I've got 800 clams to blow and I cant decide whether to get a winch to get unstuck, or a locker to keep me from getting stuck in the first place. Also, would a locker like an OX or ARB be better in the front or rear? I have open diffs front and rear, but if I did put a selectable locker in one wouldn't the front be better cuz thats where all the weight is? What do you guys think?

The only good chevy is a dead chevy

 

I ended up putting a Powertrax in my front diff., and left the rear open, which they say you shouldn't do. But I really like it better that way. The open rear diff. handles better on icy roads, but the front locker really seems to get better traction because of the weight up front. Go with the locker first, you shouldn't need the winch.

 

I agree, go with a locker first. Typically the locker goes in the back first, but as long as your talking about the on-demand lockers (ox/arb) I don't see why it would hurt in the front. You would have the added benefit of extra weight but as I've never heard of a truck locked in the front and not the back I couldn't say if it would have any strange characteristics. Anybody?

If your knuckles ain't bleeding you did something wrong.

'72 F-250 "Hi-Boy" 4x4, Dana 60/HD44, FE428 @ 400+ ponies , 4-speed, custom suspension w lift, mud on black.

 

I also agree with the other guys, as long as you have friends with 4x4's who needs a winch. As for which end to put it in, I'll give you the senario's. With an ARB, OR OX LOCKER you won't see any crazy occurrances i.e. unexpected lane changes, darting from side to side because when they are engaged, they are like a spool, when they aren't it's normal. I had a welded front diff and an open rear. I can tell you this, your turning radius will go to hell. But it will definately keep you out of a few stucks. However my advice is to put it in the rear. You will get more use out of it weather in 2x or 4x. But that's just my opinion. However, if you aren't running tires over 35 inches you could lock both ends, and have money left over. (powerloc, detroit ez locker, lockright etc.) They are good lockers for the money. But don't expect them to hold up to extreme bashing. If you get an ox let us know how it works.

RubberDuck

 

Go with ox in rear. U can get thru alot a places with out even gettin out and lockin the hubs.

 

Do they make an ox for a dana 60 though? I haven't seen them yet. Yea, i guess it makes sense to get a locker first. I'm still not sure to go front or back though, i mean, there isn't any weight back there for tracktion. I saw a review for the ox on a dana44 and it looked tight!

The only good chevy is a dead chevy

 

buy the winch then weld the rears,best of both worlds

 

That would kick butt off-road, but expect your tires to wear quicker, howl in corners, and come around you on-road in ice if you do lincoln lock that rear. Even most the 4x4 mags don't recomend lincoln locks (though I'd do a spool instead...same effect, won't break, and cheap) on on-road vehicles. Admittantly though, a welded or spooled rear on a fullsize is liveable as long as you learn its quirks- especially on road when conditions are slippery.

If your knuckles ain't bleeding you did something wrong.

'72 F-250 "Hi-Boy" 4x4, Dana 60/HD44, FE428 @ 400+ ponies , 4-speed, custom suspension w lift, mud on black.

 

I disagree with most of you. I say get the winch first, then the lockers. For one thing you can move the winch from to vehicle to vehicle if you ever decide to get a new/different truck.

There are no handling consideration with a winch, and you don't have to worry about parts breakage as much.

Eventually you will get stuck, even with your lockers. Then, you will still need the winch. If you get stuck and you can't winch out, then it is very unlikely a set of lockers will help. Now there are a lot of stucks that can be solved by both/either winch or locker, but in the worst stucks, I say a winch is more useful.

Winching over obstacles that require lockers to traverse (which usually means wheelspin) is easier on the environment because the tires are rolling instead of spinning, thus enabling all four-wheelers to enjoy the area longer.

Winches are useful for more than self-extraction. For instance, you can pull derelict vehicles onto trailers. You can pull down small trees and remove bushes from your yard. You can create a temporary barrier. You can pull other people's trucks out with the winch. You can pull your neighbor's Bobcat that is stuck in mud all the way down to the belly pan out.

