“Taking my Jeep Wrangler Off-Road” by Ryan.Kartzke is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
This article was last updated on May 1, 2024.
The Jeep Wrangler is one of the most famous 4x4s on the market, and for good reason.
Its out-the-box off-road abilities are unmatched and can become even better with a few upgrades.
In today’s article, we’ll go over a few Jeep Wrangler Upgrades that will transform the vehicle into an even better overlander and off-roader.
Table of Contents
- 67 Designs Dashboard Mounts
- Aiden James Gear Plate
- Suspension Lift
- Tire Upgrades Can Transform Your Jeep
- Protect Your Door Hinges
- Bonus: AMW 1000 Hellephant Conversion
- Final Thoughts
- Recommended Overlanding Gear
Jeep Wrangler Upgrades: 67 Designs Dashboard Mounts
When overlanding, we need a sturdy mount for phones or tablets. In most cases, our maps are downloaded on these devices, and we want to be able to see them while driving.
One of the best solutions to this is the 67 Designs rail mount for the JL Wrangler and Gladiator.
It installs easily in the middle of your dashboard and enables you to secure phones, tablets, and even a GoPro.
This is a product that is widely used in the Jeep community; therefore, you can be sure it will work as intended while giving you long-lasting performance.
Aiden James Gear Plate
Having a vehicle that is organized can be the difference between an enjoyable Jeep camping experience and a frustrating one.
No one wants to be constantly searching for items through an endless pile of bags and boxes.
With the Aiden James Custom gear plate, we can assure you that the trunk of your Jeep will be more organized than ever.
This accessory enables you to securely mount fridges, drawers, jacks, or any other overland item you may need with ease. It also provides tie-down points for anything else you want to store back there.
And as you can see above, you get access points to in-floor storage.
This is great as it doesn’t just organize the back of your Jeep but also makes it safe. The last thing you want are items that have not been secured properly and have the potential to hit and injure passengers in the event of sudden braking or even a collision.
On top of all that, these plates install with minimal effort in just a few minutes, so you can get your Jeep trail-ready even faster. And since the plates are made of high-quality Baltic birch and coated with a 3mm Rhino Lining, you know you’ll get durable performance for years to come.
Jeep Wrangler Upgrades: Suspension Lift
Photo By Icon Vehicle Dynamics
If you’re planning on taking your Jeep on long overland trips, then upgrading the suspension is a great idea.
The first and most obvious benefit gained from a suspension upgrade (like the one shown above by Icon Vehicle Dynamics) is the increase in ride height. This enables you to drive over obstacles without having clearance issues.
Furthermore, it provides the wheel arch space needed to fit larger tires, which again increases off-road performance
In addition to the increased ride height, you also get more wheel articulation. This is crucial when off-roading, as the longer you can keep your tires on the ground, the more grip and stability you get.
Photo By Icon Vehicle Dynamics
Lastly, aftermarket suspension increases payload and road manners. As I am sure you know, an overlanding trip means packing up a vehicle with clothes, cooking gear, camping gear, and much more.
In many cases, the stock suspension on Jeep Wranglers cannot handle the added weight, which leads to the rear end riding lower than the front.
This affects both ground clearance, road manners, and comfort.
For the Wrangler, the most famous suspension brands are Bilstein, Icon, and Fox. Obviously, there are more brands that are good, and depending on your budget and the terrain, you may want to choose something different.
Just like with any other Jeep Wrangler upgrades, research is your best friend here.
Tire Upgrades Can Transform Your Jeep
Image Credit: Amazon
Tires may well be one of the best Jeep Wrangler upgrades you can make…
Think about it – the tire is what puts the power down to the ground, therefore, regardless of how many lockers or power you have, if the tires aren’t good, you won’t be going anywhere.
Good tires like the BF Goodrich T/A KO2’s shown above don’t just provide more grip, but they also have tougher sidewalls that are puncture resistant.
For off-road tires, we would suggest looking at BF Goodrich, Toyo, and Cooper. These are all widely used brands with great products.
If you own a Wrangler Rubicon, then chances are you already have some great tires, as these vehicles come with BF Goodrich tires from the factory.
Jeep Wrangler Upgrades: Protect Your Door Hinges
Image Credit: Amazon
Next on the Jeep Wrangler upgrades list is a way to protect your door hinges.
If you have any experience with the Wrangler, you know that the exposed door hinges get smacked with rocks; therefore, their paint chips off.
Rock chipped hinges don’t just look bad, but can also lead to rust as the metal is now exposed to the weather.
To stop this from happening, you can use some XPEL clear paint protection film on the hinges.
This film can also be used on door sills and other areas of your truck that tend to wear out with use to ensure your Wrangler remains in great condition over the years.
Bonus: AMW 1000 Hellephant Conversion (Though, This One is Unnecessary)
Image Credit: AMW
I’ll be honest here, as far as overland Jeep Wrangler upgrades go, a 1000-horsepower supercharged 7.0L V8 may be unnecessary.
Although, driving across a continent is also unnecessary, but we do it anyway!
This is an insanely costly conversion that very few have the money to do. So, don’t worry, I am by no means suggesting you have to do this.
However, I thought it would be interesting to showcase the endless modification possibilities offered for the Jeep Wrangler platform.
So, if you ever have around $100,000 to spare and want something to play around in the dunes or rocks, you know where to look.
AMW have you covered with a monster of a Jeep that defies any common sense, and that’s what I love about them!
Final Thoughts
“Morgan Quarry – 27th & 28th Nov 2010” by Allshots Imagingis licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0.
The Jeep Wrangler may be the platform with the most modifications available – anything is possible.
Because of this, deciding which ones to do first can be daunting. However, we can reassure you that the ones mentioned above (minus the engine swap) will make your Jeep a better overlander while also helping keep it in top condition.
If you have any further questions regarding Jeep Wrangler upgrades, or for any other overland or off-road-related question, visit the forum section of our site.
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