5 Overland accessories that you need for your 4x4
Over landing is growing in popularity. People are leaving luxury hotel rooms for near untouched destinations created by nature. Getting to these areas is in many cases rather risky but with the right vehicle and specialised accessories, it is possible. With thousands of options, what are the key items?
The big question
The first question you need to ask yourself is if you have the right vehicle for an overland adventure? Sure, many new 4x4 bakkies are extremely capable but in saying that, many new offerings tend to lean towards the lifestyle segment, meaning that they feature large, expensive wheels and ultra-cool paint jobs finished in an exotic colour like Cuban Summer, Sunset Orange – or something similar. Many of the new 4x4 bakkies on offer are jam-packed with the latest electronic gadgets and luxury items.
They also tend to cost quite a bit of money. The king of the hill Toyota Hilux double-cab Legend 50 4x4 retails for R687 400 while the impressive Ford Ranger WildTrak 2.0 Bi-Turbo double cab 4x4 will set you back R730 000. Surely one could find something on the used market for less?
Searching for your new off-roader
Our home page offers search that is quick and easy! We set our maximum price at R300 000 and selected the double-cab body style option. This resulted in around 1 178 vehicles to browse. You can browse those here.
With an assortment of Ford, Mazda, Isuzu and Volkswagen bakkies to search through, we settled on a 2012 Toyota Hilux 3.0-litre D4-D 4x4 double-cab. The vehicle in question has done its fair share of travel which has resulted in 185 000Km however the asking price for this particular vehicle with a canopy is R255 000.
The Toyota Hilux has proven itself throughout the African continent due to its reliability as well as the availability of parts, no matter where you are. Using our AutoTrader finance calculator this Hilux will cost you about R4 378.17 per month over 72 months with no deposit and the current interest rate of 7.25%.
Related: 5 things you need to know about the Toyota Hilux Legend 50
Let’s get the car ready for our adventure
1. Bullbars
Bullbars are one of the first accessories to be added to any 4×4, improving your approach angle and significantly improving your frontal protection. Many modern-day options feature a compartment for a winch and they are even airbag compatible. They offer integrated fog lights as well as an aerial mount for radios. We found a replacement bull bar for your Hilux at a cost of R16 700.
2. Suspension upgrades
Suspension upgardes are also very important. These upgrade can eliminate suspension sag and support the additional load. They can also improve comfort and handling and ultimately improve the vehicles ride height. A reputable set will cost about R17 000.
3. High powered LED lights
High powered LED lights are another option worth considering as the better visibility you have the safer you will be, especially when venturing into unknown areas. We found a set of 6000K white light 48W output high lux for around R3000.
4. Snorkels
Snorkels are an excellent way to protect your four-wheel drive’s engine. The higher air intake gives you the combined benefits of cooler & cleaner air input, safer water crossings and increased airflow for improved performance. One of these will cost about R2000.
5. Off-road tyres
Your vehicle's tyres are extremely important and fitting the right rubber is essential. Look at an All-Terrain tyre option as this tyre balances on and off-road capabilities. These tyres are also designed with reinforced sidewalls for added protection. A set will cost about R4000 per tyre.
6. Recovery kit
Other items worth looking at include a recovery kit which should be in the car at all times. This kit usually consists of tow-straps, hooks, chains and gloves. Another item you should consider is underbody protection which protects vital parts of your vehicle's undercarriage.
Related: Top 3 Toyota Hilux features that stand out from the competition
Let us recap
Our Hilux cost us R255 000, R45 000 less than our R300 000 budget. That leaves us with R45 000 leftover. With that, the total cost of extras mentioned above comes in at R54 700 bringing the total cost of our overland ready Hilux to R309 700, or in simpler terms, R30 000 less than an entry-level Volkswagen T-Cross, and that can’t overland.
Many of the items mentioned above can be sourced from any reputable off-road accessory stores and their knowledgeable sales staff will be able to guide you in selecting the right items for your vehicle. Perhaps it is time to start considering different options within the car market, perhaps it’s time to live a little on the adventurous side of life.
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