Most importantly, they give you peace of mind when four-wheeling. I got stuck overnight several times in my truck (an Isuzu P'up at the time, when I sold it and got my F-150, my winch swapped right over) before my winch purchase. Frequently a stuck would mean hours of digging or walking (I like to four-wheel solo.) Usually a stuck would mean the end of a day of wheeling.

Since the winch purchase, I can get stuck 0-20 or more times in a day (I think the worst was decending one trial at Tellico where I had to winch 5 times,) then pull myself right out. Trails on which I would hesitate or even turn back when by myself now I don't even pause at the entrance.

All of these observations are for east-coast wheeling. Lockers may present a greater advantage on dry rock, but around here there is always moisture and loose dirt/sand, very little rock, even in the mountains (I wheel at Tellico and Brasstown Bald there, in my F-150 with just a Warn XD8000 winch amd 35" tires. Other areas include the Croatan, Nantahala, Pisgah, and Uwharrie Natl Forests in NC, and the Cape Hatteras Natl Seashore.)

I do want a set of lockers for my truck (to be done the same time as a gear change) but I think the $800 winch purchase is the best accessory I ever bought, certainly the most used!

The main downside is you need electrical power. This means carrying a second battery for emergencies. This, however, is typically no problem. I have never had a problem running the winch as much as I wanted as long as the engine was running, even with the stock alternator and one battery (i.e. I have never had to use the second battery.)


fordmando
70 F-100 Ranger XLT 400 C6
78 F-150 4x4 400 4 on floor
George

 

That was an excellent, well thought-out post about the benefits of a winch...although you have to remember a winch only works when you have something to hook it to. I've been in stucks with nothing to latch onto and been screwed. I've thought about getting one of those pull-pall land anchors. Lockers will keep you from getting stuck in many cases, but a winch will get you out when lockers are not enough, which will also happen. And by the time you get yourself stuck locked 4-round, a winch is the only thing getting you out. Its really an apples and oranges kinda thing. So which one are you going with Tuff?

If your knuckles ain't bleeding you did something wrong.

'72 F-250 "Hi-Boy" 4x4, Dana 60/HD44, FE428 @ 400+ ponies , 4-speed, custom suspension w lift, mud on black.

 

I wanted to say what you said, but I passed. My version was that a winch will get you out of more places than a locker and if used properly an open diff can work very well. Using the brakes lightly can be helpful for wheel spin and other things like tire selection, pressure, traction plates (ramps) can help as well.

I like those pull-pals but I was thinking that would be pretty easy to make. I saw a tip in a mag once that used a spare axle pounded into the ground for a hook point.

Actually the real answer is to get both, you can probably find a locker at the junk yard for cheap and maybe even a used winch.

 

I would also start with the winch over the Detroit Locker. Check out the great winch/bumper systems at WARN Industries like their movable winch cradle. This set up allows you to mount the winch in a class 3 hitch on the rear or the front of the vehicle. The quick connect electrical connectors at both ends of the vehicle also double as jumper cable connections. But like some others have said you need something to hook the winch to so the anchor is something additional you might need.

My understanding of Detroit Lockers is that they dis-engage when turning and require a short distance straight forward to engage after both wheels are turning the same speed. If the locker unit is dis-engaged at the time you get stuck it will not help you get out. If your just blasting straight through mud bogs it should do the job although some day you will still get stuck. This seems to work fine on a road coarse but how effective is it when rock climbing in the Rubicon.

Remember that old saying "All a 4x4 allows me to do is get stuck in more inaccessible places!"

 

thanks allot for all your good thoughts, you guys are the best. To answer your question Pro-I'm getting Warn winch. After reading your posts and doing some looking around, it looks like anything is a compromise unless I get like a ox locker or arb. I think I'll get a arb but I also want to upgrade my axlse plus I need the compressor, but all that will cost too much for now. I'll get the winch and then go the arb route latter. Cool thing is Ill be able to air up my tires with arb setup. Thanks guys!

The only good chevy is a dead chevy