Five Ways to Customize Your Off-Road Vehicle for Optimal Performance

Yes, there are off-road vehicles that come ready to hit the trails, but isn’t it more fun to pick and choose what your vehicle has in order to make it specifically suited to you and the wilderness near your home? The number of off-road vehicles for sale is skyrocketing, and countless individuals have taken to off-roading to either blow off steam, break up the monotony of the work week, or create great memories with family and friends. Whatever your reason is for going off-roading, there are plenty of options available to you for turning that just-off-the-lot vehicle into something unique, built just for you. There are dozens of customizations possible, depending on where you’re going to get them done or if you’re doing them yourself. Curious about how you can customize your vehicle for off-roading? Here are our five favorite things to do to start the customization process.

#1: Take Stock of What You Already Have and Add Enhancements

Plenty of off-road vehicles already come with all-terrain tires, a hitch, a skid plate, or a special suspension kit. Still, it’s good to review the vehicle’s manual to see just what you have, what’s available from the manufacturer, what’s possible to get at our service center, or what you’d like to do at home. If you already have all-terrain tires, you don’t need another set right away; just make sure they have deep enough treads to handle the weather and ground conditions of the trails you pick. If you’ve already got a suspension package, then you don’t want to have an extra just lying around. Once you know the ins and outs of your vehicle, you’ll know better how to increase its potential for optimal performance. This is a much-needed step to take, and as such, we’ve put it first to ensure that enthusiasts know where they’re beginning in the journey of customization.

#2: Invest in a Lift Kit

A word of caution: not all lift kits are built the same. Be sure that you know which lift kit is right for your vehicle before taking the plunge. Why is a lift kit so important? It boosts your off-road vehicle at least one inch higher (sometimes more), which means you’ll have more clearance when crossing ground covered in rocks, vegetation, water, and mud. You won’t have to worry about damaging the undercarriage of your vehicle and can instead relax and enjoy the ride.

Popular vehicles to add a lift kit to include Jeeps, SUVs, and pickups. You can choose between three main types of lift kits: coil-over, dropdown, and leveling. The easiest and most inexpensive lift kits to install are typically the leveling lift kits, which are designed to accommodate what you already have. The downside is that it doesn’t give you a whole lot of height, maybe one to two inches. If you’d rather have a coil-over, you’ll pay a bit more, but you’re also able to gain from two to three inches in height and have more control of the vehicle thanks to the way the coil-over pairs with your suspension system. Is the dropdown more to your liking? While you can get from three to six inches of extra height, you will also have to upgrade your suspension system and perhaps forgo a lot of towing, as things can get dicey. Depending on what you’re using the vehicle for, one of these will be a better fit than the other two.

#3: Install Your Own Bull Bar

You may be wondering, “What’s a bull bar?” It doesn’t automatically turn you into a cowboy or ranch hand. It’s actually closer to a train’s cowcatcher, which is meant to protect the front of the train while also clearing a path. Have you ever been in a vehicle and met with a lot of brush? You know you don’t want to risk damaging the front of the vehicle, and that brush tends to scratch a vehicle’s paint and glass. That’s where the bull bar comes in. Like an insect’s antennae, the bull bar is built to clear a path forward while also protecting your vehicle from needless damage.

#4: Get Yourself a Roof Rack

These may or may not be offered with your vehicle or with a specific trim level, but if you didn’t get a roof rack, you need one. While it might seem that something on top of the vehicle doesn’t do any good when it comes to off-roading, this simply isn’t true. The roof rack can carry a lot without having to clutter up your vehicle or even your trunk. You can put a lot of equipment on the roof rack, including dirt bikes, kayaks, canoes, tent and hiking gear, hammocks, fishing equipment, and more. Passengers won’t have to fight with fishing poles for dominance, and with the roof rack, you can use your hitch for other things, like pulling a small camper or a trailer that holds your luggage, food, and smaller tools.

This opens up a world of possibilities for those who might enjoy a longer off-road trek into nature or who like having a variety of activities available in case the opportunity presents itself. Even if you don’t use it all the time, it’s nice to have that option when you decide where you’re going for your next adventure.

#5: Winch, Please

This might seem like a no-brainer, but many dealerships and car companies do not offer this option on vehicles that customers want to use off-road. The main purpose of the winch is to help you or your friend, neighbor, or family member get unstuck from a variety of situations: deep mud, wet sand, riverbanks, etc. You may not need to use it often, but you’ll be incredibly glad you have it when you do need to use it. Otherwise, you’ll have to call a tow truck or a friend to come pull you out, and either way, you’ll have to wait, wondering how long this will take and if they can even pull you out. A winch will cut down on all of that and have the added benefit of allowing you to help others out of the same predicament. What’s not to like?

Don’t Leave Home Without These Off-Road Favorites

When you get your off-road vehicle, whether it’s your first one or the next one, it can be tempting to drive away right then to experience the outdoors with your new friend. However, please remember that even if it rolls off the conveyor belt seemingly ready to go, each vehicle is different, and not all kits and packages are created equal. Do the research on the sort of land you want to off-road on, read reviews from fellow off-roaders, and make sure you have all the necessary items before you head out.

Remember, you can always add additional pieces to your off-roader as you go, or you can do it in one fell swoop, whatever fits your life best. Just know that you’re joining a great group of people who love the outdoors as much as you do. Do you have an off-road vehicle, or are you looking to purchase one? Which of these off-road items do you want on your vehicle? Let us know, and we can help point you in the right direction or install your off-road upgrades for you.