If you own a 4×4, then one of the many reasons that you probably love your vehicle is due to its extreme versatility.
Not only are they a lot of fun when you hit the trails or decide on some off-road adventures, but you can also use them in many practical applications such as towing other vehicles to safety, visiting the grocery store, plowing snow, hauling a large load, and of course driving in many different weather conditions.
Facing the elements is no big deal in a 4×4, especially if you have prepared and kitted out your vehicle correctly.
Why you should prepare your vehicle for winter
Although each season can bring problems, winter is generally regarded as the harshest season for many reasons. Not only is there less light, but driving conditions are generally a lot more treacherous, and if you find yourself stranded or in bad weather conditions during winter, you can get into trouble a lot faster.
5 essential winter accessories for a 4×4
To help you, here are 5 essential winter accessories for a 4×4 that could improve your winter driving experience and keep you safe on the road.
#1 Winter tires
There are many hazardous conditions that you might find yourself having to drive in during wintertime, from wet leaves to snow, black ice, and heavy rain. If you fit winter tires to your vehicle, then this can improve its general safety and control when attempting to navigate in these conditions.
The tires are designed to give you maximum grip and control, especially in the colder months. The way that they are designed is to help effectively disperse any snow or water that they come into contact with by having deeper grooves in the tread compared to standard types, as well as generally being made from a softer compound.
It is for these reasons that winter tires are one of the most essential winter accessories that you can purchase for your 4×4.
#2 A winch
Winches are one of the most common 4×4 accessories that serious enthusiasts will add to their vehicle, and with good reason as this accessory has many benefits and uses once installed.
You can pull yourself out of a tricky situation if you find that you are unable to properly grip whatever surface you are trying to drive on, as well as being able to pull others to safety if they find themselves in a tight spot and unable to move their vehicle.
However, there are many different types of winches for different applications, and you should consider how much you will be driving through wet or watery conditions so you do not cause damage to the winch system while it is attached to your 4×4.
#3 Lights
There are many issues with wintertime driving, and one of them is how dark it is a lot of the time. Fortunately, if you own a 4×4, you will know that there are many additional lighting systems that you can add to your vehicle.
Not only do they make your 4×4 look amazing, but when lighting conditions are poor or if you find yourself in the middle of nowhere with no streetlights around, you can put on all your lights and it will almost be as bright as if you were driving in the daytime.
So, whether you are planning to do late-night trail journeys, live in the country with limited street lighting, or just like the aesthetic, adding better lighting systems to your 4×4 is a great way to improve your safety while driving.
#4 Snorkels
Although many of us try to avoid driving through deep patches of water in the winter, and due to heavy rain and flooding, this can sometimes be unavoidable.
There is nothing more annoying than having to turn around and find an alternative route, just because you can’t make it through a few meters of deeper water or having to wait for recovery because you tried to cross the water and ended up flooding your engine.
If you add a snorkel system to your 4×4 then this is another issue that you won’t need to deal with or consider, regardless of whether you are driving on a trail or in the countryside.
#5 Hard top canopy
If your vehicle has an open back, then investing in a hard-top canopy for winter is a worthwhile investment to help keep the elements off. It will also help create more storage space for things like spare fuel, first aid kids, blankets, and emergency food or water in case you break down or get stuck.
Of course, there are many more things you can do to upgrade your 4×4, but these 5 accessories will benefit you greatly in winter.
