General Tech 7 Best Mods for a new 4x4 Owner

[Greg]

Say you have a friend that just bought his or her first stock 4x4, they are new to the 4WD scene and know nothing about it. They want to make some upgrades, make their stock 4x4 into a capable vehicle that can take them far up the trail and back reliably. Your friend has a decent budget for aftermarket parts but don't know what parts & accessories to add.

What would you recommend? You have 7 items that you can recommend, list them below 1 thru 7.

 

[Hickey]

1- communications of some kind, cb or FRS or HAM
2- tires
3- lift of some sort
4- recovery gear such as strap, shackles, etc
5- winch
6- gears and lockers
7- larger axles

 

[jeeper]

1-driving class
2-driving class
3-trail etiquette class
4-strap,shovel,gloves
5-first aid kit
6-lift
7-tires

I'm not being a smartbutt.. I think that most vehicles are pretty great even in stock form. Most of us had years and years of practice in cheap, stock, unreliable vehicles. Buying and building a super capable rig from the start will never let someone learn the proper way to identify and attack an obstacle. If I were truly trying to give them a good start, it wouldn't be with all the fanciest gadgets..

However.. say this friend had a lot of experience, and a brand new gladiator to build, that list would be VERY different

 

[Pike2350]

1- communications of some kind, cb or FRS or HAM
2- tires
3- lift of some sort
4- recovery gear such as strap, shackles, etc
5- winch
6- gears and lockers
7- larger axles

This is similar to what I'd say.... although I'd go

1. Comminication of some kind
2. Body protection
3. Recovery gear.
4. Lift
5. Tires
6. Winch
7. Gears & lockers

I think axles move out of the realm of normal mods. Most people build up what they have....and takes years of wheeling before you generally get to the point of needing larger axles....if at all.

 

[DAA]

In order.

Armor
Winch
Very High Quality Lift
Tires/Wheels
Quality Steering Upgrade
Brake Upgrade
Bad Ass Stereo

- DAA

 

[Kevin B.]

Depends on the rig, but generally speaking, recovery ability, then armor, then lift, tires, gears, traction adders. Things like lights and cargo management fit in there somewhere depending on stuff and things.

I guess that's not a ranked list, huh? Ok, so assuming a wheeling rig and not a camping rig...

Recovery ability
Armor
Lights
Lift/suspension
Tires
Gears and lockers
Cargo management

 

[johngottfredson]

In order:
-Rooftop tent
-Plastidip wheels black
-hi-lift jack
-four (4) light bars on the front.

DONE

-honorable mention: small rotopaX strapped somewhere

 

[cruiseroutfit]

#1 training

 

[Stephen]

-Tread Lightly! Class
-Common sense
-Map
-Fuel
-Food
-Quality Tow Strap
-Friend in another vehicle outfitted the same
______________________________

Before you start throwing good money after bad, get out there! See what you can do with what you've got. Then that'll give you an idea about what your appetite is and where you can best spend your money and time.

As has been mentioned before, most vehicles that people can pick up new(ish) today are far more capable that what was available when many of us got into the game. A stock 4WD Colorado is NOT your dads D21! It will go places that the most built rigs from 20 years ago could only dream of without batting an eye. And that's not even touching about Rubicons, TRD's, etc. Get out and have fun, then build!

 

[4x4_Welder]

I'd put tires further up on the list. Lots of 4x4 trucks come with fuel economy minded tires, which is great for a city truck, but will blow out a sidewall at the thought of a rock, or get stuck in the parking lot if it rained in the last week. I used to do all kinds of dumb stuff in a 2wd pickup with good tires.
A decent tire, rated for the weight of the loaded vehicle, and properly inflated will be a huge gain.

 

[Bart]

In order:
-Rooftop tent
-Plastidip wheels black
-hi-lift jack
-four (4) light bars on the front.
DONE
-honorable mention: small rotopaX strapped somewhere

Trail etiquette training
lift
armor & bumpers
gears
tires
winch
recovery gear

 

[Unimog]

I wouldn't recommend getting anything before you start. I would recommend getting together with a friend who is experienced and knows trail etiquette and start out with a trail you both think you can do and just try it!

 

[Shawn]

Not to be a brown noser, but I would, and have done so, suggest they become a member of RME and learn, ask questions, and learn. Then make a list.

 

[Gravy]

Grumper kit.
LightbarZ
Spacer lift
Offset wheels (bonus points for nautical stars somewhere)
Large vinyl letters