If You're Like Us, Then Four-Wheeling Is As Much A Lifestyle As It Is anything else. We eat, sleep, and dream about dominating the terra firma. So it's only fitting that you surround yourself with every off-road widget you can find. Like the thousands of parts that make our rigs complete, we have compiled here a list of 30 items that will help you wheelaholics feel whole. From books and movies to tools and toys, these are some of the latest and greatest items to fit in any reader's budget.
Tools are designed to make our lives a little bit easier, but too often we overlook some of the most valuable tools available, books. Whether you're trying to determine the gear ratio of your 4x4 or preparing for a complete differential overhaul, the Differentials Identification, Restoration, & Repair book could be some of the most valuable differential information that you may ever read. Jim Allen and Randy Lyman (Randy's Ring & Pinion) have decades' worth of knowledge woven through every page of this book that will have you geared up and prepared to tackle your next differential inquiry with confidence.
Randy's Ring & Pinion
866.631.0196
www.ringpinion.com
Do you ever wonder what the technician is doing when he plugs the code reader into your car? Or why does that "check engine" light appear and then magically disappear, and what the heck is a P code anyway? The folks over at Haynes have developed a comprehensive guide to walk you through the code-filled world that is your Onboard Diagnostics (OBD). The OBD-II & Electronic Engine Management Systems manual will give you the lowdown on everything you ever wanted to know about your vehicle's computer-related systems and how exactly all those emissions-control components work together to routinely monitor your vehicle's performance. It's a great tool to help understand some of the wiz-bag technology happening underneath your hood and will help dispel certain myths commonly associated with the system.
Haynes
www.haynes.com
If you're like us, driving with the windows down is a way of life. But have you ever driven a vehicle that the lips of the seal constantly pinch your arm or it's simply too uncomfortable to rest your arm there? Well, the Arm-Restler is designed to give you back that arm-resting comfort no matter what vehicle you're driving. The small gel-packed pad installs easily into all makes and models and is actually one of those products you might be skeptical of until you put it to use. We've tested it on JKs and think you'll be stoked on it too.
Easy Life Products
www.ezlifeproducts.com
Fabricating cool parts for your rig is one of the best things about this hobby. From the bare-metal start to the rattle-bomb finish, we love making stuff with our hands, but sometimes we tend to slack when it comes to the proper safety gear. Luckily for us, Miller Electric has some new protective gear to keep you from losing more than just your cool. With combination jackets and heavy-duty welding gloves, it's easy to keep your vitals protected when creating your very own metal masterpieces. Miller's Elite Series auto-darkening helmets are some of the best in the biz. Their lightweight design and large lens allow for greater visibility and less strain on the neck. Another trick feature is the grind mode that allows the helmet to double as safety goggles when grinding away on your project. Complete with spare lenses and helmet bag, the Elite helmet may be the last one you'll ever buy.
Miller Electric
www.millerwelds.com
Do you have a '97-'06 Jeep Wrangler that you've been itching to learn more about? Car Tech has a new high-performance builder's guide that provides a bumper-to-bumper look into your TJ. From budget boost to skidplates, there is something for everybody. Written for every enthusiast level, the book includes everything from tips on vehicle recovery and axle identification all the way to the more advanced spectrum of engine swaps and gear-ratio breakdowns. In the end, the High-Performance Jeep Wrangler TJ Builder's Guide is a good library addition for all you TJ gurus out there.
Car Tech
800.551.4754
www.cartechbooks.com
The aftermarket world can be extremely overwhelming at times, especially if you are lucky enough to own the brand with the most aftermarket attention, Jeep. Whether you have a bone-stock Cherokee or a rock-ready CJ-7, Jim Allen's Jeep 4x4 Performance Handbook, 2nd Edition can help you make sense of it all. Using in-depth product breakdowns and detailed explanations, the handbook breaks down many of the hot topics in the aftermarket world. From start to finish, Allen groups each section specifically so you don't find yourself lost in a sea of information. By tackling each section by topic, such as steering and suspension, you can concentrate on the information that interests you the most, giving you the ability to master one hot topic at a time.
Motorbooks
800.826.6600
www.motorbooks.com
We love new tools, for if it weren't for the tool, we'd probably all still be walking with a bit of a hunch and a club in our hands (although we usually pass a few of those on our way to work). Pro Tool has created a device that we can't believe no one has come out with before. Integrating some of the most commonly used standard and metric sizes, the ratcheting hex is easy to use and store and will save you time and aggravation. And with a MSRP under 20 bucks, it's just too good of a deal not to have in your toolbox.
Pro Tool Manufacturing
800.597.6170
www.ratchetinghexwrench.com