Which 4WD Modifications Do I Need?
A factory delivered, bone stock, and untouched four wheel drive is capable.
But, as four wheel drivers, overlanders, and outdoor enthusiasts, we need more. More capability, more reliability, more durability, more power, more safety, more comfort, and more practicality. It’s why four wheel drive owners naturally gravitate towards the vast world of 4WD aftermarket parts and accessories.
New four wheel drivers can feel like a kid lost in a huge candy store when they first consider modifying their vehicle. There are thousands of brands, parts, and suppliers on the market all vying for your hard-earned cash, and nothing comes cheap.
It’s not uncommon for a couple of questions to quickly come to mind... What modifications do I need? What are they actually for? Are they legal? And, how much should I spend?
In this guide, we take a look at 9 factors to consider before you start modifying your vehicle.
We teach you how to cut through the fog and invest in the modifications that add the most value to your experience, whether you want to build an overlander, a family camping vehicle, towing a caravan, or taking on the toughest tracks.
1. Choose the Right Vehicle First.
Buying a vehicle is expensive, time-consuming, and quite frankly, a pain in the ass.
There are roadworthy certificates, registration, insurance, transfer fees, mechanical inspections, dodgy dealers, and flakey sellers. It all adds up to a lot of money and time. And, that’s without even considering the time and effort involved in selling your previous vehicle! Ideally, you only want to go through this whole process once every 5-15 years.
Many four wheel drivers, unfortunately, purchase the wrong vehicle. It’s not always apparent that an incompatible vehicle has been purchased until the vehicle has been owned for a month, or a year, or even after spending thousands of dollars on modifications.
There are a few common reasons why four wheel drivers purchase the wrong vehicle.
Many four wheel drivers purchase a vehicle that can’t adequately tow a boat, trailer, or caravan. Or, they purchase a vehicle that is too large and expensive for daily commuting and unsuitable for carrying and accessing work tools on the job. Worst of all, sometimes a partner can’t drive the vehicle, the kids aren’t comfortable in the backseats and the vehicle doesn’t fit in above or underground car parks.
Any one of these reasons can result in selling and purchasing a new vehicle all over again…. More time and money down the drain on roadworthy certificates, mechanics, transfer fees, repairs, and inspections.
It’s very unlikely that you will see a return on the money that you spent due to depreciation, especially if you have spent thousands in modifications. And of course, you will have less money left over to spend on improving the capability and performance of your next vehicle.
Purchasing the wrong vehicle can be avoided with careful consideration. We recommend reading our short guide on How to Choose the Right 4WD if you are in the market for a new vehicle.
Already absolutely positive you have the right vehicle? Keep reading!
2. Modifications Don’t Increase the Value of Your Vehicle.
Modifying a four wheel drive is almost a rite of passage.
Larger tyres, bullbars, and snorkels - it’s amazing what a few tasteful modifications can do to change the way a vehicle looks, feels, and performs. But, four wheel drive modifications can be a catch-22. Modifications, on one hand, increase the capability of a vehicle and help you safely and reliably reach the places you want to go. But on the other hand, modifications are unlikely to add monetary value to your vehicle if you need to sell it.
The average four wheel driver spends between $2,000 - $10,000 in vehicle modifications, with some spending upwards of $15,000! Spending thousands of dollars on a vehicle is only likely to offset depreciation or raise the value of the vehicle slightly or if anything at all.
Used car buyers typically steer clear of modified 4WD’s as they fear the vehicle has been subjected to off road abuse and hardship. It’s far less risky to look for a vehicle with minimal off road accessories as used car buyers perceive it as an indication of a well looked after vehicle.
Most of us aren’t in the business of buying a four wheel drive as a sound investment.
With that being said, it’s fair to say that most of us have a finite amount of money to spend. There’s little point spending $5,000 - $15,000K to modify a vehicle that will only be compatible with your lifestyle, work, or family requirements for a couple of years.
Ideally, you want to get your money’s worth out of your modifications in the way of memorable trips, weekends, and experiences. At the end of the day, why buy expensive accessories if they aren’t used and don’t add tangible value to your life?
