Jeep Wrangler First Mods: The 5 Upgrades to Buy First

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Starting an off-road Jeep build can be intimidating. There are so many ways to customize and make a Jeep your own, so many products to choose from. You are left wondering: Where do I start? What do I buy first? What is most important to have in my Jeep for overland adventures? How do I customize my Jeep?

The short answer? Five starter upgrades:

1. A Front Bumper - steel front end protection, D-ring mounting points, winch compatibility, and a winch tray
2. Rock Sliders - frame mounted, bolt-on, body panel protection
3. Skid Plates - protect the disconnect motor and differentials
4. Lighting - headlights, fog lights, pod lights, and bars
5. Tire Carrier - transfer tire weight off of the factory door hinges

What about suspension and tires?

Many people start there, and for good reason. When building an off-road rig, suspension is an important step for impact absorption, clearance, and stability. Having bigger tires on your Jeep physically raises the Jeep's axles and differentials to increase overall ground clearance.

Our Jeep Wrangler JL (pictured here) is equipped with an ADS Suspension, the 20x10 | 5x5 | -18/4.76" Method Wheels, and Falken Wildpeak R/T 38x13.50R 17LT 127R tires.

DV8 Offroad has years of experience designing a wide range of off-road bumpers and accessories, giving you a selection of Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator upgrades that keep growing. All DV8 Offroad Jeep products are engineered for a precision fit, trail-tested to prove their durability, and upgrade-ready to allow for additional customization.

Front Bumpers

Factory Jeep bumpers are built for daily street driving rather than for aggressive off-roading and are made largely of plastic. Your bumper is the first point of contact in rough terrain and needs a stronger base to withstand it. A steel bumper gives you real protection, shackle mounting you can trust, and winch compatibility.

DV8 Offroad offers a variety of Jeep bumper series to suit different builds and aesthetic preferences.

Understanding Width and Style

Width refers to the length of the bumper across the front end of your Jeep. A stubby-width ends before the fenders and leaves the tires exposed for maximizing suspension travel and articulation. A full-width keeps the factory tire coverage. A mid-width sits between a stubby and full-width with better approach angles than a full-width bumper and more corner protection than a stubby bumper. This is where rock crawling vs general off-road driving comes into play. Stubby serves you best as a rock crawler, whereas for general off-roading the bumper width matters less. Some of our bumpers convert between styles with removable wings, and the bull bar can be removed for a different look. Although different widths serve different functions, this is also where you consider the style you want.

Approach Angles

Approach angles are an important factor to consider when choosing an off-road bumper because they determine how steep of terrain your Jeep can clear. Stubby and mid-width bumpers give way for even more clearance, improving your overall approach angle.

Check out the Jeep Bumpers Buyer's Guide for a more in-depth look at our different bumpers and their features, or the Anatomy of an Off-Road Bumper to learn about their components.

Rock Sliders, Skins, and Steps

Rock sliders are an integral upgrade for protection when off-roading. Driving in rough terrain means tight fits and inevitable contact with rock and other trail obstacles, putting your pinch weld and side body panels at risk. Rather than letting those panels take the damage, rock sliders take the fall. Side steps are great for those who don't need the extra armor at your rocker panel, but would like a step up into the cab.

What is the difference between rock sliders, rock skins, and side steps?

Rock Sliders

Rock sliders are structural protection, designed to take on the full weight of your Jeep as they are frame-mounted. These are meant to withstand driving over large rocks and rough terrain. Although not engineered to be a side step, some can be used as a step if they are not fitted right against the body.

Rock Skins

Rock skins are armor that lays flat on the body protecting the rocker panels. They do not have a step and will not hold the Jeep's weight, but they provide protection against brush and side body panel damage.

Side Steps

Side steps, sometimes called running boards, look like rock sliders but are just for added convenience getting into and out of your Jeep and will not hold the weight of the Jeep against terrain.

Frame-Mounted vs. Body-Mounted

There are many different types of Jeep body armor and different ways for them to be mounted to the vehicle, each with their own advantages. Frame-mounted protection is strong enough to support the full weight of the vehicle during pivot or recovery, whereas body-mounted protection is weaker but leaves a larger amount of clearance as they sit against the rocker panels and pinch welds. Body-mounted sliders are generally best suited for light to moderate trail riding for protection against brush or scrapes. Frame-mounted is better suited for absorbing hard hits without damage to the body on more aggressive trails and off-roading adventures.

