How to Upgrade Your Vehicle for Off-Roading

Automotive Blog

If you plan on doing some off-roading, you need to consider some upgrades to your vehicle; even a durable truck or SUV may not have been manufactured with rough and uneven roads in mind, and these upgrades can ensure your safety and protect that vehicle. If you're not sure where to start when it comes to upgrading your vehicle for taking it on rough roads, consider a few suggestions and then discuss these with your mechanic as necessary.

Wider tyres

You may know that tyres with deeper treads will keep you secure in soft soil, mud, sand, and other unpaved surfaces, but wider tyres are also a good choice for off-roading. A wider width of the tyre surface will help to disperse the weight of your vehicle when you turn a corner on that soft soil; you'll then suffer fewer spinouts and slides, and may even have less chance of tipping. However, this added width on your vehicle's tyres may cause more resistance during highway driving, so keep your old tyres and have them put back on the vehicle when you're done off-roading and ready to head back to the highway.

Cooling system

The added power your vehicle needs to tackle rough roads may make the engine run hotter than when you're on the highway. You may want to invest in an aftermarket radiator with a larger capacity, to help deliver more coolant to your vehicle's engine, for off-roading.

A larger tailpipe or dual tailpipes can also help to vent more oxygen and air from the engine, so that it doesn't build up in the piston chambers, trapping heat. Not only will your vehicle be cooler but it can then perform better when you have an upgraded exhaust system.

Bull bars

Bull bars, nudge bars, or cattle pushers, as they're sometimes called, can be a good choice for a vehicle when off-roading. These bars are often used on vehicles that are regularly driven in rural areas, as they protect the vehicle from collisions with wildlife, and also give them strength and protection for nudging open gates on the property.

When off-roading, such bars can help to push down vegetation and brush, and also protect your vehicle if you should lose control and run into a tree or other obstacle. Some nudge bars will also have a metal plate that extends under the vehicle body, protecting the axle and other parts from impacts when you hit hilly roads, as well as from flying gravel and other debris.

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21 June 2017

Everything You Need to Know About Autos

Hello, my name is Erin and this is my auto blog. For many years now, I have been buying, selling and modifying automobiles. I am not an auto professional. I work in a large bank in Sydney. However, at the weekends, I like to spend time looking for classic cars which need some love and care. I learnt my skills from my dad when I was growing up. He worked in an auto repair shop and even though he didn't collect cars himself, he knew a good deal when he saw one. I hope this blog is useful to those looking to find out more about automobiles.