A four wheel drive is your passport to exploring the parts of the world others don’t know about. It’s not a passport to your local bank to apply for loans, pay off debt, and increase your financial stress.
3. Set a Modification Budget
Modifications add up quickly.
It can feel like we’re only spending a couple of hundred bucks here and a grand there. But then there’s fuel costs, registration, insurance, servicing, maintenance, licensing, or even engineering certificates. Over time it all adds up and can leave your pockets too empty to plan a 4WD trip.
Ask any experienced four wheel driver how much they’ve truly spent on their vehicles and the answer is probably quite confronting.
Don’t get us wrong - investing in modifications to make your four wheel drive safer, more capable, and more comfortable is fantastic. But, remember to leave enough budget to hit the tracks and plan trips. That’s the reason why we all purchased a four wheel drive, right?
Our recommendation is to set a strict yearly modification budget.
For instance, each year you set a limit of $2,000 - $3,000 to modify your vehicle. This year, you invest in a new set of steel rims and larger all-terrain tyres for increased capability, opening up a range of new tracks to explore with greater confidence for the remainder of the year. During a couple of your trips, you realise your vehicle’s undercarriage is vulnerable between the front and rear wheels. Therefore, you decide to invest in steel side rails as part of next year’s budget before tackling higher difficulty trails.
Your vehicle will naturally evolve into a completely purpose-built four wheel drive in just a few short years using this method. Sure, the disadvantage of setting a yearly budget means that you won’t be out tackling harder and harder tracks each weekend.
But, it encourages you to go out and use your vehicle out on the tracks, go camping, explore and create memories with friends and family. A healthy budget of $1,000 - $3,000 is readily available to enjoy a couple of weeks camping or multiple weekends hitting the trails, seeing as it was not all spent on modifications.
We see many new four wheel drivers fall into the trap of spending far too much on modifications before they ever leave the tarmac.
Friends, family, magazines, or even YouTube videos may persuade new four wheel drivers not to hit the tracks until they forked out $5,000 - 15,000K+ to completely build their vehicles inside and out. The result is often a vehicle that just sits in the driveway for months, or even years until enough money has been saved up to plan a trip. It can slowly become harder and harder to justify the existence of a 4WD when it isn’t used - and it’s often the first thing to go when financial pressure kicks in.
It’s a shame because it takes another four wheel driver away from all that nature has to offer when the situation could have been avoided. We have even heard of some first time four wheel drivers finding out they don’t enjoy four wheel driving after spending thousands on modifications!
All of these reasons are why we recommend setting a modification budget and heading out to the tracks regularly. The modifications that your vehicle needs will be revealed as you use your vehicle.
The beauty of modifying your vehicle based on experience is that you end up building a vehicle specific to the way you use it.
As an example, after a year of using your vehicle on light tracks, you may find that you don’t have the desire to drive tracks with larger and more technical obstacles. Or, you may find that you prefer overland camping and prefer to allocate your future modifications to enhance the towing performance of the vehicle and convenience at camp. And, of course, there’s nothing wrong with investing in performance and capability modifications if you have the desire to tackle harder tracks.
A yearly modification budget simply encourages new four wheel drivers to head out on the tracks first and foremost.
Through experience, first time four wheel drivers can make educated decisions on what modifications and equipment are needed to improve the way they use their vehicles. The result is a four wheel driver who is more willing to hit the trails, explore nature, and far less likely to vanish from the wonderful world of four wheel driving.
Set a yearly budget within the means of your income and living expenses. Anywhere between 3-10% of your salary is a great starting point.
4. Planning Your Modifications and Installation Order.
Planning and installing modifications in a logical order can save you money and hassle.
A little prior research and thinking can avoid uninstalling one modification to fit another, purchasing unnecessary parts, or even purchasing the wrong product in the first place. The best place to start when modifying your vehicle is to ask a simple question.. Where do I want to go and what do I want to do?
Like we mentioned earlier, there’s little point modifying your vehicle with tens of thousands of dollars if your only aim is to take your vehicle down a couple of dirt tracks.
