If you have just started going off-road in your truck, you probably already noticed that the terrain can make your ride challenging even when the vehicle itself is keeping up. To have a smoother ride and tackle harder obstacles, you need to up your game with the right upgrades. Here are a few options that work for any off-road build.
Off-Road Tires
The right tire set is vital, even if you stay at a stock tire size. Many off-road enthusiasts upgrade to larger tires for the increased contact surface so they can take on more challenging terrain, but any upgrade will help. When you are looking for all-terrain wheels and tires, using reviews and ratings to find the best value for your price point is a great idea. If you’re shopping for terrain-specific options, then it’s time to compare tread patterns closely, because the tread design is most of what defines each tire’s optimum terrain for performance.
Ground Clearance
Clearance is also important. Adding a lift kit gives you more options for tire sizes, and that means you can upgrade to get more contact surface and a deeper tread. That’s hardly the only benefit, though. Higher clearance means you can tackle bigger obstacles without worrying about damage to the undercarriage. It also provides you with better sight lines by giving you a higher vantage point, and that can make a real difference when you are powering through tough country. It takes time to figure out how high you need to go when lifting a truck, so start your research today.
Protect Your Lights
Off-roading often means navigating tight trails where the brush comes right up to the edge of the path. That means your vehicle is likely to make contact, and it just takes a branch or two in the wrong spot to put a light out. That’s why many off-roaders opt for an upgrade that protects the lights. Light guards come in a variety of sizes to suit practically any vehicle, and they’re a cost-effective way to help prevent needing a replacement bulb and housing for turn signals and tail lights.
Buff Your Bumper Performance
Bump stops are hardly the most discussed parts for Jeep Wrangler builds, but they can save you a lot of money on replacements for other parts if you make the investment. A good bump stop is basically a hydraulic shaft that gives pressure, allowing it to absorb the force from collisions instead of passing it on to the rest of the vehicle. That means fewer jarring bumps when you have a small collision and less chance the transferred force breaks parts in your suspension and other systems.
These upgrades are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to fully outfitting an off-road vehicle for the best possible performance, but after you get the essential upgrades in place, you need to start considering the terrain you’re on, length of the journey, and other activities like camping or kayaking that you want your Jeep to support. Those choices will define the best upgrades for the second phase of your vehicle’s transformation.
