Off-roading is probably one of the most adrenaline-surging, excitement-enticing and heart-racing hobbies you can do and, best of all, once you have the proper gear, it’s free. However, it takes some time and knowhow to get your rig to the point where it’s ready to traverse the dunes, stairstep inclines and conquer an approach angle with ease. If you’re a newbie to the off-road world, use this guide to beef up your rig so that it’s ready to navigate the road less traveled like a pro.
Bigger Isn’t Always Better
You see all these beefed up trucks with monstrous truck wheels that require literal ladders to climb into and you’re intimidated. How can you compete with a machine like that in your dinky 4×4? Don’t sweat it. Most trails were carved using smaller Jeeps, ATVs and UTVs, which means that in the off-road game, smaller is better. Those large trucks may look tough, but at the end of the day, they have a far more difficult time navigating the trails than their more compact counterparts. In fact, many trailheads have size limits and ban larger vehicles from entering.
Weight Matters
Another reason you don’t want to take a monster of a vehicle out on the trails is because of weight. Think about it: When you go hiking, you try to keep your pack as light as possible to reduce the strain on your body. The same concept applies with your off-road rig. When modifying your rig, replace each part with a lighter version of it. For instance, consider swapping out the heavy OEM doors with aftermarket tube doors and skins. Remove that bulky hardtop the salesperson talked you into and replace it with a roll cage, cargo net or soft top. Regardless of the type of rig you own, there are always a few modifications you can make to reduce its weight and increase its performance.
Tires Make a Difference
Not all tires are created equal. In fact, many of the standard tires you’ll find at big-name tire dealers and manufacturers are actually quite disappointing. When you shop truck parts online, you’ll discover a whole new world of tires you never knew existed. Tires with aggressive tread patters and tires with no tread – tires with deep grooves and tires with shallow grooves – tires made for mudding and tires made for plowing through snow … you’ll find them all on the World Wide Web. The key is to narrow down your needs based on the type of terrain you plan to traverse as well as how skilled you are behind the wheel.
Solid Axles Are the Mainstay
You may be tempted to swap out your rig’s OEM solid axle with an aftermarket independent front suspension system, but consider what you’ll be losing by doing so. The Jeep Wrangler remains one of the most popular off-road vehicles for a reason, and it’s not it’s good looks. The Wrangler’s solid front and rear axles provide stability and predictability (in a good way) on untraveled lands. They also support the drivetrain and help to keep both tires firmly planted on the ground, regardless of what situation you find yourself in. If you want to upgrade them with aftermarket parts, you can, and with ease.
Ready to start building up your rig into an off-road machine? Shop for parts online today.