Over-modification is a money trap and it doesn’t necessarily mean you will enjoy a better experience as a four wheel driver.
Again, our advice is simply to consider where and what you want to do with your vehicle and invest in the modifications that add the most value to that purpose. It’s an approach that takes just a little prior thought and planning - but the payoff can be well worth it.
Let’s take a look at an example.
Adam has just purchased a Toyota LandCruiser 100 Series to drive in the country a couple of times a week. Last month, Adam has had a couple of near misses with roadside wildlife. Adam has decided to purchase an aluminium bullbar for $1500 to protect himself and his vehicle.
A few months later, Adam was invited to tag along on a four wheel drive camping trip with his brother-in-law. He’d never been four wheel driving and decided to give it a crack.
Adam enjoyed the four wheel drive trip. But, the tracks were a little more challenging than he’d first anticipated, and his LandCruiser needed to be winched out by his brother-in-law a couple of times.
After the trip, Adam’s brother-in-law invites him on a longer trip tackling harder tracks. Adam agrees to go, but his brother-in-law suggests installing a winch on his vehicle for faster and safer recoveries if he gets stuck. Adam, however, has realised the aluminium bullbar he purchased is not winch-compatible.
Adam finds out he needs to spend another $2,500 on a winch-compatible bullbar with an additional $500 for the winch. He also needs to sell his current aluminium bullbar!
A little prior research may very well have saved Adam a lot of money and time!
Adam may not have anticipated an invitation to go four wheel driving with his brother-in-law, but a little bit of prior research may have revealed the world of four wheel driving and influenced him to purchase a winch-compatible bullbar to keep his options open in the future.
Do your research before investing in any new parts, accessories, or equipment. Need to purchase roof racks? Consider whether you need a roof top tent or to mount shovels, recovery tracks, or a high lift jack. Need a rear bar? Consider whether you want the option to carry one or two spare wheels or one spare and two jerry can holders.
Go through a similar line of thinking before purchasing anything new.
Asking four wheel drive specialists, reading forum posts, or even reading four wheel drive feature articles are fantastic ways of broadening your understanding of subtle variations in modifications, accessories, and equipment.
Modifications can also be installed in the wrong order.
Installing one modification before another can sometimes create inconveniences later down the track, and even the suppression of gained advantages. For instance, many four wheel drivers install a lift and suspension kit to increase ground clearance and fit larger tyres. Later, they purchase and install heavy modifications such as bullbars, scrub bars, bash plates, steel side rails, rear bars, and rear tool trays. The additional weight, however, places a larger load on the suspension which then negates the previously installed advantages. Installing heavy modifications before a lift and suspension kit can be more beneficial as a larger and heavy kit can be installed to account for the additional weight while producing a clearance gain.
Examples like this demonstrate the benefit of research and planning.
Spending a little time hitting the books, forums, or talking to a local four wheel drive specialist can reduce the number of problems encountered in the future.
5. Research and Avoid Low-Quality Parts.
Four wheel driving is tough on vehicles.
Sharp rocks, sloppy mud, salty sand, deep water, and sharp sticks - they all assault a four wheel drive in one way or another. Four wheel drivers, as such, need parts that are reliable and tough.
We can’t afford to have a part fail halfway up a hill climb with an inclination of 35 degrees. Most importantly, our parts need to be 100% safe before we pack our friends and family into our vehicles.
The 4WD aftermarket is rich and saturated with reputable brands, suppliers, and manufacturers.
Many aftermarket parts undoubtedly make our vehicles more capable, durable, and safer than in factory form. But not all aftermarket parts are made equal. For every brilliant example of four wheel drive engineering, there’s an inferior product with far less research, development, and testing.
Part and equipment failure will get you into difficult situations out on the tracks.
You might be waiting days for another vehicle to pass you if a winch fails to operate on a remote track. Worse still, if a winch cable snaps under the strain of your vehicle, it could seriously injure bystanders and damage your vehicle.
