Having a good time on the trail means being prepared when you get out there. For that, you need the right upgrades to make your vehicle off-road ready. What that means will depend on where you are going, though.
Make sure you take terrain choices and difficulty into account whenever you’re choosing Jeep Wrangler parts and accessories.
Performance Upgrades
The right performance upgrades are essential. There are a lot of components that need to handle more than the stock models were designed to tolerate on a daily basis.
Luckily, there are also complete lift kit upgrades that include not only the larger shocks and long-arm hardware, but also off-road brakes and other key upgrades.
What’s more rarely seen in those kits is a differential upgrade. There are a lot of reasons to include the differential in the list of essential upgrades, but there are also a lot of people who consider it a move to be made later, since there’s already a lot to invest in when you set up an off-road rig.
Whether you upgrade it now or later, it is a good plan to do so eventually if you’re going to push the envelope performance-wise.
It’s also worth considering an intake and exhaust tweak in addition to anything that affects ride height and handling.
For those planning on aquatic adventures, mud runs, or swamp rides, it’s also a good idea to consider a snorkel so you have better amphibious capabilities.
Off-Road Tires
Tire selection is incredibly important when you’re setting up an off-road performance kit. Not only do they help you power through tough terrain, tires also provide you with the ride height to make the most of your lift kit.
Larger tire and wheel packages with terrain-specific tread can even be the key to safely navigating deep mud, swamps, or sand dunes.
There are two major factors to consider when you’re considering a tire upgrade. The first is that tread issue, and with it the decision to go with single-terrain or an all-terrain model.
Many large AT tires can power through most mud and swampland, but you still manage the job easier with a terrain-specific tread.
On the other hand, those mud tires wear down fast in other environments. That’s why many off-roaders keep an AT tire set and their terrain specific sets, alternating between them.
When buying a combination of wheels and tires, you save a little and solve the problem of the right rim. Apart from the tread issue, you also need to consider tire size.
This choice is influenced by how much you lifted the vehicle as well as your ideal activities and the terrain hazards that go with them.
Larger off-road tires can handle rougher terrain, but they also eat through more fuel when you’re on regular roads.
Accessories and Creature Comforts
The rest of your upgrades are up to you, but make sure you plan for the entire journey. That means having what you need to see in the dark and to set up camp at night. You’ll be amazed at what you find for options when customizing your Jeep.
