T Max winch or ARB Air Locker

[Richo GU]

Accessorising my 05 GU and as a newby not sure which way to go, looking for advice. Getting a 2inch lift Airtech Snorkel and Dual Batteries however have been offered a dismantled ARB Air Locker (6 months Old) in perfect nick for $800 plus fitting and compressor. All up with new air compressor with tyre inflation kit I will save around $400. I am tossing up between the Air Locker or T Max winch, would love both but budget and handbrake only allows for one item at this stage. So is it better to go a T Max winch or save a few dollars and get the Air Locker.
Thanks in advance

[InSanE]

the way i look at it is a locker can only get you so far and a winch will get you out of trouble when you need and being a patrol the lsd in the rear is nearly as good as a locker so a winch would be my choice.

[TuffRR]

A winch will get you much further than a locker.

[G_loomis]

I would go the locker...but put it in the front.

I have lockers front and rear in my truck, and they are wired up individually. When they are required I always hit the front first. Then if needed, the back gets turned on...more often than not the front is all that is required.

But getting back to why I would pick a locker over a winch...yes a winch may get you further than a locker will...but I would pick the one that will get more use. If you dont have a locker, and you are determined to get up a certain track the winch cable will be pulled out, taking up more time then a simple push of 2 buttons and you are there...maybe.

If you cant drive it with a locked diff, this may make you pick better lines which can only help your off road driving.

But on the other side of the coin...if the vehicle in question is being setup for a tourer, then I would more than likely go for the winch...but to flip the coin yet again, you quite often see 2nd hand winches for sale with "little use" (just keep your eyes peeled in the for sale section on here)...but you dont always get the chance of a cheap ARB diff lock. So thats another reason IMHO why I would go the diff lock.

And as for the tyre inflation kit...unless you have plenty of spare time on your hands I wouldnt bother with it...but I guess its still better than nothing.

[just cruizin']

Take opportunities when they arise and get the locker, yes a winch will get you further but if you're careful and pick the right line you shouldn't need it. Plus if you plan on getting a new one they will always be there.

Winches are great when you need them but how often is that, plus you have an extra 30 -40 kg hanging off the front of your truck

[Richo GU]

But getting back to why I would pick a locker over a winch...yes a winch may get you further than a locker will...but I would pick the one that will get more use.

All good points, so its a catch 22 yea the locker will get more use and is reasonable value but the winch will get me out of trouble. Not having a winch will limit where I can go on my own but travelling with a group/club the locker will be used more often. Might extend the credit card and get both mmmmm the hand brake would not be happy. Will take me months to explain that one away.

[Richo GU]

Take opportunities when they arise and get the locker, yes a winch will get you further but if you're careful and pick the right line you shouldn't need it. Plus if you plan on getting a new one they will always be there.

Winches are great when you need them but how often is that, plus you have an extra 30 -40 kg hanging off the front of your truck

Yea Ill keep the marraige intact and go the locker, will take a look at winches down the track. Did not consider second hand ones either.
Cheers and Thanks

[G_loomis]

now you have to make the decision....front or rear!

Thats another debate all together.

[Richo GU]

now you have to make the decision....front or rear!

Thats another debate all together.

Its a front locker so that i will be happy with given the the rear is pretty good anyway. My set up is going to be for medium to hard with some family touring thrown in. Going to the Victorian high country with the kids and misus in december with a group so the locker could come in handy. Cheers

[playtime 4x4]

Yeah, hard call. i would go the locker first for high country trips, BUT please dont consider a T MAX . Like others have said, look for a second hand WARN or buy a brand new Warn TABOR. Brand new , USA quality for $1150 . Cant go wrong, but thats my opinion
Dave

[Richo GU]

Yeah, hard call. i would go the locker first for high country trips, BUT please dont consider a T MAX . Like others have said, look for a second hand WARN or buy a brand new Warn TABOR. Brand new , USA quality for $1150 . Cant go wrong, but thats my opinion
Dave

Checked out this site http://rancho.com.au/tabor.htm to check the warn out, very impressed, great value for an entry level and by warn to boot. Perfect for me as I don't need competition or heavy duty winch for the nature 4wding I'll be doing, just something to get me out of trouble. Horses for courses

[GU BUG]

Personally, I'd go the locker as it's not often you find a secondhand locker out of a GU for sale where as you won't have a problem finding yourself a Warn for a reasonable price .

I got the Warn XP 9500lb winch first & put an air locker in the front after the winch . The locker obviously gets you to more places but the winch pulls you out of the poo when the locker won't do .

I've got a mate who may be selling his Warn in the near future if you're interested. It's a XD9000 but could do with a service. It works fine but he hasn't serviced it since he's had it though he doesn't use it much....

P.S. Are you the same Richo that came out with your mate to see my wagon when it was for sale?

[-Scott-]

Do you want to drive it, or drag it?

[GUJohnno]

A front locker wil enable you to go slower and place less stress on your vehicle to get up the same hill as a vehicle without a locker.