Low-quality parts are dangerous to your family, friends, and vehicle. They’ll cost you less upfront but cost you far more in the long run. Purchasing high-quality parts from well-respected brands make certain that your vehicle will reliably get you there and back safely.
The aftermarket support market varies depending on the vehicle make and model.
For instance, a Jeep Wrangler has a truly extensive amount of aftermarket options from thousands of manufacturers around the world. Other vehicles aren’t as lucky, such as the Suzuki Grand Vitara where aftermarket support is limited.
It’s now easier than ever to research the quality and durability of parts before purchasing. Four wheel drive forums, blogs, and online videos are a fantastic way of gathering authentic reports about part quality, brand reputation, and overall customer service.
Posting a thread on a forum or contacting the owner of a vehicle on social media who has the part you want is a great way of finding information. It says a lot about the quality of a part when an owner tells you they’d buy it again or choose another brand if they could go back in time.
Don’t forget to also peruse the part manufacturer’s Google, Facebook, Amazon, or eBay reviews - it can be an excellent indication of the customer experience other four wheel drivers have had in the past.
New manufacturers and brands may not have any previous reviews, which isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker. It is, however, best to proceed with caution, visit them in-store or speak to them on the phone before placing an order.
Be especially vigilant on platforms like eBay and Amazon as these marketplaces have a reputation of selling knockoff parts as authentic parts. Always try to purchase parts directly from the manufacturer or purchase through listed and approved suppliers.
It’s well worth the effort to do your homework before buying new parts.
Well-engineered parts won’t leave you stranded in the middle of a remote track and cost you a fortune to recover or repair your vehicle. Above all else, there are times when the safety of your friends and family depends on the strength and durability of your parts.
Avoid low-quality parts at all costs.
6. Install Modifications Properly.
High-quality parts don’t work well with lousy installation.
Purchasing the highest-rated, most reliable, and technologically advanced light bar is fantastic. But, incorrect installation can still drain the battery, blind other drivers, and reduce the lifespan of the product. Similarly, a bullbar manufactured by a well-established brand isn’t safe if it hasn’t been secured correctly.
It might not be obvious that a four wheel drive accessory or part has been installed incorrectly. Some modifications and accessories, for instance, are not frequently used, and installation faults are only revealed when the part is needed. A winch, for example, may not be used for months or even years after installation. It’s not uncommon for four wheel drivers to discover that their winch is defective on the tracks - often leaving the vehicle stuck!
We always recommend field testing parts after installation to ensure all new parts work effectively and the installation is flawless.
A successful, tested and true installation is only one side of the coin. Like anything, it’s important to check and maintain things every once so often. Four wheel drive tracks, and in particular, corrugated roads, can gradually loosen bolts and dislodge wiring as a result of heavy vibration. Hours of heavy vibration can expose faults in a four wheel drive accessory, and also gradually loosen even the best installation job. We recommend inspecting your bolts at the start and end of each day of four wheel driving for this reason. We also suggest testing your entire setup on a short weekend test trip to shake out any hidden vehicle or part issues.
There are a couple of options when it comes to installing your modifications and accessories.
Many four wheel drivers purchase and fit modifications themselves, while many others visit a specialist four wheel drive outfitter. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages.
DIY installation is a cultural mainstay of the four wheel drive community.
There is a wealth of knowledge available in 4WD forums, as well as in-depth installation tutorials on video streaming platforms like YouTube. Members of four wheel drive clubs are even known to be willing to physically lend a hand to new four wheel drivers from time to time.
The primary advantage of DIY installation is cost efficiency as you aren’t paying an outfitter for labour. An additional benefit of DIY installation is the hands-on experience you gain by working on and becoming familiar with your vehicle - something that always comes in handy when a problem arises on the trail.
The disadvantages of DIY installation, however, include the cost of supplying your own tools and equipment necessary for the job. Purchasing new tools and specialist kits can quickly take away any savings previously made by doing-it-yourself.
Learning how to use new equipment can also mean that it takes significantly more time to install than a specialist outfitter too - an important factor if you can’t afford to have your vehicle in an undrivable state for too long. A simple 4 hour DIY job can easily turn into a weekend nightmare as many DIYer’s have experienced.
