when I get my 10" wheels. Whats a good locker to run? Oh I haven't went 4 wheelin yet so I didn't know what the bronc was capable of with an open diff on front and back. i don't want to get stuck in mud up to the doors and cant get out. Its a play toy mostly just haven't got a chance to play yet, wanted to be prepared.

 

Let me see if this is right, I should have a dana44 up front and an 8.8 in the rear? Also what are the splines on both? Its a '96 EB with 3.55 gears and a 351 if that makes a difference.

 

You don't have to get out of your truck to use lockers

 

Are you sure your rear is open ?
96 eb with 3.55s you might have a limited slip.
The options on a 8.8 locker are endless.
You can have full time "spool".
One you can control one with a onboard air compressor to engage disengage.
To a factory limited slip you can dig up in a bone yard.
Depends on what you are going to do and how deep your pockets are.
Do a search on 8.8 locker on this board you will find all the info you will need.
Heres a post from mbbford.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...ght=8+8+locker

 

You have a D44 TTB front suspension, and a solid axle 8.8 rear end.
If you have a open diff in the 8.8 I'd suggest either a lock right, or aussie locker.
They are cheap, and will hold up to 36" tires with out a problem.

 

I don't understand why everyone is suggesting the lockers. It is still very possible to get stuck with lockers.

However, a winch will get you out of just about anything.

Patrick

 

True the winch will get you out....assuming there is something nearby for it to pull against to get you out. (Spent half the night in a grove of sapling trees trying to get a buddies truck with a perfectly capable Warn 8000 out of the ruts it had dug itself into. Not a tree or a rock in sight that would do us any good for pulling out a 2 ton truck). Having the locker(s) in the first place will allow you better traction control BEFORE being stuck is an issue! Are we talking about taking action to prevent getting stuck or REacting to actually BEING stuck? For my money, avoiding/preventing actually getting stuck is a far better outlook than simply reacting to getting stuck.

The info as to which axles you have is correct. D44 TTB up front and 8.8 out back. there are MANY types of differentials that can be installed and its best to understand what each type actually DOES and how it will perform in off and ON-road situations. For example, an automatic locker in a daily driver on the rear axle will deal you a fit in slippery weather locking whenever it "feels it needs to" even if YOU, the driver, don't think its necessary. Many limited slip (NON-locking) differentials work quite well but require friction modifiers in the gear oil to keep the clutch assemblies from losing their ability to grab. Selectable lockers are the best way to go since you can select whether or not the differential is locked. The down side is that they are quite expensive. Some require compressed air to operate others only need electricity. The best advice would be to research your options thoroughly before proceeding any further.

 

People always tell me to put a winch on my truck.
They just don't understand. I wheel in mud only, so 99% of the time there are no trees or anything to winch too. Also 99% of the time I have a couple of buddys wheeling with me that could pull me out with a strap.

If you buy a winch, then you need a bumper capable to hold it($). Then if you get a electrical winch, then you would want to at least put a bigger battery and possibly a new 100 amp(or so) altenator($), or if you go hydrolic then those are expensive to start with and then you need to plum the hydrolic system($).
Like greystreak92, said to prevent getting stuck in the first place, a locker would be best, and cheaper!
I personally don't have the $1,000 + dollars for a winch anyway. I can afford $400 for 2 lockers though.