The 4x4 Accessories Guide
What You Really Need and Why
The range of 4x4 accessories available these days is absolutely huge. If you're new to 4x4ing, it's hard to know where to start. On this page I cover the three absolute "must haves". These are three items that no 4x4er should ever be without when driving off road. There are also links to more pages about accessories, explaining different features, how they work, and more to help you make informed buying decisions.
Must Have 4x4 Accessory No. 1: A Long Handled Shovel
It's not high tech and it's not trendy, but a good long handled shovel is an essential 4x4 accessory that you shouldn't head off road without.
When a 4x4 gets bogged in soft terrain, two things can happen. The tires can dig holes for themselves and the 4x4 can sink deep enough that the differentials/axles can be dragging on the ground, or even partly buried. If the tires are in holes that are too deep/steep to climb out of, you need a shovel to remove loose material from in front of each tire so there is a shallow gradient the tire can climb up. If the diffs/axles are dragging or buried, forward motion will be very difficult if not impossible, so the sand/mud etc. has to be removed from in front of the differentials/axles. It doesn't matter if you're going to try winching, snatching or driving out, you still have to dig out both the wheels and the diffs/axles first.
This shovel is being carried on a bracket which bolts to the roof
bars. This is an easy way to carry an item which can
sometimes be awkward due to its length.
Make sure you choose a shovel with a long straight handle - you need to be able to reach the differentials with it, without getting underneath the 4x4. The blade doesn't need to be very wide, a narrower one will be easier to use under the vehicle. I also like a shovel with a slightly curved leading edge, sort of like a cross between a shovel and a spade. The curved leading edge makes it go into the ground a bit easier.
Must Have 4x4 Accessory No. 2: An Air Compressor and Tire Pressure Gauge
On the tire pressure page I talked about how greatly tire pressure affects traction and flotation, and how the ideal pressure varies depending on the terrain. We need a tire pressure gauge to accurately let down our tires to the ideal pressure, and then a compressor to inflate them again later. It's important to be able to inflate them because low pressures can cause problems on some types of terrain. The potential problems include punctures, sidewall damage and even unbeading, which is the tire coming off the rim! These are all inconvenient and potentially dangerous.
An ARB tire inflator with pressure gauge.
This can be used to check pressures and
deflate tires without the air compressor
hose attached.
A tire pressure gauge should be accurate and easy to use. A deflate button allows us to quickly let air out of the tire and check the pressure, without removing the gauge from the valve. This makes airing down fast and easy. I prefer a dial gauge rather than one with a digital display. It's difficult to read a pressure that's increasing or decreasing with a digital display. Since we also have a compressor it makes sense to use a combined inflator/pressure gauge, like the one pictured. These can also be used as just a pressure gauge without the compressor air hose connected. Make sure you can accurately read the scale to within one or two psi - some have very small scales that are difficult to see.
12 volt air compressors come in two styles - permanently mounted and portable. A permanently mounted compressor is bolted to the vehicle and hard wired to the electrical system.
An ARB 12 volt air compressor. This is permanently mounted
under the hood on the (unused) second battery tray. It is turned
on and off by a switch in the cabin.
Must Have 4x4 Accessory No. 3: Traction Boards
Traction boards are a relatively new accessory on the market but they are exploding in popularity. The best known brand is Maxtrax. I am a massive fan of traction boards because they are easy and safe to use, and they work!
Maxtrax traction boards.
A traction board is a specially moulded piece of plastic that is designed to be wedged underneath/against the tires when you're bogged. When you attempt to drive out, the tire grabs the dimpled surface of the board, which pushes it deeper into the ground under the tire, until it is firmly wedged in place. Your tires then grip the board and pull your 4x4 up and out of the whole you're stuck in. One pair of boards used under the front tires is usually all that's needed.
A small amount of digging is required to remove material from in front of each tire, and the differentials if they are partly buried. In soft sand the board itself can be used to dig, but a shovel is easier if you have to do a lot of digging and still necessary for digging around the diffs and in harder/heavier ground like mud and clay.
I would always choose to use traction boards before winching or snatching because they are safer (more on this later). Traction boards also allow solo vehicle recovery, unlike snatch straps. They don't require a solid anchor point like winches either.
Those are what I consider to be the three most important off road 4x4 accessories. Don't leave home without them!
More 4x4 Accessories
The Personal Locator Beacon What is it? How does it work? What features do different models have? Do they need to be registered? Why are they a good idea for 4x4 enthusiasts exploring remote and isolated areas? All these questions and more are answered here.
The Hi-Lift Jack - Is It Over-Rated? The hi-lift jack is very popular amongst 4x4 enthusiasts. You see them everywhere - on roof racks, hanging off rear doors, and in all the 4x4 shops. But is the hi-lift style of jack the best type for the majority of off-roaders?
