Front locker, winch, both or neither.

[Mc4by]

Just wondering what choice others have made for their Trolls.
I am not a rock crawler but I am happy to follow the trail less taken.

[MB]

G'day Mc4by, if it were down to coin of only being able to afford one option I'd personally recommend the winch mate. Lockers are awesome but they can also get you deeper than before into trouble and still need winching out.

[stevemc181]

Most of my travels are as a solo vehicle, so I'd agree with the above, get the winch first. It makes it a hell of a lot easier to self recover in the middle of nowhere, or even to drag it up a section of track your having trouble with.
I have the factory rear locker, but will also be adding an e-locker to the front when funds allow. Not essential for the majority of what we do, but makes it a bit easier to have some vehicle sympathy when required.

[TimE]

I'm a tourer who likes to get into some pretty remote places, so I'm locked both ends and run a winch with plastic rope. So far have managed to get out of places I would have been still stuck in without the "toys"��

[mudnut]

A winch can also be used to clear tracks of fallen trees, etc. And can be easily set up as a flying fox over swimming holes too.

[Winnie]

Winch first for sure. Get the locker down the track if you can.

[Hodge]

Both is great. But if it came to choice, winch, hands down.

[Clunk]

As above winch first, locker later

[mudski]

Another vote for a winch...

[threedogs]

winch every time, .
Last 4x4 had 2 x lockers made 4x4ing more gentle on the drive train being able to idle up most hills with ease.
Ill probably fit a locker to the front of my Patrol at some stage, but happy with it as it is now, I have a Warn 9.5 XP


EDIT::: A Patrol with a 50mm lift and say mud tyres will get you most places, a locker will get you that bit further.
As Ben-e says get what you like really depends what style of driving you want to do, slow technical stuff a F/R locker
is a must. If travelling alone a winch could be a life saver

[Ben-e-boy]

Get whatever you want mate. I ran lockers for years before I got a winch, I only got a winch because it was free, even then I still havn't used it for recovery yet.

[MB]

A winch can also be used to clear tracks of fallen trees, etc. And can be easily set up as a flying fox over swimming holes too.
I like the flying fox idea Mr Mudnut, will try that one day for fun with the kids soon mate :-)
Clearing trees, winches are a must up our Vic high country if you're wanting to get to camp before dark. My high mount in the old days, 48Lm of cable served me well too hauling the boat up Walkerville beach at low tide keeping the old FJ out of the sludge out there, diff locked tractors would get bogged there!

[Mc4by]

Thank you all for your responses.
So far if it has looked too risky I have chosen the chicken tracks, mainly because the destination was more important than the journey.
That is likely to change a bit as I gain more experience.
The winch is half the price so that adds to the decision making process.

[MB]

Sounds fair Mc4by mate! Please do allow extra in your good winch budget for extras like quality shackles, tree trunk protectors, snatch block, rope I'm now finally learning too etc.. There's ripper threads on here somewhere from the winch and recovery legends like MudRunnerTD & Evil Twin. No point stuffing your pride and joy up if not needed. Like Steve said above, if its struggling up a hill, just stop and drag her up with the winch, bit slower, but much cheaper in the long run :-) !

[PeeBee]

As above winch first, locker later

Agree 100%. I am double locked and winches both ends, but I know the winches are there to save the day.

[PeeBee]

Also remember you simply need friction to move forward, so if its greasy like oiled glass, difflocks won't help. At least with a winch you can attempt to drag yourself out of the situation with certainty, provided it is working of course.

[mudnut]

I like the flying fox idea Mr Mudnut, will try that one day for fun with the kids soon mate :-)
Clearing trees, winches are a must up our Vic high country if you're wanting to get to camp before dark. My high mount in the old days, 48Lm of cable served me well too hauling the boat up Walkerville beach at low tide keeping the old FJ out of the sludge out there, diff locked tractors would get bogged there!

Mr Mudnut is my dad, dude:) I can foretell a heap of flying fox fails posted on youtube soon.

[MEGOMONSTER]

Winch first.
Cos not only does it help you, it will also help others in need of help.


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[Cuppa]

I'm a tourer who likes to get into some pretty remote places, so I'm locked both ends and run a winch with plastic rope. So far have managed to get out of places I would have been still stuck in without the "toys"��

Our setup is intended for similar use. Has a front mounted winch but am intending to get an e-locker fitted to the front as extra ‘insurance’ as we will travel solo. I’m a conservative 4wd’er & when a long way from anywhere will always choose the ‘chicken track’ where available, but there will no doubt be times when there is only one way to go. My view is that the winch is a recovery tool, whereas the locker will be to allow me to use less momentum & thus lower the risk of damage to the car. Recently got a quote from Harrop’s in Melbourne to supply & fit - $2160 including new carrier bearings. Could get it done locally but have heard a couple of stories about the local workmanship, & I reckon Harrops themselves should know how to fit it properly. Will get it done when I’ve completed my shed project.

[Patrol'n]

Just my opinion, go the winch first. I've used my winch a lot (way more than I thought I would), granted mostly for pulling other people out of trouble or trees out of the way, but the couple of times I've used it for me, I've been very happy I had it!

[threedogs]

Runva do a very affordable winch, with dyneema/plasma rope that wont break the bank.
I know plenty of ppl that have brought a winch and have never used them.
I had 30mtrs of steel rope cable made years ago as an extension if ever I needed it
with eyelets each end, but winching has changed over the years, [safer]
but these days you can buy 30mtrs of Dyneema ,much safer and a lot lighter to boot.
Dont forget to do a recovery course, there are huge forces present when winching

[MB]

A lot of blokes do seem to be praising the Runva's you mention TD, what are they worth roughly mate for a 9,000lb ish size one?

[macca]

Got both a locker and a winch.
Use the locker most trips mainly because I err on the side of "might as well use it seen I've got it".
Winch is hardly used, definitely not in the last 12 months.
So the locker is much more useful.

[Clunk]

A lot of blokes do seem to be praising the Runva's you mention TD, what are they worth roughly mate for a 9,000lb ish size one?

around the $785 mark for the 11XP

Got mine for $700 couple of years ago

[MB]

Cheers Clunk mate, that is a bargain, under $1k including all the extra bits can't go too wrong there!

[Bush Ranger]

I`d go for winch and rear locker if I was to get both.

[Hodge]

Cheers Clunk mate, that is a bargain, under $1k including all the extra bits can't go too wrong there!
They're a bloody good bit of kit for what you pay for. They went up a bit in price. I opted for the premium version which is IP67 rated and has a click in/out selector. It was under 800 a year and a half ago, now its gone up to just under 1k.

[MEGOMONSTER]

A lot of blokes do seem to be praising the Runva's you mention TD, what are they worth roughly mate for a 9,000lb ish size one?

I have one on my trol and have had water problem and had it repaired under warranty.
Took a long time to be returned but working well still.

I got stuck in sticky mud and was winching almost flat out for ten to fifteen minutes.
Winch was outstanding.
3/4 way through someone said stop winching so I don't overheat the winch.
BA went in and said that it wasn't even warm yet so I kept going.
http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/images/imported/2017/02/51.jpghttp://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/images/imported/2017/02/52.jpghttp://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/images/imported/2017/02/53.jpg


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[MB]

That's Gold Mego mate. Seriously thick underbelly sticky sh#t there, most winches would fry:-) !