What upgrade to do first: Winch or lift and 35's?

[TimelordLink]

Looking at getting the winch for the bison front bumper from Chevy since it's 20% off right now. I usually go hit the trails ony own and want to start bringing my son(almost 3) along with me. I play it pretty safe cause I don't want to get stuck with no one around to help out in case of trouble. Do y'all think the winch is the way to go. Or would getting a lift and tires to be more capable be the better upgrade.

Both will happen but maybe get be about a year before the next one happens. Could be sooner but could be up to a year. What would y'all do first?

Throwing in a pic cause why not?!

 

[ZR2BIZON]

If you go solo the majority of the time, definitely winch is the way to go then the 35s and lift.

 

[DNZR2]

Definitely the winch.

 

[TimelordLink]

Definitely the winch.

That's exactly what I was thinking as well.

 

[TimelordLink]

Just saw the post about the guy getting pulled out by a Subaru... Definitely getting the winch

 

[jruck]

I would say the winch as well. You can’t pull yourself out with 35s. there’s always time for that.

 

[GATORB8]

It depends on the type of wheeling you do (how would you get stuck). Remember a winch is only going to pull you further down the trail (there is a way to reverse pull, but you’d need a specific opportunity and I’ve never seen anyone actually do it).

If your main concern is mud, I’d prioritize MTs.

For general/rocky trail, I might approach is more like:
1. Sliders or at least remove/cut off those low steps.
2. Lift
3. Winch
4. Tires

The cost effectiveness of a level style lift makes it a no brainer for the additional frame clearance.

 

[AXE]

Depends upon terrain, a lot of places I go don't have great options for attaching a winch line. So it wouldn't do much good for me. But if you have a lot of trees or heavy rocks, you can certainly get the benefit.

 

[DNZR2]

I would say the winch as well. You can’t pull yourself out with 35s. there’s always time for that.

And the 35’s would be why you need a winch. You would go further and deeper into trouble.

 

[TimelordLink]

It depends on the type of wheeling you do (how would you get stuck). Remember a winch is only going to pull you further down the trail (there is a way to reverse pull, but you’d need a specific opportunity and I’ve never seen anyone actually do it).

If your main concern is mud, I’d prioritize MTs.

For general/rocky trail, I might approach is more like:
1. Sliders or at least remove/cut off those low steps.
2. Lift
3. Winch
4. Tires

The cost effectiveness of a level style lift makes it a no brainer for the additional frame clearance.

The steps on my truck are the removable steps for the GM sliders (I want to keep the steps off but the wife and kids appreciate them lol). Whenever I go out they are removed and left at home, it's just 2 10mil bolts each and takes 5 minutes. I don't think the gym slider are the best but they are better than steps and I'd rather invest in something else than something I already have. Picture for reference.

I do a bit of everything. I'm more concerned about getting stuck in mud while exploring the National Forrest or other random back roads than getting stuck in a rock crawling situation. I have found the stock territory MTs to be good for most situations but will probably upgrade to a KO3 or Falken AT4w eventually.

A lift is always great and definitely have my eye on the peak 2.25 lift and UCA's and maybe the dobinson consistent load leaf springs.

I lean towards the winch first cause you always want to make it home. There are 2 kinds of people those who have gotten stuck and those who will.

 

[TimelordLink]

And the 35’s would be why you need a winch. You would go further and deeper into trouble.

This is my thought exactly! The more capable you make the truck the more likely you are to do something you more likely to get yourself stuck.

 

[TimelordLink]

Depends upon terrain, a lot of places I go don't have great options for attaching a winch line. So it wouldn't do much good for me. But if you have a lot of trees or heavy rocks, you can certainly get the benefit.

You mostly out in the dunes and flat desert? Most of what I do is rocky terrain and woods so a lot of places to attach.

 

[IrishRedFish]

Go to the Subaru Outback Forum and make some local friends... Thats Free!

 

[AXE]

You mostly out in the dunes and flat desert? Most of what I do is rocky terrain and woods so a lot of places to attach.

Yeah, and the prairies of the northern plains. I run in the mountains in Northern Arizona and some other western states too when I'm fishing but its mostly established roads and light trails. Plenty of trees there but I just ain't hitting it hard there.

I feel like I should put one in the Bison bumper on the 2500HD, but that's the least likely vehicle I would offroad hard in.

 

[GATORB8]

The steps on my truck are the removable steps for the GM sliders (I want to keep the steps off but the wife and kids appreciate them lol). Whenever I go out they are removed and left at home, it's just 2 10mil bolts each and takes 5 minutes. I don't think the gym slider are the best but they are better than steps and I'd rather invest in something else than something I already have. Picture for reference.

I do a bit of everything. I'm more concerned about getting stuck in mud while exploring the National Forrest or other random back roads than getting stuck in a rock crawling situation. I have found the stock territory MTs to be good for most situations but will probably upgrade to a KO3 or Falken AT4w eventually.

A lift is always great and definitely have my eye on the peak 2.25 lift and UCA's and maybe the dobinson consistent load leaf springs.

I lean towards the winch first cause you always want to make it home. There are 2 kinds of people those who have gotten stuck and those who will.

Good to hear on the steps, definitely better to remove them than to get stuck on them (or break them off).

I had the Territory MTs on for less than 24 hours, but from my observations were what I would call a streetable AT. I would highly recommend at least going hybrid AT/MT if not full blown MT if you have a lot of interaction with mud. I have a lot of off road miles in varying terrain on KO2s on the Jeep, the only time I have had to pull winch line with them is on mud since they cake and do not eject. I highly recommend looking at the Ridge Grappler (or similar) if you are not willing to sacrifice the mileage to go MT. Similar to KOX mileage, I've seen 50k + out of RGs on full size trucks.

Not saying you don't have the experience, but at pretty much every level driver mod is the most important. Important to approach obstacles with an exit plan when soloing, saving 4Lo or Lockers for only recovery is one approach on trails.

I will say pulling line with a partner sucks, truly solo sucks even worse. Remember to have some clothes/gear/supplies with you to clean up and change after dragging line through knee high mud. I'm lucky my wife doesn't have footage as proof, but I've definitely lost footing and gotten covered in it.