4x4 Modifications to make your truck keep going

These days, 4x4 modifications range from bead locked rims and huge rock crawling tires right through to electronic chips to improve engine performance and everything in between. This is great, because regardless of the vehicle that you choose to drive you should be able to find a good number of 4x4 accessories to throw onto your vehicle. However, it can be awfully daunting picking the right 4x4 Modifications for your car because there is so much to choose from. It’s important that you pick the right accessories from the word go, or you will have a car which doesn’t function as you want it to, and you will end up spending more money than you ever intended!

Why modify your car?

A 4x4 Modification is something that makes your car one of the following:
•    more capable
•    more powerful
•    more economical
•    more comfortable
•    better looking
•    more functional
•    more reliable

Many of the modifications that you do to your car will solve several of these issues. For example, when you put larger or more aggressive tires on your car you make it more capable, functional and better looking. Ultimately what it comes down to is that four wheel drives in their stock state are not half as capable as they can be. They lack clearance, traction and functionality. By fitting larger tires and a lift kit you fix the clearance and suspension flex issue, and you can fit rear drawer sets, a fridge, lights for the rear of the car, roof top tents and much more to solve the functionality problems. Changing your car is a lot of fun, but it can also be incredibly frustrating and costly if you go about it the wrong way!

What 4x4 Modifications can I do to my car?

Anything you want, bearing in mind that you have to stay within the legal limitations. Regardless of what you are planning on doing you should consult the law within your specific area. If you are planning on doing anything a bit more extreme then you will want to speak to an engineer (before you do anything to your car!) to see what you are allowed to do. Work with the engineer to build the car into something that is capable yet still roadworthy. There is nothing worse than decking out your car with a heap of great 4x4 Modifications and then taking it to the engineer to be told that it isn’t legal and that you have to spend several thousand on it to make it engineer able!

You will find that a lot of people drive cars around which are modified beyond the law. Some get caught, and some don’t. The fact of the matter is that if you do get caught you are in serious trouble. More importantly though, if your car isn’t legal your insurance company can legally refuse to help you out if you have an accident. This is also the case if you modify your car without letting them know. Imagine if you crashed into a nice Porsche with some tires which were just above legal? You would literally spend the rest of your life paying for a car that you don’t even get to keep or drive when you could put the money to better use. Even more importantly, if you hurt another person you could go to prison!

It’s not worth playing around with; if you want to add 4x4 modifications then you need to do it right, and you need to do it right the first time. Make sure you take your time, do the right research and then get onto it slowly and carefully.

Basic but important 4x4 Modifications

There are a few important 4x4 Modifications which every 4x4 should have. In saying this, modifying your 4x4 should come down to what you specifically need the vehicle for, and only that. If you never take it off-road then there is no reason to lift it or put larger tires on it. However, if you do a bit of 4x4 then I would suggest the following as a minimum
•    2 inch suspension or body lift
•    Mud terrain or all terrain tires (in a slightly bigger size if possible)
•    A bulbar
•    A snorkel
•    Spotlights if you do any night driving
The above is only a guide, and there are quite a number of other bits and pieces that you can throw onto your vehicle, depending on what you want. If you are into the more extreme four wheel driving then perhaps a 4 or 5 inch lift would be better (2 inch body and 3 inch suspension lift or airbags works well).

The best thing that you could do though is to sit down and decide what your ultimate car would be and why each part would be helpful. Pick the ones that are the most important, do your research and then set about building a better 4wd. Remember to add all of your heavy items before doing any suspension modifications (bull bar, sidesteps, roof racks, water tanks, long range tanks, rooftop tents, rear bar, tire carriers etc). This will ensure that you get the right set of suspension and save you a lot of money!

Most of all do your 4x4 modifications with care and enjoy them. Make sure your car is legal and then get out and enjoy this great world!