Outer Limits 4x4 Board

So I drained my rear diff oil the other week and some teeth fell out with it. It has an airlocker in the rear, well it did till I fitted a spare LSD which seems to work well ON road. HP and single spinner sucks.

The thing is, I don't seek out hardcore tracks in this 4Runner much anymore, it's more for camping and hunting. So now I can't decide what's the better option, considering I go out on my own a lot now into Forests etc....

A: Fit the airlocker to the new rear diff, making the vehicle more capable (I will need to buy a new locker harness, my old one caught fire!!!)

B: Sell the locker and compressor (old style) and buy a winch as a failsafe for if/when I get stuck alone.


I guess it's a bit of a catch 22, if I get rid of the ARB it will be a long time before I could afford another one and the vehicle will be less capable (though so far there's rarely anything hardcore out hunting, other than calibres lol.)


So, for solo expeditions, what do you think is better suited? A more capable 4WD with less chance of getting stuck, or one with a better chance of self recovery?


The only other plus of a winch I can think of is the extra functions, like clearing a fallen tree across a track etc...



ps... It's only a dilemma because for the near and distant future, I can only afford one (could only afford a winch by selling locker)

A winch, for sure.

A locker may be good but it can also bury you deeper!!
I have a lokka in the rear and i havent been bogged for 8 months, but there is that one time that it will happen, solo.

A winch will almost certainly get you out of trouble.
In combination with a extension strap, a block or 2, you will get out of just about anything mate.

Keep your terminals clean and once a year, take the motor to an auto elecy and get him to whack new brushes in it and give it a service.

X2 on the winch...

A winch will get you out of a lot more trouble than the locker can get you into ..

Considering these days you can pick up a decent winch with synthetic rope for $800 i'd be going down that road..

Go the winch buddy. If you bottom out on anything major, won't matter if you have a locker. Winch will still get you out of trouble

Wozza244 wrote:A winch, for sure.

A locker may be good but it can also bury you deeper!!
I have a lokka in the rear and i havent been bogged for 8 months, but there is that one time that it will happen, solo.

A winch will almost certainly get you out of trouble.
In combination with a extension strap, a block or 2, you will get out of just about anything mate.

Keep your terminals clean and once a year, take the motor to an auto elecy and get him to whack new brushes in it and give it a service.

locker, and a hilift jack for a winch incase of emergency
or a locker and a hand winch.

locker will get you in the sh#t
winch will get you out of the sh#t

jessie928 wrote:locker, and a hilift jack for a winch incase of emergency
or a locker and a hand winch.

I'd go with fit the locker you have. Make your own wiring harness for no cost.

Then buy a handwinch or even a secondhand low mount winch if you have the bar to suit.

joeblow wrote:locker will get you in the sh#t
winch will get you out of the sh#t

x eleventy.

As you said, you like the LSD with the large HP, so its not really an challenging issue.

Pretty much what I had been thinking.

The only reservation is the selling of a $1500 investment for an $800 winch.




I like the look of the Tigerz11 1200lb and synthetic rope for the value, and the fact it's light. Though it's a big unit, not sure on fitting one in my bar.

-Nemesis- wrote:Pretty much what I had been thinking.

The only reservation is the selling of a $1500 investment for an $800 winch.




I like the look of the Tigerz11 1200lb and synthetic rope for the value, and the fact it's light. Though it's a big unit, not sure on fitting one in my bar.

Then go a good warn xd9000.. pick em up for $500 up, or if you want new, can be had for $1500ish.

Winch for sure!! No doubt about it.

You wouldn't need a 12000lb winch on a surf. 9500lb's plenty on my GQ.


A mate from work regularly goes fishing at the top end (about twice a year). Heads up in his hilux fully loaded with trailer and tinny, on his own. He drives as far as the last boat launching spot, parks up and drops his tinny in the river loaded with a few jerry cans of petrol and water. Heads out to Gulf of Carpenteria and explores a few of the islands out there. Crazy bastard heading out to croc country on his own.

Anyway he just got back from a trip last week where he had to winch twice. One was a 12hr marathon inwhich he had to long winch with all cable and all his straps to reach the nearest tree. He was on a little used track about 300km from anywhere.

A winch made for an enjoyable and safe trip. A locka would have made him a statistic.

If you head out on your own camping and/or hunting then i'd definately say go the winch. Then down the track get a front locka to assist your rear lsd.

GQ Bear wrote:A winch made for an enjoyable and safe trip. A locka would have made him a statistic.

If you head out on your own camping and/or hunting then i'd definately say go the winch. Then down the track get a front locka to assist your rear lsd.

