Are winches just as effective as 4 wheel drive?

I have a 05 prerunner. And was looking at converting to 4 wheel drive but know it's expensive. Is a winch just as effective in a situation where 4 wheel drive is needed

 

no. Using a winch takes a lot longer than using 4wd to drive through something

 

Well, for one it would be very annoying if i had to hook a winch up for everytime i use four wheel drive. Juss Sayin

 

haha 4wd is to keep you from getting stuck. a winch is used to get you unstuck...if your in mudd you will get real dirty! lolz and to use a winch you have to have something to hook up too. if your out on the beach chances are your SOL unless there is another truck to pull you out

 

Understandable 4 wheel prevents you from getting stuck but sence I lack 4 wheel and it would be expensive to convert a winch can't be a bad idea for if I do get stuck right? And 90 percent of time I go off road I'm in the woods so I'd have something to hook to.

 

That was going to be my response. If you don't have anything to hook to your winch becomes a very large paper weight. It may help if you take it off and mount it over the back axel for extra weight in that situation

 

Bring an anchor too hook up to haha. You could wheel at this beach http://www.cncholidays.co.uk/Gallery/27_The Anchor_Graveyard_at_Barril_Beach.JPG

 

if you dont have a locker already get one.

 

Trust me, rigging a winch is not slow and not fun...if you have to do that all through a trail, I would rather hike home.

 

You need to pick your trails wisely my friend.

If you do not have 4WD, then your trail choices should not be of the 'serious' kind.

Winches should only be for 'emergency' situations where you get yourself into unpredictable situations. They are not to be used as 'traction' devices.

Using a winch can be dangerous not only for you, but for everyone else around you.

Do you have a tow strap? I hope you're not wheeling alone....

 

Thank you all makes sence. I'll loom for a cheap 4 wheel drive vehical instead.

 

+1 on rear locker.

 

There ya go!!! Keep the prerunner as your daily driver and get another vehicle that you can work on, build it up, and learn from. It's great fun!! You'll love the learning experience!!! Good Luck in your hunt for a trail rig!

 

Thank you. I have a 3" lift on my 05 right now still would like to get a 6". Anybody look down on trucks that look bad ass but aren't?

 

Get you some of this. Little on the high side, but I can immediately see how effective these are compared to anything else out there.

https://www.maxtrax.com.au/

 

I didn't expect 6" to improve my 2wheel drives ability on trail only to look nice was asking if making a vehical look nice and trail ready was stupid if it wasn't capable. And in all reality I don't trail much at all the occasional mud pit which my two wheel has seemed to handle fine. I was thinking a winch for those mud pits that are deeper than they look. So in all reality winch might not be bad idea. Thanks for help fellas. Also sence I'm on iPhone and can't put pictures on profile here's a link to my face book with two photos of it.

 

I do, but that being said, don't let other peoples opinions decide what you do to your vehicle. I'd rather see a badass 2wd that still goes and gets dirty once in a while, then a giant lifted 4wd that never sees even a gravel driveway, let alone off road.

 

True that I planned on doing what I wanted anyway just was curious to opinions on it so if I looked like a jackass I knew it lol. But thanks I will still do it. Cause I like to play in the mud with my 2wd. And like I've always said if you know how to drive a 2wd good enough you won't get stuck!

 

4WD + a Winch to get you over the big rocks!

 

I think you're on the right track going for a cheap 4x4. The money you're going to spend on a winch, in my opinion would be better spent investing in a 4x4. 4x2's are still very capable trucks but theres no replacement for 4wd.

"Sticking feathers up your ass does not make you a chicken"