The Jeep Wrangler is a beast that offers more opportunities for adventure and customizations compared to its competitors. Powered by a 2.0-liter turbo that develops 268PS of power and 400Nm of twist. Coupled with an 8-speed automatic gearbox makes the Wrangler capable of navigating the most unforgiving terrains.
While Wrangler comes out of the factory line all set to take on the rough tracks & tarmacs, most owners tend to feel the urge to customize their wrangler. You go straight to online discussion forums where you see a barrage of discussions and advice on how suspension uplift, wheel upgrade, or installing a high-capacity winch should be the first upgrade you do on your wrangler.
Yeah, we know that it can get confusing. Especially if you are a first-time owner. This is why we have decided to pen down this article on upgrading your Jeep Wrangler. We will focus on 8 upgrades that you can do on your wrangler.
1. Aftermarket Tires
Wranglers irrespective of the model you own mostly come with an all-terrain tire. As the name suggests, these all-terrain tires are designed for on- and off-road use and they offer a higher mileage warranty of between 40-60k miles. Though these tires can take you off-road, they are designed mostly for the tarmac and only to a certain extent on off-roads.
Depending on the terrain you mostly plan to drive your wrangler on, we recommend you choose your tires wisely.
a) Mud terrain tires: With aggressive tread patterns and larger lugs, these are proper off-road tires that can offer you the best grip on off-road terrain including mud & slush. These tires are designed to withstand extreme beating as they come with super-tough sidewalls to withstand sudden impacts from off-road obstacles.
b) Winter tires: Winter tires are a must-have if you live in areas that receive a lot of snow. While all-weather tires claim to offer you traction on icy roads, we highly recommend you not to take the risk. Ideally, winter tires should have a greater number of grooves and channels, called sipes that can bite into ice/wet snow to give you the traction you need.
c) Sand Tires: Invest in a sand tire only if you plan on hitting the dunes. These tires come with horizontal or V-angled paddles that can churn sand to deliver superior traction.
There are thousands of options when it comes to upgrading the tires on your Wrangler. Know that the key is to have a clear understanding of where you will be taking your Wrangler before you invest money on a tire upgrade.
2. Suspension lift
Wranglers irrespective of the model you own come with around 10inches of ground clearance on stock conditions. While this is more than enough on the tarmac and a simpler off-road track, for the challenging tracks, you are going to need more clearance. If you are an off-road junkie, depending on the track you take your wrangler to you might need 4 to 6 inches of lift. Apart from adding to the stability of the vehicle, a suspension lift can also offer better driving comfort.
As always, there are a lot of options when it comes to suspension lift. The key is to have clarity on your requirements before you invest your time or money into this.
3. Grab Handles
Grab handles are more of a safety upgrade than a performance or aesthetic upgrade. If you have been to off-roads, you would already know that seatbelts can’t offer you all the protection you need. Especially during twists and turns, you need something to hold on to and that is what grab handles are all about. Because wranglers are designed to be offroad vehicles, you can easily attach these grab handles to the rollover cage or A-Pillar with ease.
4. LED Lights
While the stock lights on your Wrangler are powerful enough to help you navigate the tarmac, you might not find it bright enough to be used while off-roading. When it comes to upgrading the lights, an obvious choice will be a high-intensity discharge (HID) light or an LED light. While HIDs can offer the best brightness, as far as life and efficiency are concerned, LEDs are a viable choice.
5. Recovery Kits
Recovery kits are another important upgrade you should consider doing on your Wrangler as they don’t come out of the production line with one. Contrary to popular opinion, recovery kits are not just for off roads. Irrespective of where you're driving your Jeep, there's a need for recovery gear. When we say recovery gear, it doesn’t mean investing in an expensive winch. Instead, an ordinary kit with items such as d-rings, gloves, and recovery straps would do the job.
6. Entry Guards
Due to higher land clearance of Wranglers, entry and exit out of the seats will cause a lot of scrapes. This can get worse if you were to lift the suspension for off-roading. In most cases, you will have to regularly paint to cover it. This is where an aluminum, thermoplastic, or stainless steel material entry guard can come in handy.
7. Floor Liner
Though you might take your wrangler to the most challenging of off-road tracks, you wouldn’t want track mud, dirt, or grass inside your Jeep. Floor liners can be your accomplice here to combat your Jeep’s interior getting dirty. If you were to invest in the right floor liner, you can fit them over factory or aftermarket carpets.
Here are some of the popular floor liner options you have
Ø All-weather floor liners: These floor liners are made from heavy-duty materials and are made to withstand rough use and are easier to clean.
Ø Stain-resistant liners: As the name suggests, stain-resistant liners are made to protect spills that could stain your carpet.
Ø Slush floor liners: These liners are made out of rubber and are designed to protect your Jeep from moisture such as snow or mud.
Conclusion
The extent of customization possible on a Wrangler is virtually endless. The seven upgrades that we discussed in the article are the most affordable yet the most useful ones that you can find in the market. So why wait? Visit us now!!