If you venture off-road frequently, it’s important to ensure that you are able to tackle the road (or lack thereof) in front of you. You need a machine that can handle anything thrown at it. You need a car that will suit your needs. Understanding what kind of driving you will do will ultimately help you find (and possibly modify) your ultimate rig.

If you end up opting to accessorise and want to sell your car down the track, DIYinspect is a great option. When selling a 4×4 via another channel, often the modifications are not valued highly. At DIYinspect, all the modifications that you have made to your vehicle are taken into account, and the sale offer you receive reflects the true value of your car.

How to find the right fit

How will you be using your 4×4? Are you going on short beach drives or are you planning epic cross-country adventures? Will you be towing a camper or a boat?

If you know how you will use your vehicle, you can purchase something that suits your needs. If you will be undertaking different types of trips, choosing a vehicle that provides versatility and value for money is key. As you get used to driving your car you will discover certain features you may want to modify, but there are many considerations to take into account.

Why modify?

Customising 4WDs is essentially re-engineering so that you can use your vehicle for purposes above and beyond what it was originally intended for. It’s essential to figure out why you might want to change a component, and then you can look into what approach will work best. One alteration can affect other aspects, so experts generally suggest that modifications are undertaken as a whole project, rather than changing your vehicle one accessory at a time. You also have a responsibility to drive a car that complies with local regulations. Although your new lift kit lets you wade through deep water, and the new LEDs light up the night sky, not all modifications and accessories are legal on the open road.

Common accessories

There are many different accessories when it comes to 4x4s. Some of the more common modifications include:

• Tyres: The transition from standard tyres to light truck tyres is one of the most common modifications. Light truck tyres have thicker sidewalls and a stronger carcass, and are therefore better equipped to handle rough roads. They’re usually bigger, too, raising your 4WD further from the ground.
• Spare tyre carriers: If you’ve upgraded and changed the size of your tyres you’ll need to add a rear-mounted spare tyre carrier, so that you can travel with an additional tyre. A spare tyre on the car is always recommended, but especially so on rough roads and longer journeys.
• Bullbars: In Australia, many unpaved roads weave their way through bushland and wildlife sightings are common. Bullbars are a popular addition as they can protect the front of your car from animals, as well as damage from rocks and scrub. When choosing a bullbar it’s important to ensure that it’s compatible with your 4WD’s airbags.
• Driving lights: Remote areas away from city lights get very dark, so extra driving lights are one of the most popular accessories for good reason. A combination of wide and pencil beam lights is widely considered to provide the best mix for driving at night.
• Fridge: There’s an extensive range of fridges, freezers, coolers and ice boxes to choose from, and that’s because drivers like to have access to a cool drink and food on the road. The two main considerations are the amount of space a fridge will take up and how much drink and food you need to take with you.
• Rooftop tent: Easy to set up and pack up, the addition of a rooftop tent gives you the comfort and freedom to spend nights out in nature.

Considerations

Before you decide to start modifying and upgrading on your 4WD, you need to do your research. Ensure that you:

• Have an understanding of the kind of journeys you want to take and how often.
• Weigh up the pros and cons on each and every accessory you’re thinking about. It’s very time consuming and expensive to add and then take away features.
• Look at the whole picture, weighing up how modifications will effect power, fuel efficiency, practicality and so on.
• Chat to an expert about types of accessories and which ones might suit your specific needs.
• Work out which accessories are of interest and try to modify your vehicle as a whole.
• Check the legalities of all the modifications you are wishing to undertake, and secure approvals and licensing if necessary.
• Try to obtain all your accessories from one key supplier, so that you have one point of contact going forward. Larger businesses tend to stock accessories from a greater selection of brands, providing more choice, quality and value for money.

The next chapter

You’ve journeyed across Australia and have videos to prove that you undertook the trip of a lifetime, but now it’s time to sell. DIYinspect have you covered.

Developed by Australia’s leading asset remarketer, Pickles, the easy-to-use app requires minimal time commitment and little to no face-to-face interaction. If you’re 4×4 has been modified, the DIYinspect team look at the accessories as value-add features, and will come back with a guaranteed offer within 24 business hours.