If you’ve just bought your first 4×4, welcome to the most addictive lifestyle you can be a part of! Owning a 4×4 opens up a whole new world of recreational opportunities, from going from a drive up through your local state forests all the way through to camping out in the bush or on the beach. It can be a little bit overwhelming trying to wade your way through all the different 4×4 gear and 4×4 accessories that are available out there, so we’ve put together a bit of a guide to some of the types of 4×4 accessories and equipment that are a great idea to try and add first. The truth is you don’t need the biggest, toughest 4WD out there to have a lot of fun – you just need the basics! Here’s our guide to six bits of gear to add to your new 4×4.

TYRE DEFLATOR

If you forget every other ‘rule’ or bit of advice when it comes to 4x4s, remember this one! If you let your tyres down a bit when you’re off-road then they’ll last longer, and you’ll get stuck less because the tyres have a bigger contact patch with the ground and will have better traction. Use a tyre deflator like the Kwiky tyre deflator or the Adventure Kings 3 in 1 tyre deflator to drop your pressures to around 26psi when you’re out in the bush or about 16psi on the beach.

AIR COMPRESSOR

The other side to letting your tyres down, is you need to pump them back up again! Don’t rely on service station air compressors, carry your own portable air compressor like the Thumper air mk2 compressor or the Thumper Max air compressor. Being able to reinflate your tyres whenever you want is a great idea and will prevent you from waiting for ages in the hot sun for the servo air compressor to become available.

RECOVERY KIT
Getting stuck is part of heading off-road. In fact, it can be fun – if you have the ability to get out again! You should always carry a 4×4 recovery kit that includes a snatch strap and rated shackles at a minimum, so even if you’re by yourself and get stuck, if someone comes along then you’ll be able to get towed out. It’s also good form to use your own recovery gear if you’re stuck – that way you won’t leave muddy recovery gear in the back of someone else’s 4WD! Especially if they were good enough to help you out!

ROOFRACK
Any 4WD can do with a boost in the storage stakes thanks to a roofrack. Doesn’t matter if you only get to go camping once a month, having a 4×4 roof rack will be useful every day! Do runs to the hardware store, help mates move, do tip runs, anything – adding a roofrack to your 4×4 will be one of the best things you ever do. Especially because it lets you add the next bit of gear…

AWNING
If you’ve got a 4×4 roofrack, then you need to add an awning to the side of it! The range of 4×4 awnings from 4WD Supacentre are fantastic for adding instant shade to the side or the rear of your 4×4. They mount very simply to the full range of our 4×4 roofracks, and open in seconds anywhere you want shelter – at camp, at a jobsite, down at the park with kids, anywhere! We love our awnings and we’re confident that 4×4 awnings will be one of the best things you ever add to your 4WD.

GPS
We all rely on technology these days, and just because heading off-road means running out of phone reception doesn’t mean you have to go back to paper maps! The VMS 4×4 GPS units come pre-loaded with highly detailed maps that cover the entire country and don’t need phone range to show you where you are. They even come with on-road navigation so you can use yours every day of the week! There’s also an option to buy an easy diy installing reverse camera that is simply plug and play to let you see all the obstacles that are out the back of your 4WD – a very worthwhile investment!