Tires
Since tires are the only part of your vehicle that’s supposed to touch the ground, and since the type of tire on your truck or SUV will greatly affect how it handles both on- and off-road, it goes almost without saying that upgrading your tires can help enhance your off-road experiences. Whether that means purchasing all-terrain or mud-terrain tires or a hybrid of the two, or getting a bigger tire for ground clearance and more grip surface, spending some money on better rubber for your planned off-road uses will go a long way to increasing your rig’s capability.

Suspension
With a few exceptions, most trucks and SUVs come from the factory with relatively low ground clearance. That’s fine for on-road driving, but on the trail, you need more clearance. A lifted suspension can provide that. It will also allow for larger tires to additional clearance and trail capability. The additional suspension travel will also help you traverse the rough stuff.

Not only that, but a beefier suspension is less likely to break, stranding you in the woods/desert/mountains miles from anywhere. Talk about a worthy investment.

Protection
Protection is a must. No, not just in the bedroom, but also on the trail. Many important vehicle components are exposed to danger in the form of sharp rocks and other debris – and no one wants to deal with, say, a damaged exhaust, or ripped-off oil pan, or punctured catalytic converter while out playing in the woods. Not to mention damage to the body, such as the rocker panels or bumpers.

Some 4x4s come from the factory well-equipped with skid plates, but many don’t. In some cases, a vehicle might have some, but not all, components protected by skid plates. Skid plates will go a long way towards preventing expensive damage – especially if adding ground clearance isn’t in the cards for your rig.

MORE OFF-ROAD STORIES
5 New Off-Road Trucks We Can’t Wait to Drive

Trail Hacks: Recent 4x4 Fixes That Got Us Back to Camp