Must-Have 4x4 Accessories for a Safe and Comfortable Off-Roading Experience

Thinking about doing some off-roading? There's a lot to be excited about it, but there's also a lot to prepare for. It's extremely important to have the essential 4X4 accessories on your truck to make sure your days are filled with a lot more riding and a lot fewer worries about how to get out of an unexpected situation. Here are some of the 4X4 gear you should have on your truck before taking part in any off-road adventure.

Every person who has been in an off-road adventure before knows the importance of having a jumper cable at hand. Floodlights, portable fridges and instant showers all rely on your vehicle's battery to work. There are times that this equipment can drain your battery and this is when your jumper cables will come in handy. Easy to use, these 4X4 accessories are a must-have in any off-road trip.

At one point or another during your off-road adventure, chances are that you will have to deflate the tyres of your vehicles to traverse sand. This means that you will have to inflate them again. While it's fine to choose a more affordable compressor, make sure it can supply at least 35 litres of air per minute. Going any lower than that could mean taking forever to inflate your tires and get back on the road again.

A car's engine is powered by tiny explosions fuelled by a large container filled with flammable liquid. If control over this fire is lost, the entire vehicle can go up in smoke. Mud covering radiators and grass pilling up against hot metal can cause off-road vehicles to overheat and then catch fire. With that said, carrying a fire extinguisher makes totally sense. A regular extinguisher will work fine.

Investing in headlight protectors for your vehicle is a great idea as it's quite common for stones and other debris to fly up and break your truck's headlights, leaving you in the dark. Getting plastic bonnet defenders can help prevent costly dents and scratches. These accessories are not overly expensive and are much cheaper than having your vehicle repaired or repainted.

A quality nylon tow strap can get you out of all manner of jams. Whether it's pulling a downed tree out of your way or yanking another stuck rig off the trail, it is an essential tool for hitting the trail.

Getting out of trouble on the trail can be quite time-consuming. So you need to be prepared to be out after dark too. A solid work light will allow you to see what you're doing as your effect a recovery, repair, or even just air your tires back up. A nice work LED light fitted with both magnets and hooks make it easy to position for hands-free use, whether you're working outside your vehicle or underneath it.

Using a recovery strap sometimes involves massive forces and failure could be deadly. The safest bet is to simply drive out of a situation that's got you stuck - no other vehicle necessary. That's where a recovery board comes in. Some recovery boards can also double as shovels, which means if you can't place them under your tires and drive out, you can use them to excavate your wheels. You just use them to dig a fire pit in your new base camp.

Not only are tires the most important component on your truck, but they're also the most frequently damaged. Every one hitting off-road should consider carrying a complete tire repair kit in their vehicle. Learning to use it is easier than you might think.

You'll want to have with you a comprehensive selection of wrenches, pliers, drivers... all that good stuff. Even if you don't plan to work on your truck during a trip, the bumps and vibrations can rattle stuff lose easily. Having a tool kit at hand will allow you to deal with problems as they arise.

All the work involved in off-road trips is hard on your hands. This is especially true when you have to do it in small spaces, in the wet, in the dark, and around sharp edges. The great news is adding protection and grip is easy with a pair of heavy-duty, leather-palmed gloves for winching. Add paragraph text here.

Using a paper map to know where you are and where you are going is a real pain when you are off-road. Often there are multiple trails running in similar directions and it can be quite difficult to tell which one you're on or need to get to. Make things easier for yourself with a quality off-road navigation app , which will track your progress in real-time and allow you to easily figure out which way to go.

After a long day of hitting the trails, you will probably need a rest or perhaps a lunch. Having a compact awning can really come in handy for these situations. Stored in a durable bag, a compact awning can easily de deployed by just one person. Just unfold it from the storage bag, fold down the legs and secure them to the ground for extra stability if there is wind. Premium models can even shield you from elements such as rain, snow and even provide sun protection. A moments rest or a night camping under the stars may be just what you need to make your off-road adventure truly special.