Easy Upgrades & Beginner Steps To Four-Wheeling

Everyone has to start somewhere, and four-wheeling is no different. You have to start with the first time you drive in the dirt, the first time you get stuck, the first time you break something, and the first upgrade you do to your 4x4. Some wheelers learn all this stuff from their parents or grandparents, others from a sibling or friends.

In addition to hitting the dirt, upgrading your 4x4 can be just as much fun. Even if you’ve never spun a wrench you shouldn’t be scared to start. Here are a few beginner tools and upgrades to get started.

Bolt-On Rack
Jeeps are easily the most popular 4x4s we see on the trail, but not everyone can afford a trail rig and a daily driver. So why not make a Jeep your daily wheels as well? Because of the general lack of storage and load capacity in a Jeep, especially a two-door open-topped model. Luckily there are many great storage options for Jeeps, such as a bolt-on light bar/roof rack from Olympic 4x4 Products. This easy-to-use product transforms your little trail tamer into a hauling machine ready to hit the hardware store.

The Quick N Easy Rack is about as idiot-proof as an anvil. Two crossbars clamp to the rollbar and can support light loads like a canoe, surfboard, or sheet of plywood up off of the cage and windshield.
The Quick N Easy Rack is about as idiot-proof as an anvil. Two crossbars clamp to the roll
Simply bolt down the clamps over the rollbar and strap your load on top. The soft top must be down to install the rack, and the rack must be removed to put the top back up. The window surrounds need to be removed on JKs as well.
Simply bolt down the clamps over the rollbar and strap your load on top. The soft top must
If the rack isn’t enough, Olympic also offers a receiver hitch basket that can make a great place for that oversized cooler. They are available in 22x51- and 15x41-inch sizes. No hitch on your JK? Olympic supplies the same-as-factory bolt-on receiver too.
If the rack isn’t enough, Olympic also offers a receiver hitch basket that can make a grea

Winch Winding
A winch is a great tool. It’s like that big brother who is always looking out for you and who has your back when you do something dumb. But like your big brother, you better treat it right if you expect it to pull you out when you need it the most. One of the most overlooked steps to winch ownership is stretching or tensioning your new winch’s wire rope cable with a proper wrap on the drum.

Simple Steps Winch Cable Attached To Truck

Hook the other end of the rope to an approved anchor, tree, pole, or heavy parked vehicle. The anchor should be far enough away so that there is no slack in the cable or rope. Don’t forget your gloves and a tree saver.

Stretching your winch rope before the first use is simple. Find a flat area or very gradual hill that allows you to spool out or free-spool the winch rope until there are only five wraps left on the drum. For this demonstration we are using a Warn 8274.
Stretching your winch rope before the first use is simple. Find a flat area or very gradua
With an assistant slightly riding the brakes (if pulling on flat ground) you’ll want to engage the winch (not in free-spool mode) putting about 500 pounds of pressure on the winch. This will tightly wrap the lower levels of winch cable so the upper levels will not pull down into them under a hard winch recovery. Make sure the winch rope is coming into the bottom of the drum, not the top.
With an assistant slightly riding the brakes (if pulling on flat ground) you’ll want to en
Slowly winch in and watch that the cable is lying flat, tight, and smooth on each level before starting a new wrap. This may require having your assistant turn the steering wheel slightly as the cable spools in, or pushing the rope side to side. Once complete, run in your cable so it rides under a slight bit of load to keep the wire rope from unraveling. It is not recommended to power the hook into the fairlead, as this can damage the fairlead. The same steps can be taken with synthetic winch rope.
Slowly winch in and watch that the cable is lying flat, tight, and smooth on each level be

Simple Steps Winching With A Hi Lift Jack

Hi-Lift Winch
The Hi-Lift jack is an iconic off-road accessory owned by millions, and often one of the first 4x4 items purchased by newbie wheelers. The Hi-Lift is great as a jack, obviously, but it can also work as a large clamp and hand winch if need be. If you’ve stuffed your 4x4 in a hole and haven’t invested in a winch or a buddy with a strap then hopefully you have a Hi-Lift jack as a backup rescue tool. Though not fast or easy, it can extract a stuck vehicle with its 4,600-pound pulling capacity.

