A small change can affect other aspects of the vehicle; therefore, it’s advisable to do 4×4 modifications as a whole project than one component at a time. If you are planning to upgrade your 4WD, below are basic types of modifications for you.
1. Tyres
The tyres of most 4WD and camping gear are not specifically designed for outback travels and will most probably fail during a steep and heavy drive. The new tyres should be robust enough to manage rough roads and also long trips. A tyre with light truck construction is recommended rather than those with the usual passenger construction. This is because in light truck tyres have a stronger carcass and thicker sidewalls. They are structurally designed to carry heavy weights and handle higher pressures.
2. Long-Range Fuel Tanks
Before planning to travel to remote areas with your 4WD, you must make sure that you have enough fuel. However, having extra fuel may be risky. For such scenario upgrading to a long-range fuel tank is recommended. Long-range fuel tanks enable you to carry enough fuel for your long drive. This can be achieved by placing the tank under your vehicle so no extra space is occupied.
3. Snorkel
When travelling to remote areas, you may encounter pits, sandy roads, deep mud and even flood water. An additional snorkel will help prevent mud, sand, dust, and water from getting into the 4WD’s engine, as long as the level doesn’t exceed the height of the snorkel. Add a special sock to the top of a snorkel as a second air filter makes it even better. This can prevent very fine dust particles from getting inside the engine.
4. Bullbars
You can add bullbar in your 4-wheel drive to protect the front of your vehicle from animal attacks and other types of damage. Bullbars serve as a convenient location for aerials and lights. Whenever you want to mount a winch on a bullbar, you’ll need to choose a winch-compatible bar in place of a standard bar.
5. Diff Lockers or Traction Aids
This helps prevent damage of the driveline when travelling through rough roads and tough terrains. Long driving on rough roads or uneven terrains can cause either both front and rear wheels to lift off the ground and lose traction. Anyfast spinning, lifted wheel that hits the ground can disable the car or cause some components to break.
6. Satellite Phones for Communication
Holidays travels are usually long, and remote areas may not have strong network signal for your mobile phone. To maintain proper communication with your relatives and friends, or if you need to contact people in case of emergencies, then a satellite phone is the excellent solution. Just ensure you fully charge your sat phone and keep it safely inside the vehicle to avoid damage in cases of accidents.
7. Driving Lights
Remote areas are usually darker after sunset than in the cities. Having extra driving lights is very essential especially if you expect to be driving during the night. A combination of both wide and pencil beams is the best driving lights. Lights that are waterproof, vibration-resistant and have a mounting system that can be adjusted easily are the most recommended.
8. Spare Tyre Carriers
Having spare tyre carrier is very important. It ensures that you can bring extra tyres during your long trip. This is necessary if you upgraded into bigger tyres as they won’t fit into rear-mounted spare tyre carrier. It is also useful in situations where you have a long-range fuel tank as it would be tiresome to place the spare tyres there.If you want to customise your regular 4WD and camping gear for outback travels, your vehicle has to undergo certain modifications and upgrades.
