Get a winch, or Locker first?
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2007
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.but i do agree open diff's dont help either so hell buy both!
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2009
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hell all i have is a '86 F-150 with a 4.9L under the hood with 31x10.5x15's and no lift and it'll do more than alot of the rigs around town, about the only truck to match mine around here is a 82 half ton chev with a 4inch lift and 33inch miky thompsons with one WEAK 350 under the hood and he dont even look twice at the stuff i go thru with mine .
but i do agree open diff's dont help either so hell buy both!
.but i do agree open diff's dont help either so hell buy both!
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2008
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From: Olympia
i would put in the locker first... i've been wheeling for years and still have not bought a winch. i would also tell you to buy a locker before building up your motor, its had to go anywhere if you can't get any power to the ground.. with open diffs you will be needing to be pulled or using a winch than if you had the lockers, if you flex out a bit too much on dry ground with open diffs you just spin a tire and might need a pull, but with lockers you would just keep on moving..
Lockers only succeed getting you stuck farther than anyone else can get to you. A winch is your personal wheelin' partner.I ran 33's and got stuck all the time. Hell, I still get stuck occasionally with the 37" super swampers. Mud be a cruel mistress.
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hell all i have is a '86 F-150 with a 4.9L under the hood with 31x10.5x15's and no lift and it'll do more than alot of the rigs around town, about the only truck to match mine around here is a 82 half ton chev with a 4inch lift and 33inch miky thompsons with one WEAK 350 under the hood and he dont even look twice at the stuff i go thru with mine.
I wouldn't! Haha. I'll take a jerk from a chevy any day. As long as its not one of those guys who think their brand is better. In that case i'll just winch myself out. CAUSE WINCHES PWN.
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2008
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From: Renton, WA
I was just thinking about the same thing myself I need both but which first. I was leaning towards lockers, thinking I would rather just not need the winch and was thinking that not going wheeling alone I wouldn't need one much but last weekend my brother and I went out. We have simalar rigs, and both managed to get stuck at the same time. It took us a few hours of back breaking digging and pulling on a come-along to get us both out. Just now is my back healing, so now I'm winch shopping. And think I'll just weld the front.
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: May 2006
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From: North Dakota
Edit: there are alot of wheeling parks that require lockers(at leas in the rear) Personally i think wheeling with open diffs is like tryin to cook a steak with a lighter.
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
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Hmm, I think I will go with both a winch and a rear locker. But that means I have to stick with a cheaper brand of winch. So, are the Milemarker, superwinch, or gorilla winches any good or are they junk? What pound rating should I get for an 86 fullsize bronco, is 9000 enough?
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: Grants Pass, Oregon
With an 86 Bronco,you can use a Warn bumper for the winch,and im fairly certain that the same bumper got used for a whole bunch of 70's and 80's trucks,Ford,Chevy,Dodge,the only difference being mounting brackets for various applications. I see them on CL all the time used,often in the $75-125 range,same with used winches,those are often in the $250-$400 range for name brands,like Warn or Ramsey......maybe you can get a set up cheaply enough to allow both a winch and a locker....
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Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 5,338
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From: Grants Pass, Oregon
Another possibility is getting a front rec. hitch,along with a rear hitch if you dont already have one,and getting a hitch mounted winch with power leads running to both ends of the vehicle.
Both Warn and Ramsey make these,along with the power leads,but they sell the power leads for a pretty penny, i made my own power leads with polarized connectors and 2G welding cable for less than 1/2 of what the pre-made ones cost.......Most of the Superwinch,and i believe all of the Gorilla,Milemarker,Smittybuilt,Harbor Freight winches are Chinese imports,so you are probably getting a product far less durable than the Warn or Ramsey. 8000 or 9000 lbs should be perfectly adequate for your Bronco,especially if you have got a ****** block to double the winches capacity,along with some good tree straps,quality shackles,and a secure recovery point where a hook or strap eye can be attached to your truck safely
Both Warn and Ramsey make these,along with the power leads,but they sell the power leads for a pretty penny, i made my own power leads with polarized connectors and 2G welding cable for less than 1/2 of what the pre-made ones cost.......Most of the Superwinch,and i believe all of the Gorilla,Milemarker,Smittybuilt,Harbor Freight winches are Chinese imports,so you are probably getting a product far less durable than the Warn or Ramsey. 8000 or 9000 lbs should be perfectly adequate for your Bronco,especially if you have got a ****** block to double the winches capacity,along with some good tree straps,quality shackles,and a secure recovery point where a hook or strap eye can be attached to your truck safely
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2008
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From: Olympia
I prefer WARN products over everything else. I think milemarkers are crap.
If you had to pick out of those I would suggest a superwinch. As for 9000, it should be enough to pull you out. You might buy a block to go with it though. You hook the block up and run the winch cable back to the truck, it'll pull it a bit easier.
Bigger winches are great for line speed too.
If you had to pick out of those I would suggest a superwinch. As for 9000, it should be enough to pull you out. You might buy a block to go with it though. You hook the block up and run the winch cable back to the truck, it'll pull it a bit easier.
Bigger winches are great for line speed too.
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