Skid Plates

With Jeep skid plates for the JL, JT, and JK, fitment is critical to get the most out of a heavy-duty undercarriage protective barrier. Absorbing impacts and sliding over rocky terrain are the essential duties of skid plates, keeping expensive components safe from damage.

What do skid plates actually do? Which skid plates are most important?

Front Skid Plates

Front skid plates typically shield the engine, oil pan, and steering components: all the parts sitting behind your front bumper that would take the first hit on a steep approach. They bolt to the frame and are built to slide across rock rather than catch on it. Many people are quick to upgrade their front skids, as the factory ones are usually thin stamped steel that is not meant to withstand off-roading conditions.

Differential Skids

Differential skids wrap around the diff housing, which is the lowest hanging point on the axle and the part most likely to be damaged in rough terrain. The rear diff is notorious for popping the cover loose by catching it on rocks. A skid protects against this.

Shock/Link Skid Plates

Shock and link skids protect the lower shock mounts and control arm brackets welded to the axle. The tabs are small, exposed and easy to bend on rocky trails, which in turn changes your suspension and alignment, leading to an expensive and time-consuming repair that can be avoided.

Do I need a Dana 30 or Dana 44 skid plate?

Jeep Wranglers and Gladiators come with Dana 30, 35, and 44 differentials. Before purchasing a differential skid plate, check what axle you have and whether it is a front or rear axle to ensure correct fitment.

What is a sway bar disconnect and why does it need its own skid plate?

Sway bars help to maximize on-road stability. Modern Jeep Wranglers and Gladiators have disconnecting sway bars that can be electronically disconnected for better wheel articulation on rough trails. Having a sway bar skid plate protects the expensive disconnect motor while enhancing the overall look of the Jeep's undercarriage. The DV8 Sway Bar Disconnect Skid Plate covers the exposed frame horns and crash bars left behind by an aftermarket bumper with a vented design that still allows airflow to the engine bay.

Lighting

Whether you want to replace your factory lights with OEM replacement lights that are brighter or add extra off-road trail lighting for your Jeep, DV8 Offroad has a wide selection of light bars, pod lights, utility lights, and brackets to mount them.

White vs. Amber Lighting

Many of our off-road lighting options come in either white or amber for different use cases. White off-road lights typically offer a greater distance and clear-weather brightness while amber lights cut through dust, fog, and snow with less glare.

Mounting Light Bars and Pod Lights

Light bars can mount directly into your bumper or on a mounted rail system attached at the hood a-pillar or the roof above the windshield. An LED light bar is typically the option for a more low-profile look with added off-road lighting.

Pod lights are typically for a bolder look and can mount directly into a bumper or on pod light mounts attached at the Jeep's a-pillar. All of our Jeep a-pillar light mounts come as a pair and can hold one or two pod lights per side, so you can run two or four lights up front depending on the look you want. Also known as ditch lights, these lights are meant to illuminate trail edges and obstacles that fall outside factory and light bar forward-facing beams and can mount up to two lights on each side of the hood.

Bumpers with integrated lighting cutouts typically have enough room for either a light bar or multiple pod lights to allow for a customized look. Mounting lights within the bumper keeps them safe behind the bumper face and out of the way of terrain. Many bumpers with fog light cutouts can fit pod lights as well. DV8 Offroad lighting options are compatible with other off-road brands' bumpers and off-road accessories.

Lighting Wire Harnesses

A wire harness is the pre-built wiring kit that connects your off-road lights to the battery. DV8 harnesses include the power and ground leads, a relay, an inline fuse, and a switch to control the high-draw circuit safely in an easy, already assembled, design.

Tire Carrier

The factory tire carrier handles a stock tire just fine, but upgrading to oversized off-road tires adds a lot of extra weight. Having a tire carrier built to support a larger wheel and tire, transfer it off of the factory door hinges, and keep the spare easy to reach is an important upgrade for any off-road build.

