Koons Clarksville

Chevrolet Buick GMC

Jul 14, 2021

Suppose your typical weekend involves leaving the pavement behind to test your off-road skills against rugged terrain. In that case, you probably have a solid 4×4 truck like the Chevy Silverado or a GMC Sierra or Hummer. If you don’t, Koons Clarksville Chevrolet Buick GMC can get you a custom lift ZRX truck with all the off-road capability you need to get you out, over, through, and back from just about any excursion.

But let’s assume you already have a rig ready to roll out. In that case, we’ve created a list of off-road accessories and tools every off-road warrior and dirt dog should have with them.

Recovery Tools

Pardon the pun, but getting stuck comes with the territory. It happens to everyone at some point, and when it does, you better have the proper recovery tools. A winch can be a godsend when your tires sink into 2 feet of mud and you can’t see your rear axle — especially if you’re on your own. 

EXO makes a winch that mounts to the Silverado for around $600 and can hold up to 12,000 pounds. ZXR makes a line of winches for GMC trucks, too, starting around $300. Whichever brand you choose, make sure you have the right cables and weight rating for your truck. You’ll also want to carry a tree saver and a snatch block that you can hook to your winch.

Another necessary item might be the Deadman Off-Road Earth Anchor, especially if you off-road in the desert where there are no trees to hook onto. The Deadman Off-Road Earth Anchor, made from durable vinyl, can be buried in the earth when you have no trees or friends to haul you out of a jam. If you don’t have a winch, you should keep recovery strap and bow shackles on hand to allow another truck to hook up and pull you out safely.

Automatic Tire Deflators

Getting stuck doesn’t always necessitate a winch or another truck to get you out of trouble. Sometimes, just putting a little less air pressure in your tires will do the trick. In fact, dropping your air tire pressure by 30% can improve traction by up to 250%. Lowering the air pressure lets your tires float on mud, sand, and snow and conform around rocks to make molehills out of mountains. However, lowering your tire pressure takes time to do it if you don’t have automatic tire deflators. 

Staun makes a set of four automatic tire deflators for less than $100 that come preset to 18 psi, but you can adjust them if necessary. When you need them, you screw them onto your valve stems, and they automatically bring your tire’s pressure to whatever preset psi you have selected. 

Air Compressor

Lowering the pressure in your tires helps you go over and through those off-road obstacles, but at some point, you need to get air back into your tires. Fortunately, you have many brands to choose from when it comes to air pumps, many of which operate off the 12-volt connection you have in your truck. While these technically work, they often don’t fill fast. In some cases, you might need an hour or more to refill your tires, and who has time for that? 

We recommend going with an air compressor that clips onto your truck’s battery like jumper cables. Viair makes a 400P model that can put 15 psi into your tires in under three minutes. That’s the kind of performance that keeps the adventure rolling.

A Good Jack

Many off-road enthusiasts love the Hi-Lift jacks, but these can get cumbersome and unsteady in many off-road situations. We recommend something smaller, like the Powerbuilt Unijack that combines a bottle jack with a jack stand. The Unijack offers more stability with its wide base, especially on soft surfaces like dirt, and features a safety bar that prevents it from lowering once set. The Unijack’s compact size means it packs away neatly for easy storage. For less than $100, you get a quality lift you can always count on.

Body Protection

Off-road adventures often have you driving in the woods, over rocks, and through riverbeds. In these environments, you have to take extra steps to protect your truck’s body from scratches and dents. You will also want to protect your underbody. Brush guards, rock rails, and skid plates should be high on your list of modifications to make. A good brush guard costs around $200 and protects the front end of your truck while you plow ahead through the brush, tall grass, and anything else in your way. 

Skid plates protect against any rocks and logs you need to crawl over, especially those hidden underwater or in tall grass. You don’t need a rock tearing up your drivetrain because you didn’t invest a few hundred dollars on a skid plate. Rock rails protect the sides of your truck between the wheels and double as steps into your truck.

Portable Jump Starter

Many car owners have added a portable jump starter to their emergency kit. If you haven’t done so yet, don’t wait. A dead battery can derail your trip to the mall without a portable jump kit. Imagine what kind of snarl a dead battery puts in your off-road excursion, especially if you’re miles away from a road and alone? 

You have a large variety of brands to choose from that cost less than $200. A basic portable jump starter costs $50, but we recommend finding one that has additional features like a flashlight or ports to charge your cell phone. You might as well take full advantage of the power in the battery. Going with a high-end model will give you as many as 30 jumps on a single charge, too.

At Koons Clarksville Chevrolet Buick GMC, we know what off-road enthusiasts want in a truck. That’s why we stock an expansive inventory of Chevy, GMC, and Hummer 4×4 vehicles. We also offer custom-built off-road trucks that save you time and money versus a DIY job. We invite you to browse our inventory of trucks online. 

If you have questions about parts and accessories for your GMC, Chevy, or Hummer truck, contact our parts department for help. Our technicians receive extensive factory training to help our customers find the right parts and accessories that fit and work the way they want.

Image via Flickr by Diamondback Covers