Winch or LSD?

Eaton locker? Why that first?

 

I am often not in cell range and it sounds like the OP may find himself in the same position. I am all for buying beer when help is needed though.

 

This, and I’m often 3-10 hours from home. It’s rare I don’t have a cooler of beer next to the dog crate.

 

Hefty Fabworks is already working on a winch bumper for the 22 Frontier but will be pricey. I plan on getting the E locker used in the Pro4X. Not an Eaton, a Dana. The wiring is already there. Just need to install the switch. My dealer will let me know when the "Electric" locker is available. They will do the locker install. I'd still to the locker first if the HF bumper was available now. Simply preference. I may forego the bumper and just get a winch cradle with the Smitty for convenience. Will be easier on the wallet, plus I'd only use when heading out to the boonies. All about preference and use for me.

 

I think there are some gps devices that allow you to message others without cell coverage, might have a monthly service fee though so it may or may not be an option. $20 a month for an outdoorsman to have emergency communications options isn't terrible if you are frequently out of cell range.

 

Yep. InReach. I carry one with me.

 

Have you experienced a Powertrax firsthand? I had one in my 2001 and it was crude and rough when turning etc. Pops thumps etc. It works but rough and only for off-road use IMO. I pulled it and installed a TRD LSD OEM.

 

I have a Garmin

Were you using a Powertrax Grip Pro LSD or one of their other offerings? My powertrax has been buttery smooth, can't even tell it's there but floor it and it'll light up both tires. Actually amazing how discrete and effective it is.

 

I'm waiting to drive down the road and see someone with a Starlink dish mounted to the top of their bed rack... hmm, I have a bed rack

 

If you’re going out alone then get the winch.

Can still get stuck with lsd then wtf do you do? Call a friend with a winch?

 

or a tow strap…

 

Yea but what if they don’t have the lsd and they get stuck before they get to you?

 

haha, yeah winch won’t help much either then

 

I meant the tow strap won’t help lol

If I had a winch I could take the truck all the way down the trail 40 feet at a time lmao. Would take a couple weeks though

 

Winch, tow strap, snatch block, extension rope, and a clevis will get you anywhere you want to go. Take it from guy that has spent a lot of years in the hard-core off road world and saw a lot of people go places with a winch that I would have never thought they would go. If you're gonna depend on a winch, spend money on a good one. American made Warn. How much is the LSD installed gonna cost you? Spend that much on a winch and recovery gear and not worry about getting stuck. Even without trees nearby, you can purchase a portable winch ground anchor to toss in the bed of the truck.

Long story short, a winch will take you places full lockers front and back will never take you. Look at hard-core rock crawlers. They all run winches! There is a reason why.

 

They also run lockers. But I agree with you. Each has benefit. I am of the belief that if you get stuck and are alone backward is the primary option. I also live in an area that is not winch friendly and in cold months digging an anchor point is not an option.

 

A winch with a snatch block will pull you backwards.

I do understand not being able to dig an anchor point in the winter but a locker can get you in situations you can't get out of. Situations a winch can.

 

If you can set an anchor. Again it’s all preference. I go as far as regular 4 WD will take me, locker out. This has worked for ME on solo trips. I have never needed a winch for solo self recovery. A high lift, traction boards and a locker are all I have needed to get out of my less than ideal situations. Other options may vary as well as experiences.

 

To that point, a highlift can be used as a winch. I agree, everyone's experiences and experience is different.

 

For hunting , I'd go winch. LSD and your tires can only go so far if you get pulled into a ditch, stuck in mud or snow a winch can keep you going , winches do need something to winch off so if your going into an area solo without trees it may be hard to find a winch point.

A second vehicle with a kinetic strap is the best option but not possible for everyone. Going solo in the backcountry will always carry lots of risk.

 

I use non synthetic gear lube without friction modifiers and the Grip Pro is silent as well. The only thing that you can hear is the inside tire chirping when taking off on turns. I am happy so far.

 

I often take my truck to isolated places solo, and I’d go with a winch over LSD.

I don’t put my Tundra in really nasty articulated spots where a selectable locker really shines over mechanical LSD, and I’ve found the Atrac to be pretty decent. Not perfect, but the differential braking combined with chains, I’ve never had to get a tug in over 5 years of owning it. Maybe partly because I’m getting old and the fact that I usually take the quad though the tougher places these days.

I had a winch on two previous trucks (both with open diffs), and got in the habit of looking for a solid tree, stump, or boulder to anchor on before deciding to go ahead in an iffy spot, or to turn around.

 

A winch is where I'd put my money, way more uses for a winch in general purpose things around the house or out on the trial. The day you add a LSD with out a winch and get stuck will make you regret the LSD over a winch. as for people who say there's nothing to winch to , just bring what's operate for the conditions of the terrain, whether its Tree straps, Land anchor, rotary hammer and 6" drop in anchors for 1" or 7/8s Eye hooks.

 

Focus on that. LSD is more general purpose and will help you keep up momentum and prevent getting stuck in the first place. Works anywhere that tires are on the ground without any setup required. Add a set of good traction ramps to it for if you do happen to get stuck.

I’ve got a sdhq mount and warn 12k winch I’d sell you for cheap if you were near by. If you’re not off-roading regularly with the intent of finishing the trail there’s better ways to spend the money. My mistake was forgetting I have no free time any more and my days of thrashing a daily driver are behind me for the foreseeable future.

Having a winch doesn’t mean you will avoid a tow truck bill. If you’re not getting stuck frequently already and wanting to continue moving forward after that, you might be wasting a ton of money. Or wanting to go places you can’t now … but in that case 33s are the first item to address.

 

Food for thought, many hardcore wheelers add lockers front and back when they get sick of winching. But as said above, they can get you into a more difficult situation due to the increased traction where a winch will become a necessity.

 

I’d love to do this, but it’s probably cost prohibitive at this point. I can do the winch setup for about $1500 if I do the work myself. Just the rear locker alone is that much, plus shop labor for the install.