Our Favorite Products for Your Truck and Jeep
There’s nothing like leaving the pavement behind and heading out on the open trail. From the deep woods to sloping mountains and rolling dunes, your truck or Jeep was made to go off-road. It’s one of the best reasons to invest in this kind of vehicle in the first place. You can head out on a scenic camping trip, explore some of the most beautiful parts of the country, and leave the rest of civilization behind.
But, before you take your truck or Jeep off-road, you need to make a few modifications and invest in some off-road accessories. To help you prepare for this next chapter, we’ve come up with a list of our favorite products for your truck or Jeep. Each product is designed to help your truck or Jeep go farther. Regardless of where you like to explore, these products will come in handy in more ways than one. Start revamping your off-road truck or Jeep for the great outdoors with these must-have products and accessories.
Superlift Lift Kit
You’ll need bigger tires with more traction before you head out on the trail, but your factory truck or Jeep will need a few modifications before you can add off-road tires to your vehicle. That’s why it’s best to start with a lift kit, which raises the suspension of your vehicle, so you can make room for larger tires. Adding a lift kit also gives you more ground clearance on the trail. You can drive over branches, rocks, and other debris without damaging the underbelly of your vehicle or getting stuck in the wilderness.
When it comes to choosing a lift kit, Superlift is one of the most trusted names in the business. In fact, Superlift was one of the first manufacturers to design the modern truck and Jeep lift kit back in the 1970s, which comes with everything you need to modify your off-road truck or Jeep, including rear lift blocks, shocks, brackets, cross-members, steering knuckles, u-bolts, spacers, and additional hardware. You can install these kits yourself in about eight hours or less.
Once you have your lift kit installed, it’s time to start shopping for off-road tires.
Goodyear Military Wrangler MT/R
Many of us use our off-road truck or Jeep on paved surfaces as well, so it may be best to find a tire that can balance the demands of both. That’s why we picked the Goodyear Military Wrangler MT/R. They come with thicker treads that will help you glide over all kinds of off-road environments with ease, yet they’re light enough that they won’t weigh you down on the main road.
When you upgrade your stock tires to these beefy trailblazers, you’ll also get improved stress ratings, higher ground clearance, and an overall more capable ride. You can take your Jeep or truck on or off-road without worrying about whether you have the right kind of tires.
BFGoodrich Krawler T/A KX All-Season
If you spend more time off-road than on, you’re better off with the BFGoodrich Krawler T/A KX All-Season. It’s known as one of the best rock-crawling tires in the industry, so if you like to traverse mountains, steep hills, and cliffs, this is the tire for you. It comes with a distinct, customizable tread pattern that grips on rocks, giving you more control in different environments.
They also come with reinforced sidewalls and intense puncture resistance, so you can run over rocks and debris without a second thought. All-season tires also give you more traction in the snow and rain, which comes in handy if you live up north and still want to explore the great outdoors during the coldest months of the year.
MAXSA Innovations 20333 Escaper Buddy Orange Traction Mat
If you happen to get stuck in the mud during your outdoor expedition, these traction mats are just what you need to get back up and running again. You’re probably used to sliding your floor mats or even a piece of cardboard underneath your tires if you get stuck, but this doesn’t really provide the traction your tires need to keep moving.
These traction mats help your tires get a grip when the going gets tough. Toss them in the back or strap them to the roof, so you can get yourself out of all kinds of sticky situations in just a few minutes.
Mopar Skid Plate
Investing in body protection is a must when going off-road, and Mopar is known for making some of the finest body armor around. Grab one of their skid plates to protect your underbody, suspension system, and oil pan before you hit the trails. It’s made with heavy-gauge steel and a premium black body finish. This kit is easy to install, so you can be on your way in no time at all. It’s also cost-effective, considering the quality of the materials used, so you’ll definitely get your money’s worth.
Westin Sportsman Grille Guard
It’s best to put some steel between the front of your off-road truck or Jeep and the greater outdoors. Investing in a brush guard or bull bar will help you plow through grass, bushes, and just about anything else you might run into on the trail. The Westin Sportsman Grille Guard protects your headlights and front bumper, so you can carry on with more peace of mind.
It features a half-inch thick piece of stainless steel and seven-gauge uprights with rubber extrusions that won’t leave you feeling vulnerable in a pinch. To finish it off, it comes with a black-powder-coated tubing that won’t rust when the trail gets wet. Give your truck or Jeep some extra protection in the wild with this masterful brush guard.
