So what's next....

1618 Views 12 Replies 11 Participants Last post by Chris S, Oct 13, 2001

Discussion Starter · Oct 11, 2001

I'm trying to figure out what to get next for my YJ. I already have a lift and tires but I really want a rear locker or a winch. I'm not made of money. I can only affoard one of these now and it'll probly be 6 months or so before I get the other. Which do I get first?

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High Country Explorers
Red YJ 4" lift
"I hope that was the skidplate"
www.members.home.net/ichris4x4/index

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Jeepasaurus

· #2 · Oct 11, 2001

Id go for a winch personally. I have a front locker and my next mod is going to be a lift and then winch.

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Blue 1981 CJ5 31" tires 1" body lift
*Damnit, anyone see where that door went?"

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jeepster

· #3 · Oct 12, 2001

Go for the rear locker. It will make the most difference in your wheeling. Winches are helpful but as long as you dont go wheeling alone you should be fine for recovery purposes.

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Y-James

· #4 · Oct 12, 2001

I say get some aftermarket company stickers such as: Warn, Rancho, etc.. that way as you drive down the street everyone will think your Jeep is a fully built hardcore trail machine.
Kinda like those guys who put Type R stickers on their Civics. hehe

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1988 YJ Laredo

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OptBlackNite

· #5 · Oct 12, 2001

I agree with jeepster. I think that the locker would be more useful, or at least used more often.

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Play hard + Rest easy
Drive a Jeep--'92 YJ
Option...Black Nite

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AndrewH

· #6 · Oct 12, 2001

Originally posted by Y-James:

Kinda like those guys who put Type R stickers on their Civics. hehe

my buddy would take offence to that. he has a 89 civic hatch-back with a v-tec sticker on it....but he has a 190 hp v-tec in there out of a 98. so be careful with the sticker comment!!!!!!!! that car is lite and FAST.

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'93 sahara ~ rancho springs, SOA, EB axles, detroit, 35s, and hi steer in the works

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nikon_jeeper

· #7 · Oct 12, 2001

Go for a front locker....

...that way it won't lock on you while driving on the road. Turns the Jeep into a different vehicle off the road though.

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Phil M. - Kent, WA
95 XJ Sport w/Stuff
"Who cares about a list of crap, can you drive it?"

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AndrewH

· #8 · Oct 12, 2001

Originally posted by nikon_jeeper:
Go for a front locker....

i would have to disagree completely..... 90% of the time when is a locker really important? going up a rocky trail/hill/over logs etc. so ask your self if the weight of your vehicle is over the front or back tires when going up???? (unless you are going backwards)

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'93 sahara ~ rancho springs, SOA, EB axles, detroit, 35s, and hi steer in the works

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stihl036

· #9 · Oct 12, 2001

My vote is for the winch. Get a snatch block too.

You will be surprised at how many uses you have for it. I think that it makes you way more self sufficent (sp?). Relying on others is a gamble at best. You da man.

WW

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1983 CJ5, 8274, 3" lift, 235/85R/16,OBA,OBB!
1984 Chev 3/4 ton 4X4
1999 Dodge Dakota 4x4. The dragon's truck!

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Joe M

· #10 · Oct 12, 2001

Originally posted by nikon_jeeper:
Go for a front locker....

...that way it won't lock on you while driving on the road. Turns the Jeep into a different vehicle off the road though.

That depends on if he has manual or auto hubs too. If he's got auto hubs, he's still going to deal with squirrely handling.

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Stock 2000 Jeep TJ Sport
(I don't know anything, don't listen to my advice)

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lars

· #11 · Oct 12, 2001

Originally posted by Baby Joe:
That depends on if he has manual or auto hubs too. If he's got auto hubs, he's still going to deal with squirrely handling.

It's a YJ...there are no factory locking hubs, manual or otherwise. It uses an axle disconnect system and when it's in 2WD, the locker will be unnoticable.

Before recommending a locker, you need to consider if you're going to be upgrading your rear axle. If you are, then you will be buying another rear locker when that time comes. Do you really want to do this twice? If so, then I'd go for the locker first, winch second. If not, then go for the winch.

That pretty much means that I'd also go for the rear locker, rather than the front.

If you spend a lot of time 'wheeling on your own, however, the winch should be your primary purchase.

...lars

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19911995409993004:144444.103512.58274

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Chris Epp

· #12 · Oct 12, 2001

Originally posted by lars:
It's a YJ...there are no factory locking hubs, manual or otherwise. It uses an axle disconnect system and when it's in 2WD, the locker will be unnoticable.

Did you not notice his signature included "(I don't know anything, don't listen to my advice)"???

Seriosuly, thanks for all the input guys. I've ordered a 2" lift, and have a 1" body lift going on. This should hold me out until I'm ready for the SOA...

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'94 YJ

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Chris S

· #13 · Oct 13, 2001

WINCH WINCH WINCH WINCH WINCH WINCH WINCH

A locker will take you into harder terrain, where sometimes having another vehicle doesn't help one bit when you are stuck.

Personal experience:
1 - I was climbing a steep curving hill and didn't make it. When I was backing up the front end slid around and I ended up sideways on the trail. I'm 200 feet from the top and 80 feet from the bottom. There was no way another vehcile could help me, but a quick pull from a winch would have straightened me out.
2 - a buddy drops a tire in a canyon of a washout on a steep climb. His Zuk is close to flipping backwards, and again there is no hope of getting a vehicle in front of him to pull him. We had to tie straps to the front end and hang on to them ourselves while he puched the gas in reverse and prayed our weight was enough to keep him from going over. With a winch we could have pulled him forward safely.
3- My XJ broke through the snow and fell into a creek that had undercut the hard pack snow. The truck with me could not get enough traction on the slippery snow to pull me out.
4 - I sunk deep as I was exiting a mud hole. I was right at the end, but the formerly sloped exit collaped into the mud leaving a 2 foot vertical wall. Two Toyotas chained nose to tail didn't budge me. After 4 hours a buddy with a winch came to my rescue. All he did was come up nose to nose and lift the front of my Jeep up a bit to break the suction and help get my front tires onto the ledge. That was the last straw for me. I bought a winch this past spring. $500.00 for a used 8274.

WINCH WINCH WINCH WINCH WINCH WINCH WINCH

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Chris S.
2002 KJ - staying stock (almost)
2000 TJ - 2" suspension lift, 1/2" body lift, assorted skids, hooks, rock rails, rock lights, 33" BFG MTs, custom bumper, Warn 8274
Mud Puppy's Jeep site

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