Nowhere does off-road adventures quite like Australia’s West Coast. With our expansive landscapes, epic scenery, and beautiful beaches, there’s no shortage of places to explore.
To make the most out of everything WA has to offer, the right vehicle upgrades are essential. Whether it’s charging through deep puddles, climbing over boulders, or sliding down sand dunes, there’s a modification to tackle every challenge.
Ready to tackle everything WA has to offer? Read on to discover the best upgrades for your 4WD.
1. Suspension Upgrades
A strong suspension system is the backbone to every off-road setup. When it comes to tackling tough environments like sand dunes, bush tracks, and rocky terrain, a quality suspension helps absorb shocks and smooth out bumps, improving your ride comfort and the overall durability of your 4WD to handle demanding conditions.
Several key components contribute towards an upgraded suspension system:
- Heavy-duty coil springs and leaf springs offer greater load-carrying capacity and resistance to sagging, ensuring stability under heavy loads.
- Adjustable Shock Absorbers absorb impacts from rough terrain, delivering a smoother ride and reducing wear and tear on your vehicle.
- Disconnecting the sway bar increases suspension flex, improving wheel contact with the ground for better traction on uneven surfaces.
2. Heavy-Duty Shock Absorbers
Majority of stock shock absorbers aren’t designed to handle rough terrain. Upgrading to heavy-duty shock absorbers offer key benefits including:
- Smoother ride: Dampen rough vibrations and jolts from.
- Increased load capacity: Handle additional weight from gear and accessories without compromising performance.
- Better stability and control: Improve rebound control, reducing body roll and enhancing instability on rough tracks and sharp turns.
3. GVM Upgrades
A GVM upgrade increases your 4WD’s legal load-carrying capacity, allowing you to safely carry additional gear like a roof top tent, recovering equipment, and camping supplies on your off-road adventures, without exceeding weight limits.
This upgrade involves reinforcing key components of your 4WD, including:
- Heavy-duty suspension
- High-performance shock absorbers
- Upgraded brakes
- Strengthened chassis components (available in some GVM upgrade kits)
A GVM upgrade isn’t just about improving your suspension and shock absorbers, it also legally increases your vehicle’s factory Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM), meaning it gets re-certified with a new compliance plate reflecting the increased weight capacity. This ensures your 4WD remains road-legal, insurance-compliant, and safe for carrying heavy loads.
Depending on your setup, a GVM upgrade could be a worthwhile investment. If you want more detail on GVM Upgrades check out our previous blogs below or chat to the team at DAPCO Bunbury.
4. Lift Kits for Ground Clearance
A bit of extra height not only looks great but also gives your 4WD the clearance needed to tackle tough terrain. A lift kit raises your vehicle, helping you navigate obstacles like rocks, ruts, and water crossings without scraping the underbody.
There are several options available to customise your set-up:
- Body Lift Kits raise the body of your 4WD without altering the suspension, making them ideal for 4WD’s with larger tyres.
- Suspension Lift Kits lift the entire suspension system for increased ground clearance.
Levelling Kits help correct front-end sag, improving balance, handling, and load distribution.
5. Off-Road Tyres & Wheels
Your tyres are your only contact with the ground, so choosing the right ones is critical:
- All-Terrain Tyres (A/T) provide a balance between road and off-road grip.
- Mud-Terrain Tyres (M/T) are designed for deep mud, rocks, and extreme trails.
- Beadlock Wheels prevent tyres from popping off the rim at low pressures.
6. Skid Plates & Underbody Protection
Off-road driving exposes your undercarriage to rocks and debris which can damage essential components like the oil pan, transmission, and fuel tank.
Installing steel or aluminium skid plates provide a durable shield preventing costly damage. Pairing skid pads with diff guards adds an extra layer of protection for your differentials, deflecting the impacts of rocks and other obstacles.
7. Snorkels
Splashing into deep puddles has got to be one of the best parts to an epic off-road adventure. But having the right setup is key to making it safely to the other side while protecting your 4WD from costly damage or, worse, an emergency breakdown.
A snorkel is essential for tackling deep water crossings and dusty trails. By raising your engine’s air intake, it prevents water and dust from entering the engine.
8. Custom Exhaust
A custom exhaust not only makes your 4WD sound better, it helps it perform better too. By optimising airflow, reducing back pressure, and allowing the engine to expel gases more easily, it helps the engine to breathe better and use less energy. This results in:
- Increased power and torque for optimised performance.
- Enhanced throttle response for better control on rough terrain.
- Reduced weight and improved ground clearance
- Cooler engine temperatures making it more reliable in harsh conditions.
No matter the terrain, a custom exhaust helps your 4WD deliver the power and responsiveness you need to conquer any adventure.
9. Winches & Recovery Gear
Last but certainly not least: safety gear. While getting stuck is all part of the adventure, being prepared is crucial. Equip your 4WD for sticky situations with a winch, recovery tracks, snatch straps, and rated recovery points to safely self-recover or assist fellow 4WD enthusiasts.
The best adventures happen when you can keep moving, so make sure you’re prepared when the terrain gets tough!
Why DAPCO Bunbury Is Your 4WD Auto Specialist
Exploring the rugged landscapes, bush tracks, and beaches of Western Australia is an adventure like no other, equip your 4WD with the right upgrades to conquer it all.
Want to upgrade your off-road setup? Visit DAPCO Bunbury for expert advice, suspension and GVM upgrades, custom exhausts and more! Contact us today.
