I dunno...I would say the winch is much more valueable in terms of trail "insurance". Sure you can go farther with a locker without getting out of your truck...but what about the unexpected? What if a truck breaks down...or even worse...rolls over...? It's not something we like to think about, but I would certainly value a winch in those situations more than a locker.

I'm not dissing the locker at all...I actually plan on getting that before the winch. However, that's only because 90% of the trips I go on have someone else with a winch (and I'm cautious enough to avoid winching situations). <knocks on wood>

However, in this situation, I have a good feeling that Oly is gonna feel the benefit from the bumper/winch long before he would for the locker.

Jim

 

I have used my ARB Locker a whole lot more then the wench that I don't have. I have also not needed a wench. As long as someone in your group has a wench then you will not need one. I would get the locker first then the wench down the road, well that is what I am doing anyway.

Gadget

www.GadgetOnline.com

 

Matt, I mean finish the trail.

Oly, I am not very sure about Montana wheeling, but I am sure about the snow. Headed to U of M, what are you learning?

I have friends in Lewistown and Winifred. My grandma used to have a place that was about half way between those places.

Skydigger, I think you learn to drive better with IFS rather than starting with a solid axle. I really think that going from a stock open diffed rig that is IFS to a locked solid axle on 35's is like handing the keys to a Ferari to a 16 year old.

 

I thought Montana State was in Bozeman? But, who knows, I could be wrong about that.

 

Spaced, MSU is Bozeman.

I was thinking of Missoula.

 

I'll let it slide...but just this time

 

Flygtenstein, I'm going to be studying chemical engineering.

Anyway's I think that I'm going with the locker. Most of my friends say that I should go with the locker also. Hopefully I'll get a good price for it!

 

my 2$ Id go with the locker, just because it would be nice not to have to go 4wd to get off the ice in my driveway. Two years ago I would have said bumper and winch but pevention and practicallity dictate the locker.

 

L O :alien: C K E R

I still have never used my winch. It easier to hook another truck or just imporve your driving skill than draggin that stupid line out and wasteing all that time reeling it back in.

LOCK IT BABY!

 

Congradualtions on you pending marriage.

I have yet to use my WINCH as well.

 

Another vote for a locker. There will be a time when you wish you had a winch though.

 

I got myself stuck in snow/mud, and I was only 25 feet way from some trees I could have pulled myself out with if I had a winch, or a come-along for that matter. I would go with the bumper/winch, becuase I could have gotten out with the locker, but then I just would have gone up farther till even the locker wouldn't save me.

 

Im gonna buy a welder and invest some time into that make my own rock sliders and eventually bumpers. Ill get a winch first cause the people I go wheeling with are pretty new and so am I. Im not ready to use a locker yet so if I cant make it up without one then its time to turn around.

 

Holy time warp, Batman!



Jim

 

i say go for the bullbar first of all for protection... but then go for the locker! get the winch later, hi lifts and straps can substitute for a winch. and an arb locker comes with a compressor so my votes for an arb up front and an arb locker
good luck
andy