Question: I have an '81 Toyota longbed 4x4. I've really enjoyed your articles on winches over the past months, so I have been shopping for one. However, it seems like all the sales people want to sell you the biggest, baddest winch they have in the showroom! What is the general rule when it comes to matching up a winch for your truck?
CJ
via 4wheeloffroad.com
Answer: The rule of thumb is the winch rating should be 1 1/2 times the gross weight of your truck. So if your truck weighs 4,000 pounds, you need a winch no smaller than a 6,000-pound rating. To determine the gross weight of your truck, fill it with all the gear you think you'll have with you when you might get stuck-including a full tank of gas, tools, cooler, and so on-and go weigh it at a truck stop or the local dump. Then add a few hundred pounds for whatever winch bumper you might run and then multiply that number by 1 1/2. If you want to be sure add an extra 2,000 pounds to the number you end up with for any future weight gains or upgrades. Just make sure you have enough winch and that it has a good brake because you never know when you might need to winch your truck up a tree to get the tires off the ground so you can reseat the bead which came off while four-wheeling in some mudhole after dark, deep in a rainforest in Australia.
Question: A few years ago my granddad died. He was a champion among men and loved the outdoors, tinkering with trucks, and going on long drives in the woods. He had a two-year subscription to this magazine when he died and I "inherited" the issues as they continued to come in. I was never into anything automotive growing up but when I started reading this magazine I began to really look forward to getting it. Also, it gave me a good reason to go see Ma. Long story, short: I got the bug and went out and bought a '79 International Scout II. I think Granddad would've loved it. I don't have a lot of money (wife, son, and baby on the way). I was hoping you could help me produce a plan to get my rig trail-ready. It runs good. I bought tires and wheels at Les Schwab on credit. Dick Cepek 31-inch Mountain Cat Radials. I'm thinking rollbar/cage for safety is the next step. A winch would be cool. What do I really need? How do I do that cheap? How much should I expect to spend? Can you help me so I can start convincing the wife? Also, I would love a 4-Wheel & Off-Road license plate or sticker. Can you hook me up? I know Granddad loved this magazine and now I know why. Thanks so much for giving me a monthly reminder of someone I cared about and admired so much.
Dan S.
via 4wheeloffroad.com
Answer: I know how you feel. My grandfather and father were both the type of guy who could do amazing things with his hands and loved to go exploring backroads of the world. However, somehow I ended up playing with trucks while both of them thought vehicles were more for getting from point A to B. Nonetheless I think you'll make Granddad proud with your Scout, especially if you take it to show your kids and grandkids the great outdoors.
I think you are on the right track with your buildup. There are a few things I would recommend for your Scout and you already have, or are planning to get, three of them. Mud tires are important because they give that traction you need for mountain roads, and a rollbar or cage is very important especially if you are taking family with you. However, let me suggest a rear locking differential such as a Detroit (www.detroitlocker.com) or ARB Air Locker (www.arbusa.com). I run both styles in my trucks and would be hard pressed to pick a favorite between the two as both have offered me excellent performance off road. ARBs cost a little more but offer the ability to turn them off when you don't want a locker such as in icy conditions. Whereas Detroits are usually priced better and are quite reliable. Just be sure both rear tires have exactly the same air pressure when driving on the street so as to not get the locker's harsh street manners. By installing locking differentials you will get power to both rear tires no matter what the traction and often this is the difference between getting stuck and getting through. Along with the locker I would look into lower gearing if you have anything higher than 4.10s in the diffs (by higher, I mean numerically lower; for example, 3.73 is a higher gear than 4.10 or 4.56). With 31s you'll be fine with 4.10s if you ask me, maybe 4.56. I definitely agree that a winch is next on the list. Every single time I have walked home from my stuck vehicle, a winch would have saved the day, so that is definitely on the list of upgrades I would want. As for which winch, I think the Warn 8274 is probably the best you can get for your Scout, though any 8,000- or 9,000-pound capacity winch will be fine.
So what will this all cost? That depends on where you find the parts, how much work you can do yourself, and how long you take to do everything. If you went to a shop and bought a winch, 31-inch tires, a rear locker, and a rollcage and had it all installed I bet it would cost around $3,000 or $4,000, but then you wouldn't know how it all went together. If I were you I would watch the classifieds, spread the work out over time, do it yourself, and take the truck wheeling between each upgrade so you'll learn some off-road driving skills and see what your Scout can do. As for the license plate, I'll see what I can do about sending you one. Good luck and thanks for reading our magazine.