First you’ll need to attach to something solid. We used a new tree-hugger tree strap from Bubba Rope. You’ll want a strap with little to no stretch to attach the Hi-Lift top end to with a shackle.
First you’ll need to attach to something solid. We used a new tree-hugger tree strap from
With the Hi-Lift’s ratcheting end attached to a chain, which is attached to the vehicle, you can slowly pull it toward yourself. Be careful to always keep two hands on the jack handle. Also do not use a recovery strap, as most just stretch and you’ll spend a lot of time working without getting the vehicle out of the stuck position.
With the Hi-Lift’s ratcheting end attached to a chain, which is attached to the vehicle, y
We used the Hi-Lift recovery kit that has two small chains. One pulls the vehicle; the other takes up the slack when you release the jack so you can readjust and make a second pull. This keeps the vehicle from sliding back into the hole when you release the jack.
We used the Hi-Lift recovery kit that has two small chains. One pulls the vehicle; the oth

We used the Hi-Lift recovery kit that has two small chains. One pulls the vehicle; the other takes up the slack when you release the jack so you can readjust and make a second pull. This keeps the vehicle from sliding back into the hole when you release the jack.
We used the Hi-Lift recovery kit that has two small chains. One pulls the vehicle; the oth
When using the Hi-Lift as a jack to lift a vehicle you’ll need a good square edge to hook it under. Consider this when buying or building bumpers or rocker panel protection. You’ll also want a solid platform to set the jack foot on. If the suspension is extremely flexible you may need to strap the axle to the frame to get the tire off the ground. Put a spare tire under the vehicle as a safety precaution if you need to work under it.
When using the Hi-Lift as a jack to lift a vehicle you’ll need a good square edge to hook
Many vehicles can be jacked from their receiver hitch, but we are less keen on this because the tongue of the jack does not insert in the receiver very far. If the jack doesn’t have a firm hook under the vehicle it can kick out and drop the vehicle.
Many vehicles can be jacked from their receiver hitch, but we are less keen on this becaus

You can never be too cautious when using a Hi-Lift, especially when releasing it. We usually unlock the Hi-Lift lever with our boot while holding firmly onto the handle.
You can never be too cautious when using a Hi-Lift, especially when releasing it. We usual
When lowering the jack down, after releasing the lever you need to be extremely careful that the jack doesn’t start self-ratcheting and hit you in the head. Always keep one or two hands on the handle and your head clear of the handle.
When lowering the jack down, after releasing the lever you need to be extremely careful th
If you store your jack outside your vehicle, rust and trail grit can jam up the climbing pins if unused. A spray lube can help but will also attract more dust and grit. Your best bet may be pouring liquid over the mechanism to get it moving freely prior to jacking.
If you store your jack outside your vehicle, rust and trail grit can jam up the climbing p

Test-fit the cover to make sure it will clear the ring gear. Always test fit to be safe. Apply a nice bead of sealant around the diff cover mating flange. We prefer Right Stuff, but it’s spendy and any high-temp silicone will work.

Test-fit the cover to make sure it will clear the ring gear. Always test fit to be safe. A

Diff Guard
One of the quickest and easiest upgrades for a 4x4 is a heavy-duty differential cover. It’s a good idea to add a heavier diff cover to protect the gears and differential from trail abuse. This installation can be performed in under an hour; the majority of the work involves cleaning the housing. Of course we are talking about axles that have a removable cover for inspection and gear work. An axle with a drop-out style third member like a Toyota or Ford 9-inch do not have bolt on covers, but there is weld-on armor for protecting the ring-and-pinion.

From the factory most axles have a thin sheetmetal diff cover. Though they’re great for street use, if you start trolling through rock gardens and boulder fields you may find a landmine in the form of some granite punching or peeling back the flimsy cover.

To swap a new diff cover in place, you need to remove the stock cover and drain the gear oil. Now is a great time to inspect the ring gear for damage. Next, go at the old gasket with a scraper and Scotch-Brite pad to get it clean
To swap a new diff cover in place, you need to remove the stock cover and drain the gear o
Another seal option is the Lube Locker, which is a reusable gasket that is made for a variety of differentials. The Lube Locker is made with a rubber-coated O-ring–style seal attached to a thin steel gasket.
Another seal option is the Lube Locker, which is a reusable gasket that is made for a vari
Once our beefy ARB cover was bolted in place we simply refilled the axle with appropriate gear lube to the designate level. Don’t forget to refill it because without oil your axle gears will burn up. Trust us, we’ve seen it happen more than once.
Once our beefy ARB cover was bolted in place we simply refilled the axle with appropriate

SOURCES
Hi-Lift Jack Company 46 W. Spring Street Bloomfield IN 47424 812-384-4441 http://www.hi-lift.com/index.htm l	Olympic 4x4 Products 2645 S. Yates Ave City of Commerce CA 90040 323-726-6988 www.olympic4x4products.com
Warn Industries 12900 S.E. Capps Road Clackamas OR 97015 800-910-1122 www.warn.com	Lube Locker www.lubelocker.com
Bubba Rope 310 W Melody Lane Casselberry FL 32707 N/A www.bubbarope.com	ARB 800-761-8192 http://www.arbusa.com