Spare Tire Delete

A spare tire delete replaces the factory tire carrier with a bolt-on flare plate to leave a clean look instead of exposed hardware if you decide not to run a spare tire on your Jeep's rear door. This is typically done to remove the added weight of a spare. DV8 Offroad makes a variety of tire delete plates for the Jeep Wrangler JL and JK models.

Future Upgrades to Consider

Hard Tops

DV8 Offroad has a variety of square and fastback Jeep Wrangler hard tops available to choose from for added styling and function. Designed with high quality seals and an aerodynamic shape, these hard tops insulate your Jeep interior and minimize wind noise for an overall smoother ride. All hard tops are equipped with a quick release latching system for easy install and removal.

Heat Dispersion Hoods

When rock crawling, Jeeps are known to run high engine temperatures at slow speeds. Working to combat that, all DV8 Jeep hoods are made from a lightweight stamped steel with an insulated hood liner and a vented layout. In conjunction with inner fenders, which we make for the Jeep Wrangler JL, JK, and Gladiator JT, these hoods are designed to provide additional airflow to the engine compartment for enhanced engine cooling. Every hood is prepped with rust inhibitor, ready to prime and paint to match your Jeep.

Molle Panels

Maximize every inch of your Jeep with molle panels. These metal storage panels can be mounted in various places inside or outside your Jeep to add more usable storage surfaces. From your center console and front door pockets to your rear windows and roof, DV8 Offroad has a molle panel designed to add some extra style and functionality to unused spaces in your Jeep.

Roof Racks

Increase the amount of storage space on the roof of your Jeep with a roof rack built for hauling gear or mounting a rooftop tent. DV8 Offroad offers Wrangler JK roof racks in full length and half length along with Wrangler JL roof racks in full length for the 2-door JL and Gladiator JT as well as a full length for the 4-door JL, all featuring a no-drill design for quick install and removal.

Check Fitment

When finalizing your purchases for Jeep upgrades, please make sure to check fitment notes on product pages for the most accurate compatibility. You can also use the year-make-model selector on our homepage to find products tailored to your exact vehicle.

Frequently Asked Questions

What mod should I run on my Jeep first?

It depends on how you use your rig. If you are rock crawling where contact is more likely, we suggest starting with protection in the form of a front bumper, rock sliders, and skid plates. If you are using your Jeep more for overland trips, lighting and a tire carrier will do more for your day to day. Whatever you choose, these five upgrades are a great starting point for any off-road Jeep build.

Can I install these Jeep modifications myself or do I need a shop?

All DV8 products are bolt-on and designed around factory mounting points, most with no cutting required. Very few parts require drilling and many can be installed with one person. Every product page also has an install guide that goes in depth into install time and difficulty for a more accurate look on a product by product basis.

Do Wrangler JL parts fit on a Gladiator?

A good amount of JL parts do fit a JT rig but not all. The JL and JT share a front end, so front bumpers, headlights, hoods, light brackets, and any other front specific parts will fit both Jeeps. Rear parts will not fit both, as they have different beds and rear frames. Visit our article on Wrangler JL and Gladiator JT crossover fitment for a more in depth explanation.

Will a Wrangler JL bumper fit a Wrangler JK?

Many of our Jeep bumper series, including the FS-1, FS-7, FS-15, FS-25, and MTO Series, are built to fit the JK, JL, and JT. We design a lot of our bumpers with multi-platform fitment in mind so one design can cover three generations of Jeep, giving you more options to choose from no matter what you are running. Always confirm fitment on the product page before ordering.

Start Your Jeep Build

Five upgrades, one rig. A front bumper for steel front end protection and winch compatibility, rock sliders to keep your pinch weld and body panels intact, skid plates to protect the disconnect motor and differentials, off-road lighting to see past the factory beams, and a tire carrier built to hold a larger wheel and tire. Those five cover the areas that take the most hits on the trail, whether you are rock crawling or off-roading on an overland trip.

No build gets finished in a weekend, and that is the point. Start with the upgrades that match how you actually use your Jeep, then keep going. Every DV8 Offroad part is bolt-on, form-fit, and upgrade-ready, so what you add today still works with what you add next year.

Whatever you are running, a Wrangler JL, JK, TJ, or a Gladiator JT, we build parts for it. Find your platform, check the fitment, and deviate from the beaten path.