Armor-Up Your Jeep: The Best Upgrades to Protect Your Rig on Hazardous Terrain

Venturing into the unknown is exciting, but it is also filled with hazards that can wreck your day. Common obstacles that you may come across in your travels include rocks, ledges, ruts, trees, shrubs, and other off-camber hurdles. Not only is your undercarriage at risk from these hazards, but all external sides of your Jeep are vulnerable to damage. In order to avoid these dicey situations, it’s important to ensure that your Jeep is prepared for what lies ahead.

While stock components envelope the aesthetic of your Jeep, they remain more at risk for damage, as opposed to off-road specific upgrades. These OEM parts are optimized for daily travel and aren’t prepared to take on trail abuse. Plastic/thin metal or non-existent skid plates leave your undercarriage vulnerable to rock scrapes and punctures that can lead to costly damages. Stock bumpers aren’t prepared to take on impacts from trail obstacles and are more likely than not to fold under the pressure. Additionally, they are not equipped with heavy-duty winch and D-ring mounts for intense recovery situations. Even OEM tires are designed for lower road noise, fuel economy, and longer tread life that hinder trail performance. Now that you understand the risks of technical terrain and the pitfalls of factory parts, let’s dive into how you can transform your Jeep into a capable off-road rig.

Off-Road Skid Plates

While most Jeeps come factory-equipped with a front skid plate and differential covers, they still leave other components vulnerable to making direct contact with trail obstacles. Furthermore, these OEM skid plates aren’t optimized for hard-core terrain and are normally composed of thin steel/aluminum or plastic. This leaves lots of room for improvement.

To start off, we recommend upgrading your front skid with a Sway Bar Disconnect Skid Plate for shielding your disconnect motor from costly damage caused by striking rocks and other hard surfaces. Another positive an upgraded front skid plate provides is an enhanced aesthetic. For instance, our off-road skid covers the exposed frame horns/crash bar when running an aftermarket bumper for a sleek styling. Next, it is best to cover your rear differential which can easily be damaged when off-road. With a Rear Differential Skid Plate, you can prevent oil leaks or getting hung up on rocks - a huge annoyance when out on the trail. Lastly, for peace of mind, it is best to upgrade your front diff skid with a true Off-Road Front Differential Skid Plate.

Underbody armor is essential for ensuring your next adventure runs smoothly. Fixing damage underneath your rig is not only an added annoyance, but it also can be very costly. For these reasons, look into upgrading and adding skid plates to your Jeep for a smooth ride.

Rock Sliders vs. Side Steps

While side steps are beneficial to you and your passengers, they provide minimal protection from trail hazards. A key differentiator between the two is that Side Steps are body mounted, while Rock Sliders are frame mounted. Another feature unique to sliders is their slanted design that shields your rocker panels and the lower part of your doors when squeezing past rocks. Additionally, true rock sliders will prevent damage to your rig when there's pressure/contact from off-road obstacles on technical terrain, such as boulders and rock faces. For those wanting to take their Jeep on serious trails, it is vital to switch out those steps for sliders.

Bumpers for Off-Road Terrain

When venturing on technical trails, it is important that you are prepared for what could be lying ahead. This is where an Off-Road Bumper comes into play. The more extreme the path, the more extreme possible recovery situations become, so ensure your Jeep is equipped with a bumper that is up to the task. With a quality off-road bumper, you not only improve your barrier between the front of your rig and the trail environment, but you also gain recovery capabilities for those inevitable sticky situations. Whether it’s mud or a crevice, a heavy-duty winch mount can save you from a huge headache later on. Additionally, off-road front and rear bumpers will provide you with clevis mounts for properly securing your D-rings.

Another consideration when choosing an off-road bumper is its lighting configurations. If you’re someone who enjoys night runs, it is important that you are properly illuminating the road ahead. For these situations, it is recommended to choose a bumper that features a center light mount. Additionally, some off-road bumpers also provide a bull bar that offers light mounts for maximizing your visibility in low-light conditions. Whether it’s dusk, dawn, or the middle of the night, a front and rear bumper equipped with optimal lighting options will make your travels a lot safer.

Depending on your individual style and off-road needs, you could look into a front bumper that is equipped with a bull bar for protecting your grill from rocks and brush encountered along the trail. Additionally, you can choose a low-profile bumper for enhanced approach/departure angles. With improved clearance, you have more freedom when it comes to choosing your routes. There are many bumper upgrades available, however, it is important to ensure you are getting a quality bumper that will perform when under pressure.

Off-Road Tire & Wheel Upgrades

When taking your Jeep off the pavement, OEM tires are rarely up to the task. Not only are they smaller with weaker side walls, but they also feature tread that is optimized for the road and not for the trail. Larger diameter tires help you roll over obstacles, and a bigger width can help prevent sinking into mud or sand. 

Another important spec of off-road tires is their sidewall strength. Off-road tires are known for their reinforced sidewalls that help prevent cuts/punctures from rocks and ledges. Additionally, upgraded tires will provide you with deeper tread that not only offers a longer life, but also better off-road traction.

For added styling and to ensure proper fitment of your tires, it is important to look into upgraded wheels. For aggressive off-road use, beadlock wheels are a great off-road tool that allows you to air down your tires to a very low PSI without your tires rotating or slipping off the rims.

It is important to mention that in most cases a lift kit is required to not only improve your Jeep’s ground clearance, but to also prevent rubbing of the tires on the vehicle body. When we create our own builds, one of our first upgrades is a lift kit and new wheels/tires. If you take a look at our newest build, a Jeep JK, you’ll notice Method Race Wheels and Falken Tires, and to spruce up the suspension, we incorporated a TeraFlex Lift Kit.

Recovery Gear

Whether you are embarking on a short trip or a long adventure, it is important that your Jeep is equipped with reliable recovery gear, so you are prepared for any unforeseen circumstances. Not only should you ensure you have D-Rings for your bumper’s clevis mounts, but you also should equip your front bumper with a reliable winch for serious recovery situations. We recommend a 12K Synthetic Rope Winch as a heavy-duty option that is not only strong, but also safe.

Another piece of gear that you should never leave home without is a Traction Board. They can help you out of most sticky situations with ease, transforming a frustrating occurrence into a mild inconvenience. Additionally, always make sure you have enough spare fuel to use as a safety net in case you end up burning through more gas than you originally planned for. A great tool for storing fuel is a Rotopax Container. You can also acquire cans that are designed for spare water storage. When venturing out into the wilderness, it is important to set yourself up for success to avoid extreme and unsafe situations.

Optimized Fenders

An important element to consider when outfitting your Jeep with a lift kit and off-road tires is your rig’s fender flares. Optimized for OEM builds, the factory fenders will most likely rub on your tires - not only limiting performance, but also causing costly damage. With Off-Road Fender Flares, you can improve your clearance allowing for enhanced articulation which is especially beneficial when rock crawling. Some aftermarket fenders also feature a rubber seal between the body and fender preventing dust and pebble build-up. When upgrading your suspension and wheels, it’s important to consider your Jeep’s fenders in the process.

Protection First, Styling After

When creating your off-road Jeep build, it’s important to choose protection over looks. However, we understand that styling is almost as important as function to those a part of the off-road community. That is why we design our off-road parts with both in mind, so you can sport a build that not only shields you from off-road hazards, but also reflects your personal styling. While getting ready for your next trail, ensure your Jeep is up to the task, and remember that adventure is right around the bend!