For many people, off-roading is nothing more than just a way to wreck their vehicle and surroundings at the same time. However, there are some unique benefits when participating in this raw activity. Off-roading by itself is a way to connect with nature by navigating through dirt trails and keeping the terrain around intact.
It makes for a mental refresher as it helps you relieve some stress and focus your attention on something that is more hands-on. This is why getting your vehicle ready for the beaten path is as important as making it more comfortable and it involves the use of some of the most important 4×4 accessories.
Lighting
Types
Exploring uncharted territory at night can be an exciting experience, but only if you have capable enough lights on your truck. The type of lights you go for, as well as their features, will have a great impact on the whole experience. You can choose between two off road lighting options, such as light bars and driving lights.
Driving lights are circular or rectangular and sit either on the bumper or hood. They are used to provide additional lighting when it comes to exploring vast open landscapes. That’s because this type of off road vehicle lighting can illuminate terrain across a greater distance than that of your stock headlights.
Light bars, on the other hand, are exactly what their name says, long and narrow with an array of lights on them. Shaped much like a bar, light bars are used to illuminate a wider field of view, making them ideal when you’re traversing in thick vegetation and need some light in close quarters. Just don’t expect them to provide light no further than your headlights.
Features
Both types of offroad lights can be rather capable if they come with the correct lumen count as well as IP rating. The number of lumens of off road lighting equipment tells you how bright it is, and the higher the count, the brighter the light. However, that doesn’t always mean you get the best solution, as too many lumens can blind other vehicles on the trail as well as animals.
The IP rating of a light says a lot about how well protected it is from external factors such as water and dust. This rating comes in the form of a two-digit number or a letter and a single-digit number. Regardless, the higher the number, the more protected the light is from water and dust ingress, meaning weather conditions are less likely to affect its operation.
Tires
Types
Essential, no matter the terrain you’re taking on, tires are the only part of your 4×4 that comes in contact with the ground. However, just as there are different road surfaces, there are different types of car tires, such as mud, all-terrain, rock crawling and hybrid tires.
Mud tires are, as you’d expect, exclusively made to be fitted when you’re off-roading after heavy rainfall or in a swamp-like area. They are best on soft ground and muddy trails. All-terrain tires provide optimal performance on different types of terrain, including muddy paths, however, they are not that capable. With this type of tire, you can do everything but excel at nothing.
Rock crawling tires are made for only rocky paths or just big rocks, as they provide lots of grip, allowing you to go over such terrain more easily, even if it’s steep. Hybrid tires are made to provide enough grip on dirt and gravel roads as well as asphalt. This makes them a middle-ground option between all-terrain and mud tires, but don’t expect them to be usable in all sorts of scenarios.
Specs
There aren’t many specifications to consider when looking for off-roading tires. You just need to make sure the diameter as well as the sidewall are both compatible with your current wheels. But you don’t need to stick to this if you plan on fitting new wheels, too.
Lift Kit
Benefits
The main advantage of fitting a lift kit to a 4×4 is to get a higher ground clearance alongside a more articulate and comfortable ride. With an increase in ride height, you also get more space – perfect for repairs without the need for a jack.
Types
You can go for either suspension or body lift kits, and although they serve the same purpose, they don’t do it in the same way.
Suspension lift kits are the ones to go for if you want to replace stock components and get a more capable vehicle in terms of approach and departure angles. That’s because the kit lifts up suspension components.
Body lift kits increase ride height by lifting the whole body of your truck from its frame. This makes for a more affordable and simpler approach, which allows you to fit larger tires. But that’s about it, as you don’t get any other benefits.