I have seen this many times and i'm often amazed at the difference.

[Richo GU]

GU Bug and Scott Yea would be interested in your mates winch but after this lattest series of mods Ive got to allow a little time to go by before attempting the next needed accessory The handbrake needs time to recover from this one as well as the credit card. Oh Im not the same Richo, Im from the Hunter Valley north of sydney. Scott I reckon the Nissans rear LSD is pretty good already for my needs and the front locker goin to save $400. For my needs and budget at this time reckon the second hand front locker is a rare find. Cheers

[Mick.]

Yeah, hard call. i would go the locker first for high country trips, BUT please dont consider a T MAX . Like others have said, look for a second hand WARN or buy a brand new Warn TABOR. Brand new , USA quality for $1150 . Cant go wrong, but thats my opinion
Dave

I've got a T-Max and it shits all over my mates 9000 warn for speed and pulling power.

I've seen plenty of stories about the quality of the warns going down hill of late also.

Cheers Mick.

[ludacris]

Go the front locker for sure and have a look at the 9500lb winches at repco $699 before you buy the T max one. Some people reckon they are the same winch without the you know what sticker.

LudaCris

[bogged]

learn to drive your truck first. find out how capable it really is with just some good suspension and tires. see what sort of conditions you encounter where you get stuck..

then decide for yourself.

[Jimbo]

When i got my first 4wd last year i was told by certain folk that "you never use winches" and they were useless....I didnt use my winch for a long time until i was out with the girlfriend camping and i decided to try a bog hole that looked easy. I even tested its depth and it seemed fine. I proceded to drive through and the bottom just fell away. Little did i know that i was testing the depth where a log was semi floating!!!!! Anyway i was stuck big time and it was a sunday arvo and was getting dark soon. There was no one around and without the winch i would have had to somehow find help or spend the night out there.

The moral of the story is that i only used it once but gee was i happy to have it when it really counted.

Also another thing is that a locker will get you further but once your stuck you will really be stuck. Also how many times do u drive a track u have never done before that looks moderately easy and then half way along u find yourself in the shit??? (might just be me)

Go the winch!!!


Jimmy

[Micka]

Go the front locker!

Then get the winch, too.

After that - when your missus has left you - you can upgrade to a younger model.


Micka

[Jimbo]

HAHAHAAHAH i like that one

Jimmy

[Richo GU]

Thanks to All
Gone for the locker, gets installed on the 24th of July along with XGS 2inch, snorkel and dual batteries. Only 14 more sleeps. Yea Micka will go the winch too in the not to distant future. Goin to the high country for 5 days in december so will be in by then. In the mean time will be testing things out at my local playground stockton beach with the quad and family. Been goin there last 20 years fishen and camping and stuff. Last 12 months starting to get up to the watagans, sensational area and a good spot to learn stuff other than beach 4WD. Just need to join one of the local clubs to gain there knowledge of goin bush with some fun to boot.
Cheers

[currentlyoffline]

Go the front locker!
Then get the winch, too.
After that - when your missus has left you - you can upgrade to a younger model.
Micka

Maybe we should form a club or something, only for those ppl whose fourbys get the attention they need after trading in the handbrake for a younger model !!!

[Guy]

buy the locker and spend a coupla hundred on a second habd tirfor hand winch .. I have owned the tirfor for years and still not used it..

(really makes you think about the line your picking if you know you will be huffing and puffing to drag it out with the hand winch)

[Micka]

Go the front locker!
Then get the winch, too.
After that - when your missus has left you - you can upgrade to a younger model.
Micka

Maybe we should form a club or something, only for those ppl whose fourbys get the attention they need after trading in the handbrake for a younger model !!!

Sounds good to me!

We can do club trips to exotic destinations like Thailand, Filipines and Vietnam.

They have good wheeling spots over there.

Micka

[alexcliffo]

Do you want to drive it, or drag it?

x2

[Mick.]

Go the front locker for sure and have a look at the 9500lb winches at repco $699 before you buy the T max one. Some people reckon they are the same winch without the you know what sticker.

LudaCris

There have been a couple of people who have actually pulled them apart and compared the interals and there chalk and cheese. There was actually an artical in a 4wd mag that did the same comparison also. I think it was 4wd austraila magazine.

Cheers Mick.

[sudso]

And you'll have more fun getting stuck with a locker!

[Madmac]

if you go out wheelin alone get the winch, if you go with other vehicles get the locker

[dank]

I've got the warn/ARB Magnum/tabor 9000lb winch on my zook that i picked up second hand. The motor had shit itself so i dropped an warn xd9000 4.6hp motor in and it works a treat. All up $700 bucks. Although I have to admit i have spent more time pulling GQ nissans out than using it on myself....

May be a bit of an overkill for a zook but i think i made the right choice seeing that i've been pulling other people with bigger 4bys out rather than my own ~900kg zook