WINCH OR DIFF LOCKERS

Diff locks are great but might get you into more trouble as your confidence grows. Then you'll need a winch. Though with a winch you'll need some to attach it to etc. tree. I'd go both if the money was there. Remember a winch will need a compatible bar. Also most winchs are not water proof and will require servicing as the diff locks don't really need much maintance. Another point is that you can always remove the winch and add it to another vechicle when you decide to sell your current fourby.

How long is a piece of string ? :) I could say (and no doubt be taken to task by others) that lockers only get you into trouble, a winch helps you get out of trouble. Of course that's not the whole story. If the track is wet you'll wish you had lockers. If you're stuck in a creek or river you;ll wish you had a winch.
I suspect that it depends on exactly where you're going, and what you intend to do there. Basically if you stick to the main drag you almost certainly won't need either.
If you do need help and stand on the track for 10 minutes you'll probably get run over :))

One will get you into chit one will get you out of it.

lockers will drive you further into the crap, and once stuck, your fubar.

IMHO go the winch first.

I've got both and before I fitted the diff lock to the front of the Patrol, I always said that they were something that would only help get me 100 meters further into the shyte than I would've got without them.

Now that I've got it, I can honestly say that there is only one occasion when the winch has been needed to get me up a very steep, slippery hill that the diff locker wasn't enough.....for those that know the Brindabella's, it was on a rainy/snowy Sunday afternoon, trying to get back up from Macintyre's Hut. In hindsight, I reckon if I'd let my tyres down to around 15psi (I had only let them down to about 25psi), I probably could have driven out anyway, but I'll never know for sure).

As for the Cape York trip (I've been there twice), i can only say that I was able to get up the south side of every creek crossing along the Old Telegraph Track. We were travelling alone with the camper trailer. However, we were following 2 other vehicles that were not towing anything and I was finding that they were having extreme difficulty on exiting banks, that I would subsequently get up without even spinning a wheel; using my air locker.

If it was my money, the diff locker would be more needed than the winch.

Cheers

Roachie

Hi,
My husband and i do a lot of travel up the cape region and although we have diff locks and a winch, i personally would get a winch, as we actually got boged and the diff locks could not help us, Then again it depends on where and when you travel, If you can afford both ..do it ... as circumstances may call for a winch or diff locks or both....YOU NEVER KNOW!!!

It's best to be prepared before than sorry later

Peace
Niikki....

If you need either,,, you need both...

If you go a winch - as stated you will need a compatable bar (more $$) and don't forget you may have to have your front suspension upgraded (more $$).

Why not go diff locks and a Tirfer type winch. It is a bit more on the effort side - but if you are reasonably fit they are ok. They are relativily cheap (between $400 - $700), don't need to have a compateable bar - just some rated tow hooks, don't need to up grade your suspension. They are transferrable from vehicle to vehicle and your can use it to winch forwards, rearwards and side ways.

With the money you save - spend it something else - like a compressor etc.

Just a thought.

I'm with Truckster. Diff locks will get you deeper into trouble & a winch will get you out. That said really for Cape York there is no need for either. For the average driver the Cape is the most over rated 4x4 destination in Oz. If you put all the 4 wheel drive bits end to end you would only need to have the hubs locked for 1000 metres & that includes the telegraph track. (Not including the optional beach runs) The place is so busy now that in the unlikely event you did get stuck you'd only have to wait for 15 minutes before someone would come along & pull you out :-) A photo of my dad parked next to an XD Falcon on the Jardine ferry is testimant to how hard the Cape is these days.
Cheers Craig..........

I have never been to the cape but in general I think that if you travel alone then get a winch but if you are with a group then get the lockers.
I have a winch and no lockers and have only used the winch to recover myself when I was alone or to recover someone else in a group.
However whenever I go out in a group I usually wish I had lockers.

The only reason I got the winch is that it was free :-) So maybe I should just go out and pay for the lockers?

Perhaps you could get one locker and a hand winch?

Just pulled a stump with the winch ... hard to do with lockers.

Food for thought ... versatile.

Cheers