Working on your vehicle also means that you are responsible for the functionality and safety of the installed modifications. There is no one else to blame if a part shears off on the highway because it hasn’t been bolted on correctly, or leaves you stranded on the track or trail.
Problems arising from DIY modifications can cost you more money, in the long run, to replace broken parts, recover the vehicle from the track, or employ a specialist to fix or re-install the modification.
Enlisting the help of a specialist outfitter is undoubtedly more expensive upfront than a DIY installation.
Specialist outfitters have the specialist tools, hoists, and experience to install modifications and accessories correctly to withstand off-road abuse. Modifications installed by a specialist outfitter are also installed in a timely fashion and leave the workshop with a warranty. With all that being said, the question remains - should you install your own modifications or visit a local four wheel drive outfitter?
It’s a personal choice.
Working with a specialist outfitter to install all modifications and accessories can equate to a well-built vehicle. But, if you are confident or highly interested in installing and working on your own vehicle, go for it.
Start with small modifications such as installing a roof cage or light bar, but don’t feel pressured to tackle larger jobs requiring more experience, tools, and expertise such as diff lockers, breathers, and dual battery setups.
Trust a local four wheel drive outfitter with complicated installation jobs.
7. Be Mindful of your Gross Vehicle Mass.
Each vehicle has a GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass limit), kerb weight, and payload.
A vehicle’s GVM is the maximum weight a vehicle can safely carry as specified by the manufacturer. GVM is calculated by adding a vehicle’s kerb weight (the weight of an unmodified vehicle in factory form with a full tank of fuel) with the maximum payload (the amount of weight a vehicle can safely carry). Payload is simply calculated by subtracting a vehicle’s kerb weight from its GVM.
If a vehicle, for instance, has a kerb weight of 1000 kg (2204 lbs) and a GVM of 1500 kg (3306 lbs), then the payload equates to the difference of 500kg (1102 lbs).
As such, a vehicle’s payload includes the combined weight of all internal and external vehicle modifications, luggage, occupants, and towball download weight (the amount of towball weight transferred from a trailer, boat, or caravan).
GVM limits are different for each vehicle, and two vehicles of identical size and weight won’t necessarily be able to carry the same amount of weight. As an exaggerated example, let’s compare the GVM of a Suzuki Jimmy against a Hummer H3.
A Suzuki Jimny has a payload of 360 kg (794 lbs) and GVM of 1435 kg (3164 lbs) while a Hummer H3 has a payload of 590 kg (1,300 lbs) and GVM of 2660 kg (5864 lbs).
A Suzuki Jimny is highly likely to exceed its payload of 360 kg (794 lbs) with a carload of passengers, rooftop tent, bullbar, steel wheels, and larger mud-terrain tyres. However, the same amount of equipment is likely to be within the Hummer H3’s payload of 590 kg (1,300 lbs).
The consequences of exceeding your vehicle’s GVM can result in premature part failure or wear out, lower ground clearance, decreased fuel economy, poor handling, bent chassis (pay attention owners of dual-cab utes), and a longer stopping distance under heavy emergency braking.
Exceeding a vehicle’s GVM is a serious offence, accompanying a large fine and serious ramifications if your vehicle causes or is involved in an accident. A vehicle exceeding GVM is simply unsafe to its occupants and a danger to other road users.
Insurance companies aren’t legally obliged to cover a vehicle exceeding a GVM in the event of a claim. An insurance company will state that the vehicle was not in a legal and safe operating condition, and therefore, the policy is not applicable.
It’s in your best interests to keep GVM under legal limits for the safety of your passengers, other road users, and the longevity of your vehicle and parts.
So, how can you avoid exceeding your vehicle's GVM?
The first step is to familiarise yourself with your vehicle’s GVM, kerb weight, and payload. If your vehicle is completely unmodified, this can be done by checking your vehicle’s handbook or contacting the manufacturer. If your vehicle has been modified (bullbar, roof rack, spare tyres, rock sliders, long-range fuel tank, rear draws, etc), you will need to calculate and subtract that weight from the payload. Unfortunately, it’s a rather laborious task to find and calculate the individual weight of each major modification on your vehicle.
