Winch or Front Diff Locker?

[JimmyTheHuman]

Alcohol fuelled random musings:

This concept of "winch first / lockers later" - does it work?

Get stopped, break out the winch, continue.

Do you ever learn to drive the obstacle, or do you simply drag it?

Once you become accustomed to winching everywhere do you ever feel the need to buy a locker? "It's OK, I can always winch it".

Who gets to their campsite first? The bloke with the winch, or the bloke with the locker?

For the hardcore guys who go wheeling for the challenge, sure - get the winch. If I lived in Melbourne I'd probably have one.

For the tourer (like me) - what would you rather do? Engage the front locker & drive out, or break out the winch? What about the ground anchor? Will you make it to Blue Rag Trig?

As a tourer, I've engaged the front locker and got where I want to go. I don't have a winch - what have I missed?

I do wont be going 4x4ing just for the challenge. I am only interested in getting around. We spend a LOT of time in the bush now, camping and riding motorbikes. Now the kids are older we wanna go and do some of the more adventurous stuff and get away and use up the mountain of holidays we have built up.

I am not driving around looking for treachery and having to winch out isnt something i want to do...i want to get to camp and drink beers.

I am only looking for the best option if i HAVE to rescue myself. I will definitely be out alone (with family). Do people ever get stuck and require rescue when they are locked? Does it ever happen when you ahve a winch? My guess is yes to both...which one is LIKELY to get me going again in the case of being really stuck? this is the only question i am trying to answer i guess. Cos ideally i would love to engage the locker and drive out.... Maybe locker and a hand winch?

[coxy321]

I am only looking for the best option if i HAVE to rescue myself.

A winch is a recovery tool, lockers are a traction aide.

This concept of "winch first / lockers later" - does it work?

Get stopped, break out the winch, continue.

Do you ever learn to drive the obstacle, or do you simply drag it?

Once you become accustomed to winching everywhere do you ever feel the need to buy a locker? "It's OK, I can always winch it".

So you winch yourself backwards? How can you be sure that forwards is "out of trouble"?

Old skool says: drive in in 2wd - drive back out in 4wd. I've heard other experienced 4wders say that lockers are for driving back - not driving forward.

Perhaps a winch will only drag you into more trouble?

Wouldn't it be common sense that if you've gotten yourself into the position where moving forward is only going to get you deeper into the shit, then you shouldn't be trying to winch further up?

Don't forget - there's always the hand winch for those extra hairy moments.

[-Scott-]

Alcohol fuelled random musings:

This concept of "winch first / lockers later" - does it work?

Get stopped, break out the winch, continue.

Do you ever learn to drive the obstacle, or do you simply drag it?

Once you become accustomed to winching everywhere do you ever feel the need to buy a locker? "It's OK, I can always winch it".

Who gets to their campsite first? The bloke with the winch, or the bloke with the locker?

For the hardcore guys who go wheeling for the challenge, sure - get the winch. If I lived in Melbourne I'd probably have one.

For the tourer (like me) - what would you rather do? Engage the front locker & drive out, or break out the winch? What about the ground anchor? Will you make it to Blue Rag Trig?

As a tourer, I've engaged the front locker and got where I want to go. I don't have a winch - what have I missed?

I do wont be going 4x4ing just for the challenge. I am only interested in getting around. We spend a LOT of time in the bush now, camping and riding motorbikes. Now the kids are older we wanna go and do some of the more adventurous stuff and get away and use up the mountain of holidays we have built up.

I am not driving around looking for treachery and having to winch out isnt something i want to do...i want to get to camp and drink beers.

I am only looking for the best option if i HAVE to rescue myself. I will definitely be out alone (with family). Do people ever get stuck and require rescue when they are locked? Does it ever happen when you ahve a winch? My guess is yes to both...which one is LIKELY to get me going again in the case of being really stuck? this is the only question i am trying to answer i guess. Cos ideally i would love to engage the locker and drive out.... Maybe locker and a hand winch?