Now how can you argue with this??
Buy a winch, plenty of time for a locker down the track, im a hunter myself and we try to stick to the tracks but sometimes ya end up on the side of a hill, in wet grass that 2 air lockers couldnt get us out of, 4 tyres spun into slicks in less than 5 seconds.
Cant go backward.......
If we tried turning across the hill, 80-90% chance of rolling, so without the winch on old mates ute, we would have been in a cunnava spot!!

Lockers 0
Winch 1

Winch is the MUCH safer option for a solo trip, simple.
Hence the title, for solo trips

If you already have the locker just fit it yourself. Not going to cost you much. I have a complete wiring harness lying around if your interested. Never been used.

Then you can get a winch as well

The main reason I was looking at that Tigerz winch was not for the 12000lb pull, but the fact it's only 23kg. The 9500lb Ironman for example is 40kg, for less pulling power. Though I assume that's mostly in the wire cable.

The 4Runner is already getting a bit obese with the steel barwork so I want to keep weight down as much as I can too.

-Nemesis- wrote:The 4Runner is already getting a bit obese with the steel barwork so I want to keep weight down as much as I can too.

Why all the barwork on something that doesn't go where you need lockers?
Just kangaroo protection?

How about getting one of those cradle electric winch thingys so you can remove it entirely? Or the handwinch of course.

Utemad wrote: Why all the barwork on something that doesn't go where you need lockers?
Just kangaroo protection?

How about getting one of those cradle electric winch thingys so you can remove it entirely? Or the handwinch of course.

It already had the bars, but by 'all the barwork' it's really only the custom rear bar/wheel carrier and sliders. They're off my last 4Runner and are too good to get rid of.



Plus, there's still plenty of trees and rocks in a forest, night time U turns on a tight track etc....

As to the cradle/hitch type I was looking at them. Just not too keen on the space inside the cabin to lug it around.



I keep changing my mind, half me now thinks refit the locker and slowly save up for a winch, best of both worlds. Will just take a while (long)

Why not locker and hand winch while you save your bucks up for a low/high mount?? best of both worlds. youll be able to sell the winch on ebay when time comes to upgrade, and hopefully it wont have been used.

Just fit the locker and keep an eye out for a S/H winch.
I just picked up a Warn M8000 for $400.
Can always put synthetic rope on it later.

Moved a large tree off the track the other day with the winch, easier than getting out the chain etc, just hooked it around the tree dragged it away and kept going.
I have lockers as well but wouldnt be without a winch.

I would keep the locker nad save for the winch .. 2nd had unit, get it serviced .. it doesnt need to be fast just reliable.
Get a hand winch for now ... (very handy to have about regardless ... and great for setting up a decent undercover area when in the bush .. cable between two trees big tarp over the top pin it down at the sides, lots of undercover space to work, not poles etc


Give up the booze for a few weeks or pack you lunch for work (amazing how much you spend on food if buying it each day) I have cut down my monthly expenses by about $200 and lost about 8 kgs in the past two months doing this.

love_mud wrote:I would keep the locker nad save for the winch...Give up the booze for a few weeks or pack you lunch for work...

Are you his Mother? or Wife? Next you'll be telling him to give up the smokes and stop chasing loose women

Another vote for keep the locker and grab a second hand or budget winch, as you said why dump a $1300 locker (later replacment cost) which you will probably only get 500 for if its not 100%.

If you didnt already have the locker I would say get a winch, but since you have it dont get rid of it, maybe hold off on fixing it just yet and grab the tiger winch forlike 650 you can get a 10000 with rope from memory which will be plenty for a surf.

This is the best course of action, obviously as its what i did

but if you dont want the locker which it sounds a bit like, then dump it and get the winch.

another for the winch. don't know how many votes you need to see to prove what is the best thing to do. I have a tigerz11 winch 12000 (don't do 10000 anymore), it's been great and put the locker in later as 90% of the time the locker puts you into places you wouldn't normally get to and if you can't get though then what.just my opinion

go the winch and he said the teeth have broken on his locker id go a winch for sure..

and btw just cos he has bar work doesnt mean he needs lockers lol.. sliders arent for looks mate..

spare wheel carriers serve a purpose.. and a bull bar is to house a wich and offer protection to roos.. trees.. and all sorts of shit..

Utemad wrote:

-Nemesis- wrote:The 4Runner is already getting a bit obese with the steel barwork so I want to keep weight down as much as I can too.

Why all the barwork on something that doesn't go where you need lockers?
Just kangaroo protection?

macneil wrote:and btw just cos he has bar work doesnt mean he needs lockers lol.. sliders arent for looks mate..

spare wheel carriers serve a purpose.. and a bull bar is to house a wich and offer protection to roos.. trees.. and all sorts of shit..

So what you're saying is that you agree with me?
Thanks for that.