Alternatively, simply take your modified vehicle to a public weighbridge.
A public weighbridge automatically calculates the total kerb weight of the vehicle. Subtract the kerb weight of the vehicle from the GVM and the difference is the remaining payload. For example, if your vehicle weighs 2,000 kgs (4409 lbs) on the weighbridge and your GVM is 2,500 kgs (5511 lbs), the difference of 500 kg (1102 lbs) is your remaining payload.
Remember that the weight of your occupants, loaded gear, and towbar download counts towards your GVM. Prioritising and carefully selecting the modifications and gear we carry is essential. It’s simply not possible to pack everything into our vehicles.
There are thankfully options for those who still find themselves exceeding GVM:
✅ Modify your Vehicle to Handle a Higher Payload.
GVM upgrades are available for popular four wheel drive makes and models.
Heavy-duty GVM springs and shocks can generally increase a vehicle’s payload by between 100 - 400 kg (220 - 881 lbs).
✅ Choose Lighter Parts or Reduce Modifications.
Choosing to purchase lighter parts is the best way to keep GVM low.
Many parts are significantly lighter than others on the market, for example, purchasing aluminum rims with narrower and smaller tyres can easily save up to 40 - 80 kg (99 - 176 lbs) across a set of 5-6 tyres.
Steel roof racks, cages, and platforms can weigh between 10 - 30 kg (22 - 66 lbs) heavier than lighter and well-designed aluminum equivalents. This is particularly relevant when comparing products designed 15-30 years ago with brand new accessories. Aluminium bull bars can also weigh significantly less than steel bars at the expense of impact resilience. Various bullbar options such as single hoop or zero hoop can also be used where animal collisions are improbable. Lastly, draw systems can also vary dramatically in weight depending on the materials.
Although saving 10 - 20 (22 - 44 lbs) of weight across multiple modifications can feel like an insignificant reduction, it can all add up to actionably reduce GVM.
Owners with extensively modified vehicles don’t have the luxury of purchasing lighter modifications from day dot. However, there is always an option to swap, sell, or purchase older and heavier items for newer and lighter modifications.
There is also the option to reduce the total number of modifications installed on the vehicle.
✅ Upgrade to a Vehicle with a Higher Payload.
Referring back to our previous example, a Suzuki Jimny simply doesn’t have the capacity and engineering to safely haul the same payload as a Hummer H3. Upgrading to a larger vehicle is a viable option for those who need more load capacity.
We recommend reading through our guide, How to Buy the Right 4WD, if the best route is to purchase another vehicle.
8. Don’t Forget Supportive Modifications
Think of a vehicle as a mechanical and electrical ecosystem.
Each part and system work together in harmony to drive the vehicle forward with the least amount of resistance and wear possible. Modifications can disrupt this harmony and produce a rippling effect of advantages and disadvantages through a vehicle. Manufacturers and dealerships don’t cover modified vehicles under warranty for this reason - they simply can’t guarantee the vehicle to perform or wear predictably under altered conditions.
The advantages are easy to identify; stronger, more durable, and better-engineered accessories enhance off-road performance. Disadvantages, on the other hand, can be less obvious and create subtle problems that cause excess wear, tear, and stress on specific parts of a vehicle.
Let’s take a look at an example.
Installing larger all-terrain or mud-terrain tyres is an easy way to enhance a vehicle’s off-road performance. Larger tyres increase a vehicle’s height, clearance, and traction. As a result, the vehicle can sustain less undercarriage damage, climb larger obstacles easier, and a deeper tread pattern hooks and digs into the ground to reduce wheel spin and create more traction.
However, larger tyres may also create some undesirable disadvantages. Larger tyres increase the amount of strain on the drivetrain, alter suspension geometry, increase fuel economy, reduce acceleration, and increase emergency braking distances. Larger wheels can also alter the accuracy of the speedometer.
