Off-roading is an action-packed recreational activity that anyone can participate in with the right kind of vehicle. You can get your adrenaline going over many different types of landscapes, like mountains, swamps or dunes. However, it is critical to have adequate suspension before leaving the pavement behind.
Check Your Suspension
To begin, you’ll need to figure out what you already have going on with your suspension and tires. Is your vehicle still stock or has it been modified in any way, by you or a previous owner? At this stage, you will also want to define your goals for the project. There are many reasons that you may want to improve your suspension, such as:
- To accommodate bigger tires
- To improve performance overall
- To haul heavy loads
- To traverse a particular landscape
Once you determine how you will be using your vehicle, you can start narrowing down what specifications and brands to look for. A buying guide – suspension brands can be useful for understanding the variety of suspension products that are available on the market.
Consider an Upgrade
Suspension technology has improved vastly over the past decade. If you’ve already been off-roading for awhile, or you’ve acquired a vehicle that already has a modified suspension, you may want to consider upgrading it.
Back in the day, improved suspension usually came with the trade-off of being bounced around in the cabin of the vehicle. However, that is no longer the case. Going over both small and large bumps at significant speed has never been smoother. Many upgrades these days are specific to your vehicle model. For example, you’d need to look to a buying guide – Dodge Charger upgrades if you had a Charger.
Keeping up with the latest trends and continually upgrading your ride can help with longevity, as well. Many off-roaders become extremely loyal to their chosen vehicle and do whatever they can to make it last.
Add Some Extras
There is a wide world of extras and accessories for those with modified or lifted off-road vehicles. Once you have the basics like suspension sorted, that is just the beginning.
You’ll most likely be dealing with a lot of debris, which makes a grill cover a fan favorite. There are many different types made for specific substrates, like snow or sand. Heavy-duty headlight arrays are a must if you hit the trails after dark. If you drive a truck, Tonneau covers are necessary for keeping your gear securely in the bed.
This is where you can truly have fun and express yourself with your rig. Although functional, many extras also add a certain aesthetic that other off-roaders will recognize right away. Don’t be afraid to play with color and pattern, as well. This is a recreational vehicle after all!
It is helpful to find yourself a reliable retailer of specialized off-road parts, to save you time hunting them down. There is also a vibrant off-roading community out there willing to help you get started. Take your time– modifying your vehicle is just as much a part of the hobby as going mudding is.