Alright, here's the scoop: I have been planning my next mod (asides from the lift I have yet to install) and I've always thought that a rear locker would be next on the list. I am moving from Arizona back to Wisconsin early next year and I've been thinking: would I be better off getting a nice winch/bumper combo? I think I could get away with having a non-selectable rear locker in this arid climate but back in the frozen tundra of Wisconsin I've heard this would be not so great an idea because of driveability issues. I'm also thinking I could pull friends cars out of ditches with the winch in the snow. I was on 4crawlers website and a handful of others and they reccomended a winch over lockers because a winch will always get you out.

Give me your opinion, especially those that have driven a non-selectable locker in snowy weather.

thanks a bunch

 

selectable locker, then winch.. Thats the order i did, and honestly I use the selectable charesterisitc WAAAAYYYY more than the winch.. even when compared in preportion...

 

I went with the winch first (still haven't gotten around to the locker). The locker will be much more fun, and it will get used much more than a winch. But to be fair, a winch will give you peace of mind you can't get from traction alone. A winch can also get you out of situations where lockers would be of little help (deep snow).

My advice:
Save up a little more and get both.

 

I say winch first. Then save for a selectable.

 

Thanks for the responses, i appreciate it. Keep them coming.

 

I found that with a hilift and a locker you can go places and get back.. The winch is nice to have, but really goes unused on most every trip, the locker gets the piss used out of it...

 

Locker

 

i got a locker first. no regrets, them things help lots. just be sure to wheel with others then. there was one time i got stuck pre-winch that i had to call for help. just be careful while winchless not to get stuck or even close to to that situation when alone.

 

Locker. I got a rear locker and i love it i go places a lot easier

 

Locker..that is an easy one.

 

I have neither yet, but I will be adding a E-Locker first. I always have a come-a-long with me. I do need to get some winch extension straps so I can hook up to a better tree when they are further away. I have also been thinking about getting a Hi-Lift jack with the winch kit. I would probably go quicker then a come-a-long.

 

i would say winch... a locker is nice and will help when you need more traction, but wont get you out of a serious muddy rut or over an obstacle that you cant climb (such as a wet steep hill) recovery first, even if just a hilift. recovery before nifty things like lockers, plus a bumper is protection, very important in my opinion, the more armor the better

 

Notice that the majority of the people who said "locker" live in the freakin desert. Obviously in most situations a locker would be ahead in the priority. But the fact that he will be in an area where snowfall will be heavy and frequent an automatic locker will be more of a hinderance than a blessing. A locker will do you no good when you slide off the road and are stuck in 2ft of snow or worse. Not to mention. A locker will not help you get other friends out as well as a winch.

Even if he got a selectable locker and a come a long, I swear every time I used my come a long i thought Id loose a finger, and it takes so much energy to use. Not to mention you have to stop and choke up the chain every so many cranks or you run out of wire rope....ok in a pinch but a total PITA.

 

Yes and No... I bought my locker before my winch, and all i did back then was snow... I found that when you slide off the road a hilift and come-a-long work better anyhow, usually a winch pull from that situation is at too sharp and angle. And a selectable locker and chains is very very effective.

 

I know that a selectable would come first, but he is deciding between a winch or an automatic locker from what he first posted.

From my personal experience. Everytime I've used a come a long or hilift, or both at the same time, it was always a scary situation. Most of the time ending in me exausting myself cranking on the levers, or the hi-lift sliding off, and putting a gash in my friends jeep. They usually take more time and energy than they benifit you.....not that they aren't useful which they certainly have been for me, but had I had a winch, I would have been much happier, and not almost been frozen to death.

Everytime I've used a winch, with the exception of the time the guy floored it in reverse and ripped his wire rope off the drum....I've had nothing but good luck with winching. There was only one time when having a winch on the front would have not helped me, and that was because there was NO way that I could have continued forward motion without excavating a couple hundred pounds of dirt and rock. But that's a whole different story....

 

true, i misread the non-selectable part...

You dont want a non-selectable period if you live near snow/ice. You will not like it.. thats the reason I have the ARB. Save for a selectable...

 

locker. You'll use it every trip. Winch...Usually all you need is a buddy with a strap. You might want the winch a few times a year.

I live in Colorado. The 'runner is my daily driver. I used an automatic locker (or 2) for 6 years of snow and ice. No big deal.
However, it sure is nice with the selectable lockers on a daily driver. The added expense was worth it to me after so many years with the lockright(s).

 

I've found that with my factory locker on my bone stock Runner I usually got into situations that I couldn't get out of without a buddy/Strap or a winch. I say If you can't get a selectable locker (e-locker, ARB) then the winch/bumper is the better choice. You gain impact protection and peace of mind. If you end up getting the locker look into a Hi-lift with full accesory kit or a manual winch like the BlackRat. ExpeditionsWest has a great review on it.

 

i went ARB and winch LONG before i had the rear locker....

in hindsite there was no other mod that was more usefull than a rear locker, at the same time ive used my winch in places that even with the rear locker id still been stuck... (not to mention the pull the friends out thing)

 

Not to thread hi-jack, but more specifically.. where can you get a decent e-locker besides a 3rd gen with the option? I've seen the Eaton e-locker (first hit on google) but can't seem to find any other brand...