Supportive modifications are needed to alleviate these issues and reharmonize the mechanical balance of your vehicle.
In this example, supportive modifications may include differential regearing to reclaim lost power and fuel efficiency, installing larger brakes to reduce emergency braking distances, and re-adjusting the speedometer to maintain accuracy.
It’s a similar story with many other major modifications; they will likely upset the balance of your vehicle in one way or another. The decision to reharmonise the engineering of your vehicle to suppress mechanical disadvantages, safety concerns, or even just to further amplify the advantages is yours alone.
There is no need to be a certified engineer to modify and reharmonise your vehicle.
With a little research and knowledge of the advantages and disadvantages of each modification, you will be able to plan and install supportive modifications.
The result will be a modified vehicle with a well-built foundation.
9. Compliance and Legality
It should be no surprise that the automotive industry is one of the most regulated industries in the world.
It’s often easy to forget that vehicles are involved in hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries each day. Accordingly, vehicle modifications are closely regulated to reduce the risk of injury and death to other road users like pedestrians, cyclists, and other vehicles.
Each country, territory, or state has a different set of road legislation.
In Australia, for example, there are numerous laws in place to restrict four wheel drive modifications such as laws on suspension lift height and maximum tyre size. Australia enforces these laws for a host of different reasons such as reducing the chances of rollovers, maintaining crumple zone compatibility with other vehicles, and ensuring rural tracks are accessible by public service entities like firefighters, park rangers, and emergency medical officers. Australia is a remote country where four wheel drivers are an essential part of day-to-day life in rural communities and essential for domestic tourism. Therefore, it’s in the government's best interests to be lenient with 4WD modifications to benefit those living in rural regions and support rural economies.
Australia is fairly lenient when compared to other regions in the world where modifications are illegal altogether or discouraged with hyper-inflated tariffs or safety regulations.
Countries that lack rural landmass, are densely populated, and have highly developed infrastructure are far less likely to support four wheel drive modifications as pedestrian and cyclist safety is far more important. If you are lucky, the laws in the region where you live are lenient enough to allow you to increase the capability of your vehicle to a reasonably safe level.
Always check your local laws and regulations before you start modifying your vehicle.
Local authorities may identify illegal vehicle modifications during routine registration inspections, breathalyzers, weighbridges, or targeted 4WD operations. Illegal modifications may result in vehicle deregistration along with a hefty fine.
Illegally modified vehicles may also be refused insurance coverage, as mentioned earlier. Most insurers have a legal clause in their policies that states that vehicles must be in a roadworthy condition as defined by the transport governing body. If a vehicle violates vehicle regulations, the insurer is not legally obliged to release a payout. You may, therefore, be financially liable for all damages caused by your vehicle.
In rare cases, government transport agencies may declare illegal modifications as roadworthy. This process, however, is lengthy and expensive as a team of engineers must test the vehicle on a private racetrack under controlled conditions.
Modifying a vehicle according to government regulations and laws is simply easier.
Laws and regulations are typically available online or can be discussed with local government entities, local police enforcement, or road governing bodies. Modification laws and regulations are particularly difficult for four wheel drivers travelling into different states, territories, or countries as a vehicle can be legal in one place and illegal in another. It is best, in these instances, to double-check the laws and regulations before travelling across the border.
Consider removing any illegal modifications from the vehicle if you are intending to spend any substantial amount of time there.
There may be periods of time where basic modifications installed on your vehicle are blatantly illegal for a brief passage of time or distance passing through borders. Staying inconspicuous and drawing the least amount of attention to your vehicle as possible is the best solution in these scenarios.
What Modifications Do you Need?
Four wheel drive modifications are not a one size fits all type of solution.
Rather, modifications are determined by your goals; what you are trying to achieve, or where you are trying to go with your vehicle. It’s difficult, therefore, to layout a complete list of every modification you need without knowing the answers to those questions.
