Jeep Accessories: Off-Roading Essentials For Dummies

You must think a little harder about what to bring along when you plan on off-roading. Equip your Jeep with off-road-approved accessories, so you’ll be ready when it breaks down, gets stuck, or runs into some problems.

Equipping your Jeep

Some automakers sell brand-new vehicles with off-road goodies. However, you might still prefer to do a few modifications yourself.

Driving off-road is not as easy as cruising on concrete roads and highways. It is bumpy, challenging, and can sometimes be very intense. This intensity is caused by mechanical mishaps and potential hazards you might encounter on the trail.

It is crucial to know what you will need out there. You must check what Jeep accessories will serve you well. Even if you only invest in a few aftermarket accessories, you’re increasing your safety and the chance to get your rig back home in one piece. You can explore more than a fire road with the right equipment for your Jeep.

If you’re a beginner, check out these Jeep accessories essential for off-roading.

Off-road essentials

It doesn’t matter if your Jeep is old or new. The most important thing is getting the best accessories to ensure your safety on the rugged terrain. Before you go on an adrenaline-pumping adventure, check out these aftermarket Jeep parts.

Lights

The stock lighting system in your vehicle is only enough for regular driving. The driving lights must cast a wide beam far enough into the night. Adding auxiliary lighting made of halogen, LED, or HID will help increase the visibility immensely and let you see better in the dark trail paths.

For off-roaders who refuse to bask in the scorching heat of a sunny day, then nighttime driving is ideal for you. However, it is necessary to put lighting attachments on top of your Jeep’s stock lighting system, especially if you like driving in the dark. Here are the types of off-road lights you can buy for your SUV:

• Spotlight — If you want to go the extra mile, choosing a set of spotlights can help illuminate the sides of the path ahead. Depending on the Jeep model, you have to mount them near the doors’ mirror, the bumper, or the lower windshield pillars.
• LED light bar — This auxiliary lighting is installed on the upper part of the vehicle to help illuminate the trail path better. However, this can cause an intense glare off the hood if it is mounted incorrectly.
• Fog light — This type of auxiliary lighting produces low, shallow light beams to help you see better when it’s foggy, hazy, or even rainy. Compared to the spotlight and light bar, it’s not as bright. The fog lights emit a long, rectangular beam which is used commonly in the agricultural industry.

The better you can see, the easier it will be to navigate the trail during nighttime. Off-road lights come in different shapes and sizes. Moreover, they add style to the Jeep’s exterior.

Aftermarket lighting products illuminate the area in front and around you. The IP67 rating indicates that a particular lighting product is dustproof and waterproof, so look for this rating. Also, check if it has cooling fans for heat dissipation.

Tire repair tools

When it comes to off-roading, the tires are one of the overworked parts of your SUV. It is considered the most critical component and the most frequently damaged part of all Jeeps.

You cannot find repair shops in the wilderness, but tire repair tools will lessen the hassle. The tools make it easier for you to fix damaged tires. Whether you’re driving on pavement or rough terrain, you must bring complete tire repair tools.

Sharp and jagged rocks can puncture your tires as you drive on the rocky trail, while a fully inflated tire will sink in the loose sand particles. An air compressor and tire deflators should be included in your tire repair kit as well. These additional repair tools are essential in fixing the tire pressure.

Recovery tools

Will you leave it to chance if there’s a possibility of getting stuck in the trail alone — or is it better to come prepared? Don’t think twice about purchasing a recovery tool kit if you have no budget for a winch yet.

Most recovery tools include straps, shackles, snatch block, tree trunk protector, winch line damper, and gloves. To tug you out, use the equipment to hook your Jeep onto another vehicle safely. The tree trunk protector can be attached to the base of the tree. Under the circumstances, it can be used as an anchor to support the weight of the vehicle.

You may include a recovery board in your tire repair kit to help you get out of the deep mud or sand. To use this, shove the recovery board under the tire. It will help the tire pop up by slowly rolling on the throttle. Attaching the snatch straps to another vehicle’s recovery points, the board underneath the tire will help it plow through loose sand or dirt. The combination of recovery tools will pull the vehicle from a snag.

Winch

Going on a solo off-road adventure can still get you stuck. Getting stuck on the trail by yourself is not a matter of if but when. It can happen even if you’re confident of your off-road skills. It’s okay to push the limits of your Jeep and take on more challenging terrain. It may be the best time to consider buying a winch.

It has two main power types such as electric and hydraulic. A steering pump powers the hydraulic winch, while an electrical system powers the electric winch. Not recommended for continuous use, but the electric winch requires little to no maintenance. The hydraulic winch is more expensive than the electric ones. It needs a bit of attention during installation because it runs off of hydraulic fluid.

A winch will give you a leg up when it comes to self-recovery. The pulling power of a winch can help set you free from getting stranded on mud, sand, or snow. The Jeep winch is used for rescue and retrieval. Use it to clear logs or large rocks that block the path. It also lets you rescue another vehicle from a ditch.

Jeep rock rails

Jeep uses strong materials to build their vehicles. Nonetheless, they can still be bent with constant wear and tear from off-roading. When driving through woody, rocky, or muddy terrain, hitting some fragments may damage the bottom of your rig.

As part of off-roading, you can drive your 4×4 over rocks and boulders. Exposed at the bottom are the body and engine parts that may collide while doing the rock crawling.

When you drive over the rocks, the underbody parts can be badly hit. Also called rock sliders, this accessory is a simple yet popular mod for Jeep. The Jeep rock rails protect the paint job and prevent damage to the vehicle’s underside.

GPS

You don’t want to be running in circles through the beaten path and get lost in the wild. If you’re a beginner, you must have a quality map to guide you on your way.

Navigation apps and GPS units are beneficial for off-road driving. So before you head out, don’t forget to download the necessary maps of the trail you’re visiting. The offline map lets you continue to navigate even without the cell service.

Trail-rated for off-roading

Jeep engineered their SUVs to withstand the bumpy ride and let you travel through a variety of rugged terrain. That’s what sets them apart from other vehicles.

Going on an off-road adventure is one of the fun things you can do to your Jeep. Off-roading allows you to enjoy the great outdoors, though it can be overwhelming for beginners. Equip your vehicle and start with these Jeep accessories before you go on a trip. Make sure of your safety while you’re having fun on the trails!

Originally published at https://blog.4wheelonline.com/ on August 12, 2021