Four Wheel Driving is an activity that allows you to get back to nature in a way that most people don’t experience too often. With so many places across Australia to visit, this type of activity gives you the opportunity to see parts of the country you might not have seen otherwise. If you’re thinking about going on a four-wheel drive trip and need some advice on what products to take along with you, we can help.
4X4 Essential Accessories
First, let’s take a look at some of the 4X4 essential accessories you should have in your vehicle before even setting out.
* Winch - A winch can be used to get out of tricky situations where a vehicle has become stuck and can’t be driven out. When you’re on a remote road, your car could end up getting stuck, and a winch can be very useful to get you back on the road.
Winches come in both manual and electric varieties and there are different types depending on what kind of terrain you’ll be driving in.
* Jack - A jack is essential for changing a tyre on the side of the road and will save you from having to call out a tow truck. There are different types of jacks depending on what type of vehicle you drive.
A standard jack will work for most cars, but you may want to consider purchasing a scissor jack for SUVs.
* Sturdy Shoes - Driving 4x4s in remote areas can sometimes mean you’re walking at times to reach your destination. Make sure you’re wearing sturdy shoes.
* Spare Parts - Travelling off road may damage your vehicle in some way and you’ll need spares to fix it. Make sure you have the parts you need before you set off and store them in a safe place so they don’t get damaged or lost.
4X4 Recovery Equipment
If your vehicle breaks down while in remote areas, you may need to tow it. If you don’t have the correct 4X4 recovery equipment, you could do more damage to your vehicle and make the situation worse. Make sure you have the right equipment before setting off.
* 4X4 Recovery Straps - Make sure you have straps in your vehicle so you can secure the vehicle you’re towing. You don’t want it to get loose and damage anything on the road or get stuck in the mud. Straps are also useful if you need to tie down anything on the roof rack of your vehicle.
* Recovery Boards - Recovery Boards are a great way to get your 4X4 vehicle out of a bog. Slide the board underneath the tyres to allow for temporary traction. You can use the ends of the recovery board as a shovel to scrape away excess sand or mud
Portable battery Packs
As we move more towards a digital lifestyle and away from traditional forms of communication, the need for power is ever increasing. While you could simply forget about the need for power, it could come back to bite you in the backside and leave you struggling to find a solution.
Portable battery packs are a great way to charge your devices while you’re on the go. It’s also a cheap solution to keep you connected and in contact with others wherever you are. With more and more people relying on their mobile devices for a number of different things, having a portable battery pack is a great idea.
GPS locators
If you’ve ever been in a situation where you’re not sure where you are or you don’t know how to get back to the main road again, a GPS locator could be the solution. A GPS locator can be used as a navigation device and can show you exactly where you are on a map. If you get lost while out on a four-wheel drive adventure, you can use the device to find your way back to the road again.
Some can be mounted to the dashboard and be used as a navigation device, while other can be slipped into a pocket for easy access. While you can purchase GPS locators, there are also apps you can download to your smartphone that can do the same thing.
4X4 Restraints & Tie Downs
If you’re going to be transporting cargo in your vehicle, you’ll want to make sure it’s properly secured with restraints & tie downs to avoid it from moving around and causing damage.
You can do this with the following equipment:
* Ratchet Straps - You can use ratchet straps to tie down cargo in the boot of your vehicle. Make sure you use the right length straps so they’re not too tight or too loose.
* Cargo Nets - If you don’t want to tie things down, you can use cargo nets to secure your cargo. Make sure the cargo nets are designed for this purpose and are strong enough to hold the items in place.
4X4 Compressor & Tyre Accessories
A tyre inflator and compressor can be used to help fix basic problems with your tyres. If you develop a flat tyre on the side of the road, you can use a tyre inflator to fix the problem.
Some tyre inflators come with built-in compressors to help fill up the tyre completely. If your tyre has a puncture or a flat spot, you can use a tyre plug to seal the hole and get you to the nearest tyre shop.
4x4 Communication & Navigation
While you don’t want to be reliant on technology, it communication & navigation devices can be a very useful tool on your 4X4 travels. If you want to stay in contact with others, you can use a walkie-talkie to communicate.
If you want to stay in contact with friends and family but don’t want to use a walkie-talkie, you can use a satellite phone or a global positioning system (GPS) device to keep in contact. You can also use a GPS device to navigate the roads and find your way back to the main road again if you get lost.
