What upgrade first?

I have a 2022 trd off road with bilstein 5100s 2.5"/2.5" lift. I live in Florida and do some light mud trails. Muck is the killer out there mud areas with standing water around 2' or deep usually has a decent bottom. My question is would upgrading from 265/70/17 falken at3 to 285 /70/17 mud tires be better than adding a bumper and winch? What is the best bang for the buck? I understand the tires are more driver skill dependent vs the winch more of a crutch. Eventually I'll add both but what would you add first?

 

I would add the bumper & winch first. That way I have immediate protection and a solid way of getting out of being stuck. I'm no expert at wheelin' hard, so the best tires in the world probably wouldn't help me (yet).

 

I agree with this. Bigger tires will get you to more places. Places where you can get more stuck. Without a winch, you gonna have a long walk.

 

That might be a good suggestion, but I wouldn't use a winch, or even stand anywhere near one in use, without proper raining. The same goes for kinetic recovery.

 

Get winch and bumper and learn how to use it. Local 4WD clubs may offer recovery training.

Do not use it for the first time when stuck.

You always want your weakest link to be the thing that saves you from bigger problems.

Also, start watching the Aussie YouTubers like 4WD 24-7, as they have some trips with similar terrain to you with the added potential for saltwater crocodiles, the largest crocodilian species in the world!

 

If you wheel alone (which you shouldn't do), bumper + winch first. If you always do trail rides with a group, get the larger mud tires first.

Winch and bumper is the start of the proverbial slippery slope. Heavier weight will prompt you to get a suspension lift, etc.

 

You’ll upgrade tires on that slippery slope as well!

 

This is always a tough question and really comes down to preference and maybe what you are doing. I live in AZ and the majority of our trails are rock crawling so tires and skids were a must for me. Being in Florida and doing mostly mud I would go with a bumper and winch. It's very easy to get stuck in mud even with mud tires. Like everyone above has said definitely get educated with your winch prior to trail riding just in case you end up needing it.

Have fun!