View Poll Results: winch or locker
Voters: 50. You may not vote on this poll
Pick One. Locker or Winch
You Keep What You Kill
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,902
Likes: 2
From: Huntersville, NC
It depends... Do you plan to offroad with your truck? I assume that you're talking about the Eaton ELocker for the front axle. The cost of the ELocker and installation is around $1,300. What brand and size winch are you looking to install? A Warn M12000 is around $1,300 and the hidden bumper kit (including skirt) is $546 so you looking at $1,846 not including installation. The winch can generate revenue during the winter months by pulling (for a nominal fee) people out of a fix... so the cost of the winch goes down over time.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,118
Likes: 1
i voted winch im assuming your off-roading the front locker will keep you from getting stuck but sooner or later you will be and you'll be wishin you had a winch...unless you carry a good come-along in which case you'll only be thinkin how much easier it would be with a good power winch haha
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,924
Likes: 6
From: Richmond BC
u will use the locker alot more often and it will prevent u from getting stuck more often..
but when ur front locker wont save u, ur def. gunan wish for the winch..
tuff choice.. but i'd still go front locker..
but when ur front locker wont save u, ur def. gunan wish for the winch..
tuff choice.. but i'd still go front locker..
FE "Freakin Expensive"
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,461
Likes: 4
From: Smith Mountain Lake, VA
Bottom line is...If your in a spot where you dont know the capabiliy's of your truck ? You shouldnt have been there in the first place !! No Offense !! But if you have been off roading and have ever had a locker slide out from undr your with NO steering ! You'll wish to hell you had a winch...
Lockers are nice in certain terrain...but they can also get the driver over confident also !! JMO...
Lockers are nice in certain terrain...but they can also get the driver over confident also !! JMO...
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,811
Likes: 15
From: Central Ohio
Hmm tough choice. I too want a front locker eventually and an aftermarket bumper. I dont care for the winch though... seems like I'd never have anything to winch too? And since I drive on snowy/icy roads I'd avoid a front locker too unless its selectable. So for me I think the first thinkg I'll do is the bumper (and perhaps get a winch bumper that I could add a winch too in the future) and then perhaps a selectable locker. Just the bumper alone might be the most usefull for me, for deflecting deer away from my new truck. 
Anyone know if a good plate steel bumper would hold up well to a deer collision (say going 45mph) without getting all mangled up looking? Kinda eyeballing the Iron Bull bumpers now just because they aint terribly overpriced like some others are.
Anyone know if a good plate steel bumper would hold up well to a deer collision (say going 45mph) without getting all mangled up looking? Kinda eyeballing the Iron Bull bumpers now just because they aint terribly overpriced like some others are.
"Mifflin Clay"
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,177
Likes: 4
From: Mifflin, PA
Winch for me - off roading consists of pulling a 5th wheel or gooseneck thru a field. Winch is much handier- pulling fence, cutting trees, recovering other vehicles, etc.
Dedicated off roaders might choose differently, but for versatility, the winch is all around handy.
The beauty of the second amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it. - Thomas Jefferson
Dedicated off roaders might choose differently, but for versatility, the winch is all around handy.
The beauty of the second amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it. - Thomas Jefferson
Trending Topics
You Keep What You Kill
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,902
Likes: 2
From: Huntersville, NC
Hmm tough choice. I too want a front locker eventually and an aftermarket bumper. I dont care for the winch though... seems like I'd never have anything to winch too? And since I drive on snowy/icy roads I'd avoid a front locker too unless its selectable. So for me I think the first thinkg I'll do is the bumper (and perhaps get a winch bumper that I could add a winch too in the future) and then perhaps a selectable locker. Just the bumper alone might be the most usefull for me, for deflecting deer away from my new truck.
Anyone know if a good plate steel bumper would hold up well to a deer collision (say going 45mph) without getting all mangled up looking? Kinda eyeballing the Iron Bull bumpers now just because they aint terribly overpriced like some others are.
Anyone know if a good plate steel bumper would hold up well to a deer collision (say going 45mph) without getting all mangled up looking? Kinda eyeballing the Iron Bull bumpers now just because they aint terribly overpriced like some others are.
http://www.icionline.com/products/10.html
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,811
Likes: 15
From: Central Ohio
Hmm never thought about the other uses for a winch.
Like that bumper
But it rings in as another >$2k aftermarket bumper
Is Iron Bull just lesser quality? Or do they just charge a fair price as opposed to all the other companies that think aftermarket means they can gouge ya?
Like that bumper
But it rings in as another >$2k aftermarket bumper
Is Iron Bull just lesser quality? Or do they just charge a fair price as opposed to all the other companies that think aftermarket means they can gouge ya?
Logistics Pro
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,974
Likes: 17
From: Millersburg, OH
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: SE Wash
They're not just for getting you or your neighbor's truck out of a tough spot. I think you'll find that a winch is a great tool; one that becomes indispensable if you do a lot of work alone. It's like having a crew of really big guys. There's as many brands of bumper as there are opinions about them. My bumper is a Buckstop and like it because it houses the winch inside of it, has a front hitch receiver, incorporates recessed driving/fog lights and is hell-for-stout. http://buckstop.biz/index.html
Good luck on your decision.
Good luck on your decision.
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
Easy choice for me - winch.
Plus, when you get stuck, and you still will, you'll feel really stupid about having spent that money on a locker.
Winch today, locker next year.
Plus, I already have limited slip, so I got that going for me.
Plus, when you get stuck, and you still will, you'll feel really stupid about having spent that money on a locker.
Winch today, locker next year.
Plus, I already have limited slip, so I got that going for me.
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 10,101
Likes: 40
From: Pa
Front locker for me. A lot cheaper than the winch/bumper combo. If you don't have any trees or other trucks to hook the winch to, its useless. Ugly winch bumpers and hanging more weight on the front end of a pickup with a lot of weight on the front doesn't appeal to me. I would much rather put a front 2" reciever on the truck and have a winch that slides into the receiver. You could then use the winch in the front or rear receivers as well as on other vehicles. Could also put a ball mount on and move your trailers around with the front of the truck instead of hitching to the back. A truetrac in the front diff, 2" front reciever and a removable slide in winch should only run you a little more than a bumper/winch combo installed.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,115
Likes: 13
From: west plains spokane,wa
I went with the winch myself. I already have a locker in the rear and it helps but I have gotten a lot more benefit and use out of the winch than I would with a second locker. Winch has 125 ft of cable and I usually carry another 200 ft in the back, plus pull straps and a log chain. I have never been stuck where I couldn't reach something to hook on to. It's also handy for hunting season and pulling in logs for the wood stove.