Choosing the Right 4x4 Accessories: What You Actually Need (Not Just What Looks Cool)
Alright, let’s talk 4x4 setups. Because we see this all the time — someone rolls into the shop with every accessory under the sun bolted to their rig… and then tells us they haven’t been off-road in 8 months.
We get it. Mud tyres, roof racks, winches, snorkels — they all look badass. But the real question is: are you actually using them? Or are they just making your weekday drive to the office sound like a tractor and chew double the fuel?
Here’s what we reckon you should actually consider before decking out your 4x4.
1. What are you really doing with it?
Be honest with yourself. Are you doing serious off-road touring, or just the odd camping trip and beach run? Do you actually need full mud terrains, or would a good all-terrain do the job without rattling your teeth on the freeway?
A lot of people build their 4x4 for the one epic trip they might do someday — and forget they’ve got to live with that setup every day.
If you’re just hitting the dirt once a year but commuting to your accounting job in the city Monday to Friday, you probably don’t need a 2-inch lift and aggressive tyres howling at 100km/h. You need comfort, fuel economy, and gear that makes sense.
2. Cost-per-use: the real way to think about upgrades
We like to break it down real simple: cost per use.
Let’s say a full bar setup costs you $3,000. If you’re only hitting the tracks twice a year, that’s $1,500 a trip. Is that worth it? Or could that money go toward a proper weekend away, recovery gear, or a few tanks of diesel for an actual road trip?
Same goes for accessories like winches, drawers, roof racks, and 12V setups. All useful — if you use them. But dead weight and dead cash if you don’t.
3. Weight = fuel. And fuel isn’t cheap.
Every bit of gear you add to your 4x4 adds weight — and that hits you at the petrol station. Big tyres, steel bars, long-range tanks, roof setups… it all adds up. Some people are carrying around 200kg worth of gear they barely use. And then wonder why they’re getting 14L/100km on the highway.
Fuel economy matters. Especially if you’re using your 4x4 as your daily driver. So think smart before you bolt it on.
4. What makes sense for your adventures?
If you do get out often, good gear is worth its weight in gold. But you want to match it to the kind of driving you actually do.
Beach and sand driving? Focus on tyres, compressor, and recovery tracks.
Remote touring? Invest in a good dual battery setup, UHF, and long-range fuel.
Heavy off-road tracks? Then yeah, lift kits, bar work, and protection plates make sense.
It’s not about going all-in — it’s about choosing stuff that works for you.
5. Don't get sucked into TikTok 4x4 culture
Social media is full of epic builds with light bars, rooftop tents, and setups that could cross the Simpson ten times over. But a lot of it’s for show. ( and views which is how alot of them get paid )
Your build doesn’t have to win Instagram — it just has to work for your lifestyle.
Final thoughts from the Garage 22 Team
Your 4x4 doesn’t need to be a monster truck to be capable. The best builds are the ones that strike a balance — practical, reliable, and built for how you actually use it.
So before you blow the budget on accessories, come have a chat with us at Garage 22. We’ll help you figure out what’s worth it, what’s not, and how to make your rig work harder without you spending more than you need to.
