4×4 vehicles are so much more than shiny toys for Overlanding enthusiasts. A 4×4 is your ticket to putting safety first, whatever your environment, with both everyday driving in rural locations and off-road adventures enhanced courtesy of a 4×4’s capabilities. Come winter, your 4×4 should really come into its own.
The harsher weather conditions the season is known for can be handled with ease in a 4×4, but only with the right upgrades. Here we take a closer look at the top upgrades you should be making to enhance your winter driving experience.
EVC Throttle Controller
Snow can present a real challenge for drivers, with the ability to gain the traction you need to drive safely significantly reduced in snowy conditions. Upgrading your 4×4 with a traction aid like an EVC Throttle Controller will help you tune into the responsiveness of your accelerator pedal and send that power exactly where it needs to be.
By using an EVC Throttle Controller to dull the throttle curve and soften its response, you can handle off-road and low traction situations (such as driving on snow or ice) easily and safely. Read more about the benefits of using a throttle controller here.
Winch
A winch is just one of the recovery essentials every 4×4 should have. With the ability to get you out of some pretty sticky situations, a good-quality winch is the difference between an enjoyable winter driving experience and a disastrous one.
Our winches make recovery as convenient as it should be, with even recovery from the most extreme environments possible with an electric winch and its fully wireless controls.
Recovery kit
Packing for the worst-case scenario is recommended to every driver, regardless of their vehicle make and model, during the winter months. Here The AA shares their advice for being prepared for anything when driving in winter:
“No matter how safely you drive, there’s still a chance you could get stuck somewhere in poor weather. Pack a winter emergency kit, just in case. That way you’ll be prepared for a long wait in the cold. Here’s what to include: warm clothes, waterproofs and high-vis jackets; sturdy footwear; hot drinks and snacks; shovel; jump leads; warning triangles.”
4×4 owners should also pack one of our recovery kits to stock up on the tools they need for self-rescue, especially if you’ll be driving off-road this winter.
ARB Sahara Bumper
Continuing the theme of self-recovery, the ARB Sahara Bumper is one of the world’s leading bumper bars. This winch bumper offers a solid base for all those touring essentials (including lighting and winches) whilst providing the protection you need to tackle any terrain.
In most instances, the ARB Sahara Bumper can be fitted without inhibiting the function of modern safety features, such as collision avoidance systems, parking sensors and adaptive cruise control.
Underbody protection
Enhance your vehicle further by upgrading your underbody protection. As the ultimate form of protection, you can safeguard the components that are otherwise left exposed on the underside of your vehicle, such as the radiator, sump and drivetrain. By protecting these parts with a UVP kit, you can minimise the risk of damage and/or failure in harsher driving conditions to keep your vehicle moving.
Shop all the upgrades mentioned above and more at 4×4 Works.