No worries Jimmy - at the end of the day, you need to be comfortable with your setup, and that is your decision. Tell the rest of us to get stuffed.

I guess this is just one more of those contentious 4wding issues, and I like to question other people's opinions, to ensure members make a well-informed decision. I'm not saying I have all the answers - I'm just trying to air some questions.

I agree that, under worst case conditions, a winch will drag you through where double lockers won't drive. In those circumstances, a winch is invaluable.

For me, I've never needed a winch, but my front diff lock (and rear LSD) have driven me through places which would've otherwise required winching. In my experience (unique to me and I don't speak for anybody else) there is no way I would swap my locker for a winch. Others who prefer the ultimate security would never swap their winch for a locker.

Horses for courses - make sure you study the form guide well.

The next time I come to Victoria, I hope you'll winch me out of trouble.

[JimmyTheHuman]

I guess this is just one more of those contentious 4wding issues, and I like to question other people's opinions, to ensure members make a well-informed decision. I'm not saying I have all the answers - I'm just trying to air some questions.

Thats exactly why i asked the question on here!

[BJMorgo]

Funny thing is that I never needed a winch until I fitted one. I guess you have a go at harder things knowing you have this handy tool. However, before the winch I had a hand winch as back up, although never used it off road (handy for moving stuff at home though). Perhaps your idea of front locker and hand winch is the go. In any case if you have a rear locker and good tyres then you have a vehicle plenty capable enough for touring.

A winch can also be good for moving fallen trees from the track, which is something people use them for a lot.

PS A standard car can do the Simpson - I've got friends who did it with a new 79 cruiser, 200 cruiser, Jackaroo, Rodeos etc. These are much better tourers than my locked shorty but they wouldn't dare doing the harder rocky stuff that the Shorty has no trouble doing. Not that they wouldn't necessarily be capable, it's just that they don't want to dent their expensive shiny cars.

[thehanko]

I got a winch first.

It gave the the confidence to know that I could try harder stuff when out on my own which due to my lack of mates with 4wd's and still get home.

I never ended up having to use it, but becuase i had it I drove tracks knowing yes i can get back up this to get home again. i came close to needing it but usually a few different lines or track building saved me the need.

I now am twin locked as well, and i will use my lockers almost every trip 90% of which is rear locker only.

since having lockers ive been stuck a few times, once i winched as i wanted to go further along the track and not turn back yet, another time i was in a bog with alot of mud built up in front and winching forward would have been bad.

If having just one get a winch for solo driving, if you 'want' to be locked then grab a hand winch as well as at least with this it might be hard work but it can go forward or backwards or what ever angle etc should the worst case happen - no it wont be fun but it will get you out.

a locker saves alot of time if driving tougher stuff as a switch is faster by alot compared to a winch.

My missus hates feeling of the car losing alot of traction - when i lock it up she feels happier/safer - as such we all have more fun. when i face challenges she gets stressed, with the switches my life is easier

better with the family if you ask me to lock it up and go a hand winch if you dont want to spend the extra - but a tigerz 2 10,000 is pretty damn cheap insurance. i dont think id bother going a 12000 for your car.

[Triple B]

I had my winch well before my lockers. Bought the winch first for insurance in the bush to get me out of of trouble. And I never actauly had to use until I got lockers and havin a winch for 4 years and got my first locker 2 years ago. I've never used the winch in the first 2 years really. Then In the last 2 years I've used the winch 3 time once to get me out. Twice to recover mates. I use my lockers every time I go out just about, and I've use the winch once every year if you work on an averge. Also the winch isn't used often but alway glad to have when I need it. There has been times when there has been no trees and lockers has help but another car allways handy. I hate hand winches usauly they don't have the pull rate but does allways beat havin nothing. I think they say that the winch pull load should equal two times the wright of the car. You can buy 12000 lb tiger winch with rope for around $900 I think but it has only 28m of rope but don't think you could realy go wrong. Just my 2 cent worth but I vote winch