In countries with vast open areas like Australia, off-road driving offers people a way to quickly explore outdoor spaces that would take days to reach on foot, and they can do so while remaining warm, safe, and dry in their vehicle. However, most factory-spec vehicles aren’t up to the task, even if they are 4x4s. This article explores the accessories you need, such as snorkels and underbody plates to make your vehicle truly off-road ready.
1. A 4×4 Snorkel
4×4 snorkels draw clean, cool air in from roof height, which protects your engine if you need to pass through deep water. The standard air intake system on most 4x4s is located in the engine bay, just a few feet off the ground at most. If you find yourself needing to cross a deep ford or encounter a flash flood, you risk letting water in and putting an end to your adventure. With a snorkel, you can cross with confidence.
2. All-Terrain Tyres
While off-roading, you may end up driving on gravel, sand, mud, and other surfaces with qualities very different from flat, paved roads. This means that you cannot just use the same tyres that you would while commuting in the city. All-terrain tyres offer enhanced grip and puncture resistance, and they also tend to spread your vehicle’s weight over a larger surface area so that they don’t sink into soft ground.
3. Underbody Plates
Even with brands like Jeep, which market their vehicles to off-road enthusiasts, underbody plates don’t always come as standard. Yet they are undoubtedly an off-roading essential, especially if you plan to tackle highly uneven or rocky trails. All it takes is one jagged rock to strike a vital component underneath your vehicle to put it out of action in the middle of the great outdoors. Underbody plates, or “bash” plates, keep you protected against this.
4. Roof Racks
One thing that’s the same about heading away from built-up areas and into nature whether you’re doing it in a car or on foot is that you need to be prepared for all eventualities. This is especially important if you’re taking an outback road trip or heading to other remote areas. Being prepared means bringing along recovery equipment, spare fuel, and water as a minimum. A roof rack helps you carry more essentials.
5. Auxiliary Lights
Stock headlights, and especially the modern slit-style ones, are good enough to illuminate the roads at night in built-up areas, but they can fall short in remote environments where things are pitch black. Many off-roaders add spotlights or LED light bars to their vehicles for additional brightness. LED technology is energy efficient and will not drain your battery too much, yet it’s bright enough to light up your camping area.
6. CB Radios
Remote areas tend not to be well-covered by normal mobile networks, so you need to prepare secondary forms of communication in case you get into difficulty. CB radios are legal in Australia, or you could look into other types of UHF radio or satellite communication. These can help you contact the authorities if you need them, or to locate other adventurers nearby who can help you.
Conclusion
You may need to add other accessories depending on the exact environment you plan on driving in, but this short list provides a solid foundation for a safe and fun off-road adventure. Be sure to take the time to learn how to use all of the gear properly before you venture away from the road. In a crisis, equipment you don’t know how to use is as useless as not having it at all.
