One of the undeniable perks of owning a 4×4 is being able to head out to an off-road destination at a moment’s notice. There is no need to book transport and match someone else’s timetable to get your adventure started. That said, you should not just jump in and drive off to some remote destination if you have not got the gear you need ready. To ensure you are fully prepared for your next adventure, here is what you need.
All-Terrain Tires
Advertisements for many 4x4s focus on how they can be driven off-road, but when you buy them, they do not always come with the tires you need to do so. The stock ones are often okay for light trails in dry weather, but if you want to be sure that you can handle anything the environment throws at you, then you are going to need some heavy-duty all-terrain tires.
These are able to grip surfaces like sand, gravel, and mud well, while also being very comfortable when it comes to driving on the road too. However, if it is expected to be particularly rainy or muddy where you are headed, you might want to choose mud-terrain tires instead. As you can probably guess, these provide a strong grip in wet, muddy conditions, although they can be quite noisy on the road.
A 4×4 Snorkel
If you expect to cross rivers or encounter floods on your trip, then it is important to avoid flooding your engine. This can cause hydrolocking, which can be expensive to repair, but that may be the least of your worries if you are stuck in the middle of nowhere. The simple solution to this is to take a 4×4 snorkel. This allows your vehicle to take in air from a higher point that stays above the surface of the water.
This stops the water from entering the engine and causing it to malfunction, but it is also a useful feature if you are heading somewhere dry. The snorkel helps prevent dust from coming into your engine with the air, which can cause air filters to become clogged, meaning that the engine will not work as well as it should.
A Reliable Winch
Getting stuck is par for the course when it comes to off-roading, so you need to have a reliable way of getting your car out of those sticky situations. Depending on where you are heading, waiting for passers-by to help tow you may not be an option, so doing it yourself with a strong, well-maintained winch is the best option. You should also carry some recovery boards to put under the tires too.
It is recommended when purchasing your winch to buy one that is at least 1.5 times the weight of your car. That should be enough to overcome the mud you get bogged down in, or to pull a wedged wheel out from between rocks. Remember to make sure that your winch is waterproof too, and consider opting for synthetic rope over steel. It is safer and lighter.
Skid Plates
Again, although 4×4 manufacturers like to show their cars being driven off-road in their adverts, the models that come out of the factory are not necessarily well-equipped for doing so. An example of this is underbody protection. Even if you are driving off-road safely, you may encounter objects like rocks and tree roots that can scratch and strike the underneath of your car. This could cause costly damage, yet the standard skid plates that manufacturers include to protect vehicles are thin.
That is why it is important to prepare your own. Steel and aluminium are both sturdy materials that will keep the underbody of your car safe from harm. You can buy protection for the side panels of your car too, in case you are heading somewhere where you might encounter falling boulders.
A Portable Air Compressor
We are used to keeping our tire pressure topped up, but if you will be driving off-road, then you probably want to do the opposite. Letting your tires deflate a bit actually improves their traction on mud, sand, and other soft surfaces. But on hard ones, you will want to keep them inflated. There are not many off-road gas stations where you can change your tire pressure, so be sure to take a portable air compressor with you.
A simple 12V air compressor can help you adjust your tire pressure when needed, meaning you can make your trip as safe and fuel-efficient as possible.
Driving in off-road vehicle areas can be very exciting, but it can also be dangerous if you are not well-prepared. Make sure you have everything you need to get your vehicle out of any trouble you might encounter.