Just curious what you all think is the best first mod for going down the trail (outside of jack/shovel/cb/buddies with tow ropes etc..) The way I see it, a winch would be best. With a stock rig, you can't get too far before getting stuck, but at least you can get out. Lockers would be the 2nd choice, then tires. (somewhere new rock sliders need to be put in) I figure if you are in deep enough to get your truck with 44s stuck in the mud, and you have no winch, you are pretty much screwed becasue you are VERY stuck.
I didn't do a poll because I wanted to see your opinions and reasoning.
BTW, I am now back into a yota after 7 years. Last Toy was an 88 4-runner which I sold before rust started taking over. I just bought a 95 4-runner 5-speed 6cyl with 80K and no rust (in Minnesota, that is rare)
Anybody want to buy a Ranger?

Locker(s). They will take you further than a stock truck should go.

tires and a little lift. I ran the con my 1st 4 trips with only 33"s and lift 82 LB, no lockers or gears or t case gears or dual cases, winchs are nice and I do have one, but I don't put it up real high on the list <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

If you care about body damage then you need armor quick. That way you can get over the first obstacle, the psychological one. Not only sliders but rear armor too, like my rear sliders for sale here. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

If you don't care about body damage then I'd say lockers. When you go with other people (as you should always do) they can always pull you out.

Steve

If you live where there is mud tires will do you the most good. Sliders are a good thing. Then lockers or winch.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Originally posted by 1exfordguy:
<strong>Just curious what you all think is the best first mod for going down the trail (outside of jack/shovel/cb/buddies with tow ropes etc..) The way I see it, a winch would be best. With a stock rig, you can't get too far before getting stuck, but at least you can get out. Lockers would be the 2nd choice, then tires. (somewhere new rock sliders need to be put in) I figure if you are in deep enough to get your truck with 44s stuck in the mud, and you have no winch, you are pretty much screwed becasue you are VERY stuck.
I didn't do a poll because I wanted to see your opinions and reasoning.
BTW, I am now back into a yota after 7 years. Last Toy was an 88 4-runner which I sold before rust started taking over. I just bought a 95 4-runner 5-speed 6cyl with 80K and no rust (in Minnesota, that is rare)
Anybody want to buy a Ranger?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">If you have a truck that has 225/75R-15 street tires, the first mod is usually new larger tires. So, with that in mind, I say the second mod should be gears and a rear locker at the same time. A winch is definately nice, but a $50 hi-lift jack or a 2nd off road vehicle with a tow rope will go a long way until you can afford a winch later. Besides, a winch might only be used once or twice a wheeling season, while running slightly larger tires such as 31s along with the proper gearing will be effective 100% of the time you drive, including on the highway. A rear locker will be effective in keeping you from getting stuck far more often off road, than you will require to use a winch.

I don't agree with the idea that you should avoid a locker because it will allow you to go further down the trail and get stuck. The bottom line is, open diffs will get you in far more trouble than a rear locker will. You are far more likely to get stuck with open diffs and then your in just as much trouble. At least with a rear locker you can get yourself out of trouble. Just don't be stupid and dive in every mudhole you see, thinking you got a supertruck and you'll be fine.

Good luck.

I'd agree with the others. A winch is great and will get you out of just about any stuck situation, but if you 4wheel in a group (as you always should), then a winch isn't quite as important. Start out with some good tires and possibly a lift. If you haven't already, take off your running boards. Sooner or later they'll come off. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

The most important thing is to learn the limits of your truck, which can only be done with trail-time. You'll soon learn what you can and can't do in a stock truck, at which point your wallet will start losing weight as you utter statements like "You know, with a locker, I would've made it." <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

I say some MT's and a rear locker will go a long way off-road. Just my 2 pennies....

Its a big combination of things, but i would say mud tires and a locker are the best mods. its amazing what just mud tires and a locker can do even on a nearly stock rig.

locker and some MTRs <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

has done me well