Accessories can help make that Jeep your own

Customizing: Options from Smittybilt assist with enhancing performance, cabin space, off-road function

 

Jeep owners like to think they march to the sound of a different drummer, with many of them customizing their babies to make them more their own.

 

Smittybilt has been around for years; you may remember their front tubed winch bumpers from the ’80s. Just about every Toyota truck owner had one.

 

Well, the aftermarket maker is full swing into Jeep accessories these days, and they have a lot to offer.

One of the more popular add-ons in the XRC front bumper, available to fit Jeeps from 1976-2014, manufactured from 3/16” cold roll steel and designed to help manoeuvre your rig over those obstacles like large boulders that seem to jump out at you at every turn. There is a builtin winch plate that can accept up to a 4,536 kg (10,000 lbs.) winch.

It comes painted in a matte black powder coated finish and features a five-year warranty. There is also a matching rear bumper that has a built-in tire carrier. This can handle up to a 37-inch tall tire and is also matte black. It has a class-three trailer hitch and d-ring mounts welded inside and out.

XRC rock sliders are ideal for rock crawling; they protect the side of your Jeep from unwanted body damage.

Armor corner guards provide a larger wheel well opening and feature a fender flare and fuel filler door.

SRC tubular doors replace the factory doors and bolt up to the factory door hinges, a very easy install.

 

Roof racks are another popular item for Jeeps especially with their limited cabin space. The SRC rack has removable cross bars for easy soft or hard top removal and is designed to work with Thule or Yakima roof rack accessories. It can hold up to 136 kg (300 lbs.) and its contoured design flows well with the jeep’s body lines.

 

Interior soft good items are available to attach to the factory roll cage and can hold a variety of items, including cellphones, flashlights, fire extinguishers, and even a bottle of water. There’s also a centre console that has a security compartment and additional cup holders.

There is a full line of trail equipment available. A clinometer that can be mounted on the dash can show you what angle you are on, side to side and front to back. It features a cool picture of a jeep in the dials.

A trail jack is a very useful item to take with you into the back country. It is rated up to 2114 kg (4,660 lbs.) and is constructed of solid cast steel that is powder coated.

 

Recovery straps are another valuable item to have and are available in 2x20, 2x30, and 3x30 feet lengths. They range in price from $24.59 to $49.19.

 

A recovery utility tool is a collapsible shovel that is very similar to the ones used in the military; it features two serrated edges for cutting and digging. Fully extended it is 26 inches long and collapsed is nine inches, an easy item to pack and a great tool to carry with you.

For more information on any of these products or other products mentioned above, go smittybilt.com

 

Article written by: Ian Harwood - "The Truck Guy"
Corporate Sales and Operations Manager for Custom Truck Parts