4 Essential 4x4 Accessories Every First-Time Off-Roader Needs
As much as we 4×4 owners hate to admit it, our vehicles aren’t as capable as we’d like them to be in their stock form, especially if the reasons why we bought them are regular weekend getaways and hardcore off-road activities. But if you’re reading this, it means you’re already aware and are looking for ways to make your prized possession more capable, both on, and off the road.
Equipping your vehicle with the right 4×4 accessories online stores offer will open up a whole new world of opportunities, protect your vehicle and make it more comfortable. But which 4×4 accessories are the “right” ones? With so many 4×4 accessories online, weeding out the good from the bad can be difficult and time-consuming. In order to save you time, money and nerves, I’ve compiled this list of the most useful 4×4 accessories.
Bull Bars – The King of 4×4 Accessories
Bull bars are revered as the ultimate 4×4 accessory, and for good reason. Your car’s front end, where the majority of the delicate but pricey and critical parts are located, needs protection from them.
Bull bars come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, and they can be made of a variety of materials. Most bull bars are made using steel or aluminium. Both these metals provide sufficient protection, with steel being the stronger, yet heavier option. Aluminium bull bars are a favourite amongst outback adventurers, as they provide fuel-saving benefits and allow you to bring along more stuff.
Besides the material, you should make sure the bull bar you buy is ADR compliant. ADR compliance means the bull bar is road-legal, and it abides by all the safety regulations associated with vehicle parts and accessories. ADR compliance also means the bull bar won’t interfere with the airbag deployment, and won’t obstruct your headlights.
Last but not least, consider whether you want the bull bar to be winch compatible, or feature high-lift jack points. These things will make recovery peace of cake, should it ever come to it. And believe me, sooner or later it will come to it. Rated tow points also add another layer of security, as it means the bull bar has been tested and rated by an independent engineering company.
Roof Racks – For Everything Else You Might Need
Let’s face it, one of the biggest issues most off-roaders come across is the limited space and thus, the limited number of things they can bring along. Having the storage capacity to bring along items that can make the trip more enjoyable can go a long way in improving your overall experience. Roof racks, just like bull bars, can be made of different materials, and come in different shapes and sizes.
The type of roof rack you can attach to your vehicle will depend on your roof set up. As far as materials go, aluminium is preferred, simply because it’s lighter, so it allows for more things to be carried while staying well below the recommended GVM.
Besides allowing you to carry more items and equipment with you on your trip, roof racks can play a role in improving your overall safety, as the bulky, large and irregularly shaped items won’t have to be stored inside the passenger cabin. Moreover, you can mount extra accessories on the roof rack, such as auxiliary lights, a UHF antenna, light bars, etc.
Air Compressor – A Portable Safety Measure
Off-road air compressors are essential when overlanding and driving through risky terrain. The ability to inflate your tyres, and deflate them to the necessary tyre pressure level can come in very handy. Moreover, you’ll be able to use power tools should you ever need to perform quick repairs.
Air compressors are separated into two basic categories – onboard air compressors and portable air compressors. While both models are portable, onboard models are mounted to your vehicle, and wired to the battery, whereas portable models are stand-alone units you can take with you wherever you go.
The pros of onboard compressors are that they’re multi-functional and convenient. Their cons, however, are their higher cost, and their inability to fit some vehicles without performing modifications. Upgrading and repairs are also more time-consuming and expensive.
The pros of portable models are that they’re relatively affordable, don’t require any installation, and are easy to move around. Their cons are that they take up extra room on your roof rack, boot or passenger cabin, and they’re another thing to remember to pack.
Recovery Equipment – For Getting Out of Sticky Situations
As aforementioned, it’s not a matter of whether you’ll get stuck or not, it’s a matter of when. When the time comes, you should be able to safely recover your vehicle from mud, snow or anything else. There are a few different popular pieces of recovery equipment you can go for, with the most common ones being winches, high-lift jacks and recovery tracks.
Winches are the most popular recovery tool, as it requires little to no effort to effectively use, and doesn’t require any manual effort, besides attaching the rope to a fixed object, or another vehicle. With the push of a button, your vehicle will be recovered from just about any situation. However, if you plan on getting a winch, know that you’ll need a compatible bull bar to safely use it.
Recovery tracks are another popular recovery tool. They’re affordable and easy to use, but you’ll have to get your hands dirty. You might have to dig around the tyres a bit before you place them. On the plus side, they double down as shovels, so you can use them for other digging activities as well. Also, they won’t take any space in your boot or on the roof racks, as they’re compact and feature a “nest” design that makes one go into the other.
Lastly, high-lift jacks can also come in handy in a wide range of situations. These are completely mechanical pieces of recovery equipment, meaning they leave no room for malfunction. To use them safely, you’ll need high-lift jack points on your vehicle, and a base plate for when you use them on uneven ground.