Winch or Diff?

[44hunter45]

Timely thread. I had to chain up to get out of the driveway this morning.

For all you nay-sayers. The Sitka Stormfront system is aces when you are laying crotch deep in slush under your drive wheels chaining up. Peeled 'em off at work to reveal polo shirt and crisp khakis.

@wllm1313 - Not wanting to hijack Jason's thread. This pic is from a couple years back. Everything past the transformer pole is driveway. Lasers at 198 yards from the garage door to the county road. Included in the pic is our P.O.S. Hughesnet dish.

Hidden behind that shed is my one owner 1983 Toyota 4x4. My future Idaho Assault Vehicle. In its current state it has seen better days.

 

[madtom]

Receiver-mounted winch also easily transfers to future vehicles. We have them for our work trucks and it saves me about once/year.

 

[marksjeep]

If you go the receiver style, only suggestion is to not leave it installed in the receiver while just driving around. Had a coworker that drove all over on some pretty gnarly washboard with one installed on a front receiver. Receiver pin eventually rattled out or got caught on something, winch ended up under the truck. Took out the tranny pan in the process.

 

[Bambistew]

IMO, if you need any of those, you probably shouldn't be there in the first place. Use the quads god gave you, or buy a quad to do the stupid chit and save your pickup for the roads.

 

[SD_Prairie_Goat]

My vote would be for diff work, but that's mainly cause I don't know where you tend to get stuck. Where I'm at there is not a tree in sight to winch to normally...

 

[mtmuley]

Get a winch. It will at least look cool when a diff lock gets you what you need. mtmuley

 

[MTLabrador]

I would just trade the Tundra in for an eChevy.

 

[Beignet]

My vote would be for diff work, but that's mainly cause I don't know where you tend to get stuck. Where I'm at there is not a tree in sight to winch to normally...

Last time I got myself good and stuck there wasn’t a tree or even a fence post in sight. I was cursing the open diff on that one.

 

[Beignet]

How’s about a good come along, recovery rope, and some snatch blocks or something?

Agree with a previous poster that paying someone to install a LSD or locker is going to be pricey. I don’t even want to admit how much I spent having my own rear dif rebuilt. Wish I had the cash to put a locker or LSD in when that got did.

Winches do look tuff though.

 

[Irrelevant]

I went with LSD because I have zero experience with any of it and it seemed like it would be the best application for mixed use.

 

[JLS]

IMO, if you need any of those, you probably shouldn't be there in the first place. Use the quads god gave you, or buy a quad to do the stupid chit and save your pickup for the roads.

I don’t think a quad is probably on the budget for now. I can think of a couple of times I wasn’t able to get unstuck with chains and a shovel. I don’t anticipate it’s something I’d use a lot, I’m a little risk averse when I’m by myself (which is about 80-90%) of the time. Just trying to give myself options if I get in a pickle.

 

[MTLabrador]

LSD

That’s legal in Washington, right? Could also go with PCP and just lift the truck out of the snow yourself.

 

[JLS]

That’s legal in Washington, right? Could also go with PCP and just lift the truck out of the snow yourself.

Totes

 

[JLS]

Get a winch. It will at least look cool when a diff lock gets you what you need. mtmuley

Thanks, that’s a great idea! Looks are pretty high in my priority list.

 

[JLS]

How’s about a good come along, recovery rope, and some snatch blocks or something?

Agree with a previous poster that paying someone to install a LSD or locker is going to be pricey.

That’s a thought as well. Another member is sending me info on some heavy duty recovery come alongs.

I haven’t asked my shop for a quote yet. Think more than five hours to install an Auburn limited slip? Parts are about five bills.

 

[Hammsolo]

A couple of thoughts… it’s really driver dependent. Winches are cool, but rarely used. If you went new front bumper the increased weight can really change driving dynamics. We’ve all seen those trucks with a heavy nose. You may need to work on front suspension… the winch can be a true life saver. I’d do one if I thought I’d really use it.

I have switchable lockers front and rear on my truck and haven’t got it stuck yet. It goes like crazy in snow and mud. I also have rescue boards, chains, and a come along just in case. I’ve been ripping around Spokane drifting in 4 locked up… so fun. Southhill grumpy ladies love me. Brap!!!

I hunt Central Washington and Eastern Montana each year and winch points can be hard to find. They do have some crazy winch anchors now though.

We all know wisdom is the key.

 

[Elkmagnet]

IMO, if you need any of those, you probably shouldn't be there in the first place. Use the quads god gave you, or buy a quad to do the stupid chit and save your pickup for the roads.

This just isn't feasible in some areas. You wouldn't be able to leave the pavement in Owyhee County right now. 7,600 sq mi covered in roads and you are starting your walk from the highway because hardly anything gets plowed. I couldn't get to a few friends houses without lockers and chains last week.

 

[marksjeep]

Gear sets used to take me about 6 hours on dana and gm axles, and I didn't do them every day so I was slow. Never messed with a yota though. So 5 hours for a shop that knows them seems pretty fair for budgeting.

 

[Beignet]

That’s a thought as well. Another member is sending me info on some heavy duty recovery come alongs.

I haven’t asked my shop for a quote yet. Think more than five hours to install an Auburn limited slip? Parts are about five bills.

Actually, that doesn’t sound too bad if the shop hourly is reasonable.

I haven’t looked at all this stuff in a while, but have you considered an Eaton Detroit Truetrac? If I recall, they need less maintenance than the clutch style LSD’s, not to mention quieter when they engage.

 

[Beignet]

Gear sets used to take me about 6 hours on dana and gm axles, and I didn't do them every day so I was slow. Never messed with a yota though. So 5 hours for a shop that knows them seems pretty fair for budgeting.

Yoters kind of stink as there’s no access cover to the rear diff. You’ve got to yank the whole third member out to access the gears (at least on my 25 year old truck, have no idea what newer ones look like).