If you’re just getting into 4WDing, then you’re probably figuring out just how addictive it can be! There’s something seriously satisfying about pointing your 4×4 at a big hill or a bog hole, and figuring out whether you can make it out the other side or not.

b For decades in Australia, recreational 4WDers have been challenging their own skill levels and that of their 4WDs, and in fact our country has a huge range of challenging 4WD tracks that’ll test man and machine. Here’s a little secret not many people will let you in in – when you’re starting out, you don’t need the biggest, baddest 4WD to have a lot of fun out in the bush. Here’s our selection of five bits of 4WD gear that’ll massively help you when you line up to your next tough hillclimb or big boghole.

1.TYRE DEFLATOR

It doesn’t matter what type of terrain you drive – it’s always beneficial to reduce your 4WD tyre pressures and the best way to do it is with a tyre deflator like the Kwiky tyre deflator or the Adventure Kings 3 in 1 tyre deflator. 4WD tyre pressures for dirt should be around 26psi, and you can, in fact, go as low as around 18psi if you really want extra traction or it’s wet. Just be aware that when you run tyre pressures that low, there’s the risk of rolling the tyre off the bead. Which is why you should always carry the next bit of gear…

2.AIR COMPRESSOR
A portable air compressor is every 4WDer’s best friend! Not only does it let you re-inflate your tyres at the end of a day’s 4WDing, but if you push your vehicle hard enough you’ll find that you may eventually end up rolling a tyre off the rim. That’s no big drama if you have a reliable 12v air compressor like the Thumper air compressor or Thumper Max air compressor, as they let you be your own portable tyre shop and reseat the tyre back on the rim with minimal fuss!

3.RECOVERY KIT

A quality recovery kit should be carried in the back of every single 4WD that heads off-road. Getting stuck isn’t a big deal, not when you’re deliberately looking for the toughest tracks around. Getting stuck isn’t an admission of defeat either! In fact, it’s simply the price of admission into the 4WD arena. If you carry a comprehensive recovery kit like the Adventure Kings Hercules recovery kit or the Adventure Kings Complete Recovery kit then you’ll have everything you need to effect a safe 4WD recovery from a variety of situations. Look for a recovery kit that has a snatch strap, winch extension strap, tree trunk protector, at least two rated bow shackles, a snatch block and a winch dampener as a minimum, as every one of these components will come in handy in a variety of 4WD recoveries. Even if it’s not you that needs recovering, you’re bound to come across someone who will need a hand at some stage!

4.WINCH
A winch is, put simply, the best insurance you can invest in when it comes to your 4WD. A quality electric winch like the Domin8rX or the Grande MkIII from 4WD Supacentre is something you can count on when the chips are down. Make sure you know how to use it too, because there’s not much point having the best electric winch in town if you don’t have the skills to winch yourself or someone else free! A decent electric winch is the difference between a quick recovery and being stuck for hours or days, and we know which scenario we’d rather have.

5.GPS
Okay, so a GPS might not particularly help your 4WD get up a hill quicker, but it’ll definitely let you log all those incredible fun tracks you’ve found, and help you find your way back to the tarmac at the end of the day! 4WD Supacentre sells the VMS Touring 700 HDX GPS units which all come with excellent off-road maps that cover almost every track in Australia, right down to goat trails. The more you start exploring, the quicker you should invest in one!