Thread: What to do with $1500?

Depends on what you mostly do and personal preference


Touring by yourself = winch (Locker will only get you further before you're really stuck)

Group Trips with interesting bits = Locker(Other people to recover you when you get stuck)

Tyres if you are rolling round on HTs

If they are worn AT or MTs this is a silly question replace them for safety reasons alone otherwise I'd wait till the current set are over the hill then replace them.

What tyres have you got now? Do you have any suspension lift?

If you've just got road tyres, I'd say best bang for buck would be some open pattern AT's, or MT's.
A locker is no good if you can't get traction, and you don't get very far if you have to winch.

Given that you're asking about offroad performance I'm guessing you'll want MT's.
245/75's go well on a D1, but in my experience you need a small suspension lift so they clear inside the guards (as well as a camel cut).

Don't rule out a half-decent set of used muddies, which would give you some dollars towards other stuff.

Find a mate with a winch and go driving with him. Cheaper than installing your own and if you're heading out with someone else most often a bit of a tow will get you going again and the winch won't be used.

Steve

Undoubtedly the Diff locker, your vehicle IS NOT a 4WD until it has a locking diff front and rear, standard you only need one wheel each end to lose traction and you're not going anywhere, which is when you will need a winch, or a mate with a winch, who'll eventually get sick of having to drag you everywhere.
I have only used my winch once in the last several years and that was only to stop me tipping sideways. No other improvement will do more for your vehicle, and if you bought the Chinese ARB copy. For $1500 you could get Front and Rear lockers with compressor and accessories, Regards Frank.

whats the exact configuration now?

what maintenance work and consumables need to be replaced that you can upgrade at the same time?

IMHO

ALWAYs spend the money you have available on preventative upgrades (ie if your tyres or shockies need replacing then upgrade them by fitting better tyres OR adding a lift at the same time.) before you add niceties

Currently running on 245/75/16 AT,s. I have a 2 inch lift and camel cut. Still got about 70% tread left. They are pretty good unless its real muddy.

Winch seems the cheapest option but will probably be used the least but means i can go out alone with more confidence

Difflock will be most expensive but would at least get used a fair bit

my 2c worth

if you are happy with your tyres the locker should really be next on your list, as has already been said, if you are out with mates you can pull each other out, and with a locker you have less chance of getting stuck in the first place, of course if you do get stuck it's worse!

as Frank says,with Chinese lockers if do your homework you could get both ends locked, but then your tyres might stop you so you will need another 1500 to replace them!

don't bother with the winch unless you want to go winching, otherwise it will almost never get used, and almost always on other people.

Get the winch. When lockers fail, you'll need it. It will give you the security and confidence to go places. Having done 4wding for a living, its nice to know a winch will pull you out - lockers may get you further or maybe reduce the need for a winch - but they won't pull you out when you finally get stuck. The argument that mates can pull you out is silly - you are dependent on having company instead of being ableto go it alone.


Tom.

Originally Posted by BathurstTom

Get the winch. When lockers fail, you'll need it. It will give you the security and confidence to go places. Having done 4wding for a living, its nice to know a winch will pull you out - lockers may get you further or maybe reduce the need for a winch - but they won't pull you out when you finally get stuck. The argument that mates can pull you out is silly - you are dependent on having company instead of being ableto go it alone.


Tom.

Could not agree more

Lockers let you get more stuck and damage more stuff quicker.

Get a winch and ground anchor and you should always be able to get yourself free when stuck.

Ali