While all you really need to go off-roading is a vehicle capable of it, there are accessories available that can make the experience both safer and more fun. In this piece we’ll be exploring some of these 4wd and off-road accessories, so you can decide which options are best to fit to your vehicle for your next adventure.
Roof Racks
First up we have roof racks. Carting everything around in the car can get quite squishy, and many things you’d want while out adventuring – such as kayaks and other large sporting items – may not even fit in your vehicle depending on the type that you drive. With this in mind, installing roof racks is a great idea both for the safety of your family and your belongings as well as the comfort of your drive.
Towing Kit
Adventuring is always more fun when you have somewhere comfortable to stay, and for many, that somewhere comfortable is a caravan or camper. Depending on the vehicle that you own, your factory towing setup may not be ideal for the type of caravan or camper that you wish to tow, so it’s important to ensure you’ve got the right kit fitted before trying to bring your home away from home along for the ride.
Towing Kits can also be helpful for those wanting to bring items such as motorbikes, jet skis or boats with them on their adventure, as these obviously won’t fit in the car, or on your roof racks.
Bullbar
Nobody wants to think about hitting a roo or other wildlife, but when you take your car outside the city, the chances of this happening increase exponentially – especially if you’re going somewhere particularly far off the beaten path, as you’re venturing into their habitat. While a bullbar won’t guarantee that your car will survive such an encounter, it will almost certainly reduce the damage that you sustain if the worst does happen, so it’s a good idea to get one fitted before heading off on an adventure.
Bullbars are also quite helpful once you get to your campsite, as you can turn them into a part of your setup. For example, you could hang things off your bullbar to dry, use it to hold drinks or keep smaller things off the ground, or attach your fishing rod to it so you don’t have to constantly hang onto it.
Lightbar
A lightbar is an essential for anyone who’ll be spending time away from well lit areas. When it’s a dark night in the middle of nowhere, your high beams probably won’t give you the visibility you want while travelling, and light bars are an ideal solution for this. They’re also a wonderfully versatile accessory that can be fitted to any side of your vehicle, meaning you can use them to light up your campsite instead of having to worry about battery powered lanterns or other lighting options.
We suggest the installation of lightbars that can be controlled independently from your high beam headlights for this reason, as this way you won’t have to have your headlights on in order to light your space up.
Recovery Gear
No one should ever go four wheel driving without the appropriate recovery gear. A winch can be the difference between being stranded for hours waiting for help and being able to pull yourself out of a sticky situation, so it really is a non-negotiable. It’s a good idea to get a winch that has a capacity slightly higher than you think that you need, in order to ensure that you’re covered in any situation.
Plus, having a winch means you can rescue people who don’t, which is a great way to make new friends, or at least feel a bit warm and fuzzy after doing your good deed for the day.
Car Fridge
An esky is a great option for keeping things cold if you’re going to be out and about on foot (we highly recommend one with wheels), but if you’ll mainly be near your vehicle, a car fridge is a far superior option. Not only does this allow you to keep your drinks at exactly the temperature you want them to be, but many car fridges also feature a freezer compartment, meaning you’ll have way more options for what you’re going to eat while you’re adventuring. This is obviously less important for those who’ll have a caravan with them, but still a good idea if you’re going to be heading away from your main campsite during the day.
Off-Road Tyres
Another absolute must for those who’ll be adventuring off the beaten track with their car is a good set of off-road tyres. Arguably one of the most important accessories on this list, off-road tyres make handling tough terrain both easier and safer, so you and your family can enjoy your trip without having to worry so much about whether your car is going to get a grip.
UHF Radio
If you’re going four wheel driving in a group, solid communication between all involved is a must. A UHF radio in each car makes this a thousand times easier, leading to a safer trip. It also arguably makes it more fun, as everyone can chat while you’re climbing over whatever latest obstacle you’ve found to conquer.
Driving Lights
Similar to lightbars, but different enough to deserve their own section, driving lights are generally designed to point either straight forward or down. Where light bars tend to be fitted to a high point on the vehicle, driving lights sit in your bullbar or bumper bar and provide better visibility of what’s happening at a close range in front of your vehicle. This is particularly beneficial if you’re going to be doing a significant amount of off-roading, but better visibility will never be a bad thing.
Depending on the type of driving lights that you choose to install, they may be connected to your high beam headlights. This is an important thing to consider before selecting this accessory, as you’ll want to ascertain whether you’re going to be needing them more for general visibility (in which case you’re probably better off with ones that point down and are ok to have on when there is oncoming traffic) or whether you’d rather maximise brightness during their operation.
Backup Battery
A flat battery can ruin your day at the best of times, so having a backup is always a good idea. Bonus points here if your car allows a dual battery setup and you wire any accessories you’ll be wanting to run when the vehicle is off to your secondary battery, so you can worry less about running your main one flat.
Battery Charger / Jump Starter
Following on from our backup battery point, it’s also wise to ensure that you always have a battery charger and a means to jump start your vehicle easily at hand. The last thing you want is to be stranded in the middle of nowhere, so these safeguards are a cheap and highly useful solution.
Some newer vehicles need to be jump started in a certain way, so it’s a good idea to research this before you go on your trip, and print out instructions for your vehicle if it requires any special conditions to be able to be jump started safely.
Tyre Repair Kit
Tyres can get a puncture at any point in time, even if you’re only driving in the city, but their favourite time to do so always seems to be when it’s most inconvenient for you and your family. While having a spare wheel definitely assists in mitigating risk in this regard (make sure it’s fitted with the same kind of off-road tyre as you have on your normal wheels), you’ll also want to keep a tyre repair kit handy in case you end up with more than one flat.
Air Compressor
It’s also wise to carry a small air compressor that can be powered either by battery or by your vehicle. Not only will this be vital in allowing you to re-inflate your tyre once you’ve repaired it, but air compressors can also help make your adventures more fun. After all, who wants to stand around for ages blowing up inflatable balls or floatation devices? A compressor makes light work of this task, so you can get back to enjoying your holiday.
First Aid Kit
We recommend keeping a first aid kit in your car at all times, but it is particularly important to have one handy when you’re heading out away from society. Scrapes and bumps happen when you’re off adventuring, so it’s a good idea to have a first aid kit ready to help ensure everything stays clean and safe.
Plus, you’ll be incredibly grateful that you have a first aid kit available if any larger injuries happen, as this small item can be a literal lifesaver. When it comes to accessories like this, it’s always good to follow the adage, “hope for the best, prepare for the worst”, so be sure to fill your kit with a range of helpful items.
Snorkel
This one probably isn’t super important if you’re not going anywhere that water may rise on your track, but a snorkel is a must-have for anyone who wants to attempt river crossings or is heading somewhere that water often rises over the road. It’s always better to be safe than sorry after all.
Generator
Finally, having a generator with you can make adventuring a lot more comfortable and enjoyable. Not only will it allow you to power your electronics if you’re travelling with a caravan or camper, but many smaller options also allow you to charge your air compressor, phone and other devices directly which is a major win for convenience.
To purchase these accessories, you’ll want to visit a 4wd and adventure store such as Opposite Lock. Opposite Lock Cranbourne is part of Freeway Motor Group, and that’s a win for anyone who purchases a vehicle from one of our dealerships in Cranbourne, Frankston, Lilydale or Mornington. Simply show Matt and the team your Freeway Motor Group vehicle, and you’ll get a minimum 10% off everything in store, so you can get these must-have accessories for less!