8 Must-Have Accessories For Your Next Off-Road Adventure

Some of the options are expensive and can add a serious amount of weight to the vehicle. Also, some of the off-road 4x4 accessories make sense for serious jeepers who deal with extreme terrains regularly but aren’t practical in everyday driving conditions. To make your 4x4 vehicle ownership and off-roading experience more pleasing, we have compiled a list of essential 4x4 off-road accessories worth investing in.

1. Tyres

Be it driving on tarmac or off the road, tyres are the only point of contact between the vehicle and the ground. Upgrading the tyres is the first step towards improving vehicle performance. Especially while going off-road, a good set of purpose-built tyres are essential to have grip over challenging terrain like rocks, mud, slush, and sand. You can choose to go in for all-terrain or mud terrain tyres. 

As the name suggests, all terrain tyres feel at home on the road and even when you venture off the road. In comparison, mud terrain tyres get an aggressive tread design to help it claw out of extremely slushy or slippery terrain. We recommend going for all terrain tyres if your vehicle is going to be predominantly driven on the road. Mud terrain tyres will be ideal if you go off-road every weekend or go on cross country road trips often.   

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2. Portable Air Compressor / Tyre Deflator

Before going off-road, the basic hygiene is to air down or reduce the air pressure of the vehicle's tyres. By doing this, the contact patch of the tyre increases, which in turn increases friction and helps the tyre find grip in slippery terrain. It even improves the ride comfort over broken roads and rocky trails. 

While driving over dirt roads or trails, the air pressure can be reduced by up to 10 PSI. While driving on sand or mud, the air pressure can be reduced further on the basis of the grip being generated. Before getting back on the road, the tyres will have to be inflated to the recommended air pressure to prevent excessive wear and tyre. So, a portable air compressor will be your friend in need and you should always keep one in your vehicle.   

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3. Underbody Protection

While venturing off-road, the vehicle's underbody is likely to take a few bad hits over challenging terrain. Stubborn sticks and big rocks can end up breaking the radiator, sump or gearbox upon impact. The underbody protection plates act as a shield in such scenarios and protect your vehicle's moving parts from damage.  

4. Tow Strap and Shackles 

When you are planning to drive away from the city, it is important to be prepared for the worst. During an off-road excursion, the chances of your vehicle getting beached or stuck is quite high. In such a scenario, having a tow strap or recovery rope will help get your vehicle pulled out easily. Shackles are used to connect the tow strap or recovery rope with the vehicle's tow hook. It's an important tool for vehicle recovery and we recommend you get one that has an adequate weight rating. 

5. Shovel

Unfortunately, everyone tends to underestimate the importance of a shovel while off-roading. It always comes in handy when a vehicle gets beached. A shovel helps dig through mud, sand, dirt or ice and clear some space around the vehicle's tyres. This will reduce the strain on the tow straps and towing rope when the vehicle is being pulled out. Also, this multi-purpose tool is very helpful when setting up campsites and clearing the path for vehicles.

6. Floor Carpeting and Floor Mats 

While venturing off-road, your vehicle is bound to get dirty as it is exposed to the elements. A fair amount of that dirt will find its way into the cabin of your vehicle. Hence, it is vital to protect your vehicle as much as possible from the dust and muck which could cause corrosion and rusting in the long term. A good set of floor carpeting and floor mats will restrict the dust from moving around the cabin and can be cleaned easily. 

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7. Sand Ladders or Traction Boards 

While driving on snow or sand, it is likely that there will be instances when the tyres will be unable to find traction and simply spin away. Sand ladders or traction boards could help your vehicle crawl out of such situations in a jiffy. They are basically planks with knobby treads on both sides, which when placed between the vehicle's tyres and the ground, help generate traction and prevent the wheels from spinning freely.  

8. Jerry Can 

These containers are used for storing additional quantities of fuel safely. They are available in different storage capacities and will ensure that you always have fuel on a deserted trail. Ensure that the jerry can is mounted outside the vehicle so that fumes don't leak inside the cabin. 

7. Electric Fridge and Kettle 

If you intend to regularly explore the outdoors in your 4x4, then you will need to take essential supplies along. A portable electric fridge will keep your food fresh and the water chilled. Having an electric kettle around will ensure that you can always make your own tea and coffee and if the need arises, fry up some snacks! 

8. Emergency Kit 

The meaning of emergency can be different for each one of us. For some, an emergency situation could be their electronic devices running out of juice or running out of food. Hence, before going off-roading it is vital to create an emergency kit that contains all possible solutions to most likely emergencies. We recommend you keep a soft bag in the vehicle containing chargers for your devices, a tyre repair kit, snack packets, drinking water bottles, some cash that will be useful in buying supplies in remote places and a first aid kit. 

Pro tip: Don’t be a lone wolf and get comfortable with your vehicle!

Never venture off the road alone. Always go in a group. This ensures that there’s always sufficient help around, should the need arise.

Get acquainted with your vehicle, its driving capabilities and mechanical prowess. This will give you a fair idea of what the vehicle can do and what it cannot. Always test the off-road capabilities of your 4x4 along with your skills in a known environment before going on a trail. 

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