5 Essential Overlanding Mods for Off-Road Adventures
Whether you have a Bronco, a Tacoma or a Wrangler, chances are, you're an avid off-roader with a penchant for adventure. If you're looking for the perfect overland gear to outfit your 4x4, look no further; we've compiled a list of 5 simple mods to get your rig ready for your next overland journey.
CARGO RACKS
Cargo racks are a must when you’re getting started accessorizing your new Bronco. Not only do they add a huge amount of functionality (even if you’re not regularly dealing with a rig full of passengers), they can add some aggressive styling, as well.
You might be thinking, “wait - I won’t have passengers, so I’ll have plenty of room when I want to go out on the trails!” Two things: you just got a new Bronco - if your friends didn’t want to hang out with you before on trail runs, they probably will now. Think beyond additional storage capacity. Cargo racks can be a great way to mount muddy traction boards and fuel cans that you don’t want smelling up the interior of your new truck - not that you were considering that, right?
We’d recommend theThule WingBar Evo 135 - the installation is easy, and they’re designed to reduce road noise. Since they come in silver and black, you can put the rack together to fit the look you’re going for, and with a carrying capacity of 220 pounds, they’ll take what you can throw at them.
We have more cargo rack options available-
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ROOFTOP TENTS
You’ve seen them everywhere, and with good reason. A high-quality roof top tent like the Thule Tepui Foothill will keep you tucked in comfortably when you get to camp, with minimal setup and tear down time after a long day on the trail, or on an early morning when you’ve got miles to go and views to take in. You’ll be up off the ground, removed from the muddy sludge of not-so-great campsites, and away from pooling water in the event that you’re facing a storm. One thing to really pay attention to is where you’re sourcing a rooftop tent from. While we carry high-quality brands like Thule Tepui and ARB, there are LOTS of inferior products on the market these days. Lower-quality tents wear down quickly, plus they’re not very durable while they’re up and in use - imagine a windy night in the desert. You’re trying to sleep under the stars, and enjoy a good night’s rest. With the added wind abuse at the elevated platform, your tent needs to be sturdy.
You’ll also find that fit and install on all of the brands we carry is perfect. Lower-quality brands could have you drilling into a brand new roof rack when their hardware doesn’t align correctly. It’s a bad experience all around, and unless you’re planning to keep the tent installed full-time, it’ll be a frequent reminder of the time you tried to save a few bucks, and instead earned yourself years of headaches before every trip. Just trust us on this one.
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CARGO DRAWERS
Cargo drawers are a great way to keep your Bronco organized and your gear secured when you’re spending days on the trail with your buddies. We’ve all been there - it’s day 3 of an adventure, and no matter how much organization you did before you left home, you’re shoving things into totes, and wondering how it all fit like a glove the first time.
We love the ARB Installation Kits for this, especially for the perfect fit in the Bronco. When you’re not on the trail, your drawers are still useful for storage, and when you are on the trail, you’ll be grateful for the storage that gives you a place for everything you need - accessible and right where you need it. The flat top gives you a usable surface for more storage, a factory-quality carpeted finish, and the ARB line offers the option to add accessories like fridge slides, and more. All this without sacrificing access to your spare? Count us in.
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FRIDGES
In the last few years, the truck fridge has blown up in popularity, and we all know why. If you’ve ever reached into your cooler to get dinner started, and found your cocktail ice swimming in raw meat juices and blood? Well, you know the concerns there. For reasons of both food safety and convenience, nothing beats a good fridge.
The ARB 101 Quart is our pick for longer adventures, because you’ve got the option to use it as a freezer as well - for the things that you don’t need in the first day or so of a trip. You can really up your campsite gourmet cooking game by keeping fresh, prepped veggies at the ready, without fear of cooler jostling destroying them or leaving you with a bag of soggy mush.
If you’re going that route, and thinking about a large cooler with the capacity for food and drinks for longer trips, make sure you look at mounting solutions and slide outs. The last thing you want is a cooler you either can’t access easily, or worse, one that gets knocked around and damaged while you’re having fun on the trail.
For shorter trips, solo cooks, or something at a lower price point, take a look at the ARB Rear Drawer Install Kit specifically built for your truck. The compact size makes it easy to fit behind the passenger seat, and the mounting is super simple.
Either way, make sure you choose a fridge durable enough to live up the demands of life on the road. The best ones offer a low power draw, and impact resistance so that you don’t damage them from the bumps and jostles your truck will definitely see when you’re out wheeling.
I-LINE MOLLE ACCESSORY PANELS & BAGS
We’ve already talked about how cargo drawers can make a big dent in the “a place for everything and everything in its place” category of your truck build, but when it comes to versatile storage, IAG I-Line Molle Panels and Bags are the undisputed champions of the world.
Whether you need a way to store maps and flashlights, or want to add a prep table to your tailgate, molle panels are the way to go. When you add molle panels to your Bronco, you’re adding functional storage where you need it, with the ability to change and grow your storage options and you grow your off-roading setup.
As a starting point, we recommend the I-Line Passenger Seat Storage Kit. You’ll get some back of the seat storage for the things you want to keep close at hand - like tire deflators, first aid kits, recovery gear, and more. Once you start using I-Line Molle Panels, you’ll learn that the possibilities are endless. Mount tool boxes, jacks, comms systems and more, and do it without damage to your truck’s factory interior when you need to change up your organization.
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Whether you’re looking forward to time on the trails, or you just want to get the most out of your new grocery-getter, the Ford Bronco is a great choice, and the complete line of IAG Bronco Accessories can get you all the style and function you want. If you’re looking for advice, need help with an install, or just don’t know what Bronco modification you might want to check out next, IAG Off-Road has the expertise you need. Give us a call at (410) 840 - 3555 or shoot us an email at sales@iagperformance.com - we’d love to help!