As a rough guide, we have compiled a list of the most common and basic modifications required for several types of typical four wheel drivers. These are all a suggestive starting point, and are in no way complete lists of all modifications, gear, and accessories to keep safe on the trails:
✅ Are you building a vehicle to regularly drive rural dirt roads?
All-Terrain Tyres
Bullbar
Spotlights or LED bar.
✅ Are you building a vehicle with light off-road capability?
All-Terrain tyres
Lift Kit (2 inches)
UHF Radio
✅ Are you building a family 4WD camping vehicle?
All-Terrain Tyres or Mud Terrain Tyres
Lift Kit (2 inches)
Bullbar with Winch
Rear Draws
Slide Out Fridge
Roof Top Tent
Light Bar
UHF Radio
✅ Are you building a vehicle to tackle technical and challenging tracks?
Mud-Terrain Tyres (33-35 inches)
Steel Rims
Lift Kit (2-4 inch)
Bullbar with Winch
Rear Bar
Rock Sliders
Scrub Bars
Underbody Protection/Bash Plates
Diff Lockers
Light Bar or Spotlights.
UHF Radio
✅ Are you building a 6 month long expedition vehicle?
All-Terrain Tyres or Mud Terrain Tyres (31-35 inches)
Lift Kit (2-4 inches)
Bullbar with Winch
Rear Bar with 2 Spare Tyres
Roof Cage/Rack
Roof Top Tent
Long Range Fuel Tank
UHF Radio
Rear Draws with Slide Out Fridge
Tow Bar
Light Bar or Spotlights.
Camper Trailer or Caravan.
✅ Are you building a work vehicle with decent 4WD capability?
All-Terrain Tyres or Mud Terrain Tyres (31-33 inches)
Steel Rims
Lift Kit (including GVM Upgrade)
Bullbar with Winch
Rear Draws with Ute Canopy, or:
Steel Ute Tray with External Tool Boxes
UHF Radio
✅ Are you building a vehicle to tow a boat or caravan extensively?
All-Terrain Tyres (31 inches)
Airbag Suspension/GVM Upgrade
Transmission Cooler
Larger Brakes
Long Range Fuel Tank
Heavy Duty Radiator
Engine Tune
UHF Radio
✅ Are you building a vehicle that simply looks great?
Mud Terrain Tyres (33-37 inches)
Lift Kit (2-6 inches)
Steel or Alloy Rims
Bullbar
Rear bar
Sliders
Roof Cage
Light Bar and/or Spotlights
Decals.
Again, these lists are just a generic starting point for the most common types of four wheel drivers.
There are, of course, hundreds of modifications and thousands of accessories available to increase a vehicle’s performance, durability & reliability as well as comfort & convenience.
We are big believers in modifying your vehicle based on the experience and feedback gained from time on the tracks, rural roads, and at camp. You may notice, for example, that your vehicle struggles to keep traction on steep tracks where other vehicles with larger tyres are fine. Or, around the campsite, you may find it frustrating to continuously dig through your gear to find commonly used items. These are both indicators that can guide you to invest in new modifications (eg. larger tyres and rear draws) that add value to your next four wheel driving experience.
Don’t fall into the trap of thinking it is necessary to have your vehicle modified from top to bottom before tackling your first track. Simply start tackling low-risk tracks with another vehicle or local 4WD club to get a feel for your vehicle. Look out for any indicators or hints of what might make your vehicle more capable, durable, or comfortable and start compiling a modification hit list.
In Conclusion:
The four wheel drive marketplace is booming and each year brings new vehicles, new innovative products, and new aftermarket suppliers.
There is no better time than now to modify a vehicle to make it more comfortable, durable, capable, and explore the world! But, there is increasingly more and more confusion when it comes to deciding which parts, accessories, and equipment you truly need to safely get out there and back.
It is certainly easy to fall into the trap of spending too much money on unnecessary and poorly built modifications. But, you now have all the knowledge you need to determine which modifications are worth your hard-earned cash.
Don’t forget - the most important part of four wheel driving is simply exploring nature. The more we spend on our vehicles, the less money and time we have to spend adventuring, experiencing, and exploring nature.
Happy four wheel driving!
