5 Essential 4WD Accessories To Tackle Australia’s Nastiest Terrains

insight • September 12, 2019

Have you ever stop to consider what accessories does your 4WD vehicle really need?

Instead of allowing infomercials to influence your buying decisions, doing a little homework prior to a purchase can help you save on unnecessary costs and enhance the performance of your 4WD. In this article, we have compiled an essential list of accessories for your vehicle.

Get past the initial hype

Before we begin, you may want to know that certain 4WD aftermarket add-ons have been heavily advertised and marketed to a point where individuals can’t distinguish a “want” from a “need”. Hence, you will need to do your homework first and that is to personally visit any small rural town in Australia, to have a quick look-see at what local 4WD drivers have on their own vehicles. Soon you will start noticing local patterns and you can give your vehicle the necessary tweaks.

Bullbars – Bullbars are an essential component of any 4WD and they are used to deflect incoming objects. Some accidents may include small animals flying into your windscreens and the bars help reduce the damage that your car needs to withstand. The bullbar is also your first line of defence against small scrub and trees – when you need to bulldoze your way through badly overgrown tracks. Also, bullbars are revelled for their versatility in the accommodation of other add-ons such as lifting points, driving lights, fishing rod holders and winches.

Suspension and lift kits – Although suspension systems are hidden from plain sight, it is a vital aspect and probably the most hardworking component of your 4WD vehicle. Whether it is a leaf spring or coil spring, both types of springs endure incalculable amounts of stress and flexing. The shock absorbers in the suspension also get considerably hot when the vehicle has to manoeuvre over rough dirt roads. The same suspension system is not made for all applications, thus you may need to get suspension upgrades from time to time, depending on what you need to carry for the particular occasion.

Long range fuel tanks – If you plan to explore this country, you have to increase the fuel range of your 4WD vehicle first. Basically, driving in soft and unforgiving sand will increase your fuel consumption by up to 50%. Consider adding a secondary fuel tank as it is one of the safest and easiest way to keep up to the demands of 4WD driving.

Dual batteries – Almost everything in a modern 4WD vehicle is made out of electrical components. It contains an array of accessories such as GPS systems, power inverters, odd small work light as well as driving lights. Power-hungry items include car fridges and big power winches. Hence, an auxiliary battery becomes necessary for 4WDs. Although such batteries come at price of $200, 4WD owners should never scrimp on good quality or heavy-duty batteries.

Air intake snorkels – Air intake snorkels hold a primary role of allowing your car to make successful water crossings and prevent the water from destroying the engine. The air intake of the engine is usually lifted up and away from its bay and the system received a steady flow of clean, dense and cool air.

If you need some advice on your next purchase, consider giving us a call. At K&N Ultimate 4WD, we offer the best 4WD related advice as well as a wide range of 4WD accessories in Australia.