Finding the right upgrades for your Wrangler is a matter of understanding your needs and the support materials that make it possible to reach your goals on the road and off it. That can take you down a lot of customization paths, but most of those paths still have a few common upgrades between them because some off-road hazards and safety needs are universal. Start with those upgrades to make your life easier.
Protect Your Jeep
There are two major upgrades that can help you protect your Jeep so you are not replacing small parts left and right when you go into rough terrain. The first is a bumper stop, which helps mitigate the transfer of force from the bumper to the body of the vehicle when you have collisions. The second is a set of brush guards for your lights, to help avoid having them put out by random branches on the trail.
It’s also a good idea to consider a truck winch for your Jeep, although not necessarily a must-have for well-defined trails. Many drivers keep a winch to pull items off the trail as needed, and on mud runs they can also pull your Jeep out of a messy situation.
Upgrade Your Suspension
Some of the most popular and often upgraded Jeep Wrangler parts are the ones that make up your suspension. There are a few different upgrades to make, some of which are often bundled together. The first and most common is a lift kit, which can add anywhere from two to eight inches to your height.
Lift kits also tend to come with the second upgrade, which is the move to performance shocks. The reason to consider them separate is simple, and it is that you can usually find an even higher performance shock set than the one that comes with a lift kit, with a few very high-end exceptions among premium lift kits.
Maximize Traction for Your Chosen Terrain
The last must-have upgrade is a good set of off-road truck tires. Finding the right tires means being able to power through terrain with control and ease. Depending on the size you choose, that might mean getting a set of new wheels as well, because some large off-road tires are fit to rims that do not match a Wrangler’s stock options. Luckily, there are full wheel and tire sets for many of those. It’s also worth noting that the largest off-road tire options usually do require a lot of lift in the suspension.
If you run through changing terrain, investing in a performance all-terrain tire option is a good choice, and in most cases, it will also work on pavement well. For those interested in swampier locations or beach runs, it’s best to find options that are uniquely suited to those terrain challenges because they will allow you to do more. No matter what, though, a good tire set is a must-have Jeep upgrade alongside suspension and protection upgrades. Start planning your Wrangler’s upgrade path today, and see where it takes you.