Thule Canyon XT Cargo Basket
If you like to stay out on the trail or days or weeks at a time, you’re going to need to bring plenty of supplies along on your journey, such as camping equipment, recreational gear, and whatever else you might need to have fun in the great outdoors. That’s why every off-roader needs a roof rack, and Thule is the best brand in the business. Their Canyon XT Cargo Basket has a deep, spacious design, giving you plenty of room for all your off-road equipment.
The tapered sidewalls make it easy to slide equipment in and out, so you don’t have to curse every time you need something from the roof. It has a smooth, aerodynamic exterior that won’t slow you down. If you like to hit all those bumps and curves on the trail, opt for the additional crossbars that lock in your equipment. Regardless of what position you find yourself in, you can rest assured your gear isn’t going anywhere.
LightForce Single Row LED
If you’ve ever been out on the trail after the sun goes down, you’ve seen the face of true darkness. Your stock headlights will only do so much when it comes to illuminating every twist and turn. That’s why it’s best to upgrade your front lighting system by investing in a light bar. You’ll be able to see much more clearly in the dead of night than you would with just your stock headlights. This will help avoid certain obstacles in the wild, like thick tree roots, large rocks, and deep holes in the ground that could leave you in a pinch.
The LightForce Single Row LED gives you 5,600 extra lumens to play with, so you don’t have to squint. The LED lights are housed in a durable, aluminum frame that will stand the test of time. And every light comes with a hard-coated, scratch- and impact-resistant polycarbonate lens that protects them against all kinds of flying debris. You also don’t have to worry about moisture trouncing your new light bar. It comes with a Gore waterproof membrane with a mechanical seal for lasting moisture protection.
The K&N FIPK Fuel Injection Performance Kit
Going out on the trail means there’s going to be lots of dirt and dust flying through the air, but your engine needs to breathe if it’s going to get you from point A to B. As time goes on, your air filter and even the engine itself will start filling up with all kinds of dirt and residue, which can drain your vehicle’s fuel economy.
Instead of changing out the filter, again and again, upgrade to the K&N FIPK Fuel Injection Performance Kit. This high-powered accessory reduces air restriction by keeping the airflow free and clear, so your engine can do its job. It comes with a removable, reusable air filter that you can quickly wash by hand, so you don’t need to keep changing out your air filter. Overall, the kit increases engine power up to a 26 HP gain and lasts up to 50,000 miles.
MagnaFlow Performance Exhaust
While you’re paying attention to your vehicle’s airflow, come around to the back and reexamine your exhaust. Your vehicle needs to exhale just as much as it needs to inhale, and all that dirt and grime can clog your stock exhaust system, which can lead to backpressure and added turbulence. That’s why we recommend the MagnaFlow Performance Exhaust. It expands the diameter of the exhaust by a ½ inch, while reducing the number of bends in the exhaust where dirt can easily congregate. It also comes with a free-flowing resonator and muffler that reduces engine noise.
Detroit Truetrac Limited-Slip Differential
Vehicles with open differential systems can leave you with less power on the trail. These systems are designed primarily for highway driving, which means only one wheel per axle is putting power to the ground, so it’s best to install a locking or limited-slip differential system. This sends power to both wheels on each axle, so you can rip through the wilderness like nobody’s business. The Detroit Truetrac limited-slip differential system is durable enough for the outdoors, and it won’t slow you down when the going gets tough.
The Stainless Steel Brake Corporation Force 10 System
As you add bigger tires and all kinds of fun accessories to your lifted truck or Jeep, you’ll need to think about upgrading your braking system as well. Adding more weight to your vehicle will put more pressure on your factory brakes, which isn’t ideal when it comes to cruising through the outdoors. Switch out your rear drum brakes for rear discs, which will help your vehicle stop better and stop more consistently. Disc brakes are easier to maintain, and they also work better in wet weather.
The Stainless Steel Brake Corporation Force 10 System has just what you need to increase your stopping power. It takes the front calipers from a single-piston unit to two-piston units and adds single-piston units to the rear disc brakes. You’ll be able to stop much faster compared to your factory brakes, which gives you more peace of mind and control on the open trail.
Say Goodbye to the Pavement and Hello to the Great Outdoors
Once you’ve invested in some of these products and accessories for your off-road Jeep or truck, it’s time to start exploring vast stretches of wilderness that were previously off-limits. You can take off on all kinds of adventures without worrying about whether your off-road truck or Jeep can withstand these new environments.
You don’t want to worry about getting stuck in the middle of nowhere or doing a number on your vehicle when you’re trying to have fun. With these products and modifications in tow, the possibilities are endless. Make the most of your vehicle and start exploring the great outdoors today!