ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum
ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: zutefisk on April 14, 2005, 03:21:06 PM
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Saw a question like this on a Jeep board when I was researching off brand winches.
If you had to chose between locker or winch, what would you chose and why?
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If you wheel alone a lot Id say winch, Otherwise Id say locker. A winch will get you out of a jam and prevent body damage. A locker will help your rig perform better and prevent you from needing a winch. ;)
Mike
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I made the locker choice it's a cheaper option if you go with an automatic one.
If you want selectable then read the above post.
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Personally I went Winch, armor, and recovery first, then lift and tires. I hope to have lockers in there someday, but my truck is very capable without them. My reasoning was that while wheeling on stock tires, I would need the skidplates to protect the undercarriage and the winch to pull my self out when I inevitably got stuck. Plus I learned a lot about the limits of my truck by wheeling it stock first, even if it did tear up my truck in the process...
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 Get a poor man's winch (come a long and tow straps) and the locker!  Samis are light enough, the come a long works pretty well and you will love the locker!!
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saftey and self recovery have always came first to me
jason
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thats a hard decision! 8)
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If you like pulling other people out all of the time and putting wear and tear for free on your winch go for it, if you like to have fun and say sorry my rig is too light to pull you out and my clutch is bad, get the locker, I pulled my lockers out to put in lower gears two years ago and have been wheeling with the local club and have only had to be strapped five times, four of them was on purpose, not bad for open diffs and have had many a fourty thousand dollar jeep try to follow me and needed a winch to pull them out.
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One can get you out of trouble, the other can keep you out of trouble, they both tempt you to get in deeper and steeper.
If you travel with a group, the locker is kind of a courtesy to the group because they don't have to wait for you to winch your way out of little trouble.
If you travel alone, the winch will get you out of trouble until it stops working.
No matter what the choice, you've gotta have a jack and strap.
If there is a jeep full of bikini models door deep in a mud hole, the winch will probably get you more action than the lockers.
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Not if you try to get them all in your sammie and give them a ride. ;D
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Man thats a hard choice !!!
I think I'd have the locker first ( selectable locker that is) as quite often when I'm stuck all it takes to get out is the rear locker to be engaged, where as if it was a auto lockers you ace card is up as soon as your stuck ;).
The winch is handy for wheeling alone but I've been caught out many times by not having a ground anchor or winch extension strap with me and the nearest trees like 200' away, I guess it all comes down to "go prepared and be prepared" :-/
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An auto locker is cheaper... $2-300, where a good winch is going to be $4-500.
Get a locker and a come-along as others have said, and then save up for a winch. ;)
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I had lockers first and then the winch but I don't wheel alone(at the moment) so a winch wasn't as important but as Mudfkr pointed out a winch is still no good if you haven't got anything to winch from or can't reach something.
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I've hardly used my winch at all. I almost always wheel with other people and just get a strap and a tug to get out.
So, it depends on what kind of wheeler you are. If you go where you need to get through and lockers won't do it for you get the winch.
If your a "I'll try it and you can pull me out" person, go for the lockers.
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I have 175 feet of synthetic line on my winch, and sometimes, when I'm stuck in deep snow, I need ALL of it to get unstuck (yes, I get stuck, even with the lockers on). I agree with Mike.
Oh, and the lockers turn your rig into an entirely different beast!
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I have done sooo many mods to my rig, and have yet to buy a winch. Not that I don't need one mind you! Just haven't gotten one yet. BUT..I'm rarely alone when I wheel and theres always someone ready to throw a strap if need be. Plus everytime I start thinking about buying a winch, I start looking at the price tags and get scared...lol.
I have had to use my Bloomfield Jack and tow straps to winch myself up off some rocks I was stuck on bad after I fried my clutch trying to get up them. A winch would have been nice (and a LOT easier), but the jack worked as well.
I guess you just need to sit down and figure out which would be more use to you in the long run.
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My vote ... locker(s) then winch ...
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I'm stuck on winches, this is from driving 4wheelers though. he he I agree there isn't much to winch to in the middle of a bog but then If you're in the middle of a bog I fail to see how you'll get any traction with a locker unless you sink to the bottom of the lake. ;D How big of a come-along should a look for? I have a 2 door and I don't want it busting and taking someone out.
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I have to admit I am looking at locker B4 winch only becuz of the price ....a come along is a manual winch anyways and alot cheaper...
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lockers seem best to start with, unless you go out on your own - I've taken the plunge and got a winch, but mega probs in getting a bumper in UK. with respect to uk manufacturers, nothing looks as good as the calmini bumper, but the price is high here 465£ + vat = say 550£ = 990$ !!!!!
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i got lockers first and a high lift and a comealong , i used to wheel alone with my sone all the time and spent manny hours trying to free my sammy from a spot i put myself in . you can get in a lot of trouble with lockers cuz when your stuck ,YOUR STUCK. and ive learned a lot about vehicle extraction, and id still get lockers first . but if im wheeling alone im just killing time anyway.
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well a locker will get you in a bad stuck and a winch will get you out. I always figured if i couldn't make the trail at least i would get out. I would say winch first. and you can always get a winch post and tree straps you don't need another car to hook to with right equipment.
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I think lockers are a good choice you dont have to beat your rig as hard to get places. A person can get help from buds to get unstuck, unless you wheel alone.
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I just put my locker in. And let me tell you I LOVE IT I LOVE IT I LOVE IT. Yeah its sweet and I LOVE IT!
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LOCKERS................NUFF SAID
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I have to say, I am in the middle of this dilemma myself right now. I am still leaning in the directions of a selectable locker myself. Just biding my time.
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Sometimes lockers get you into *sticky situations* which require a winch to get out...
~Nate
8)
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I have to admit I am looking at locker B4 winch only becuz of the price ....a come along is a manual winch anyways and alot cheaper...
Agree. But don't buy a come along, get a Hi Lift jack or a NATO approved Jackall jack (Same as hi lift) and 20 feet of good chain.