6 Trail Accessories Every Jeep Owner Should Have

It’s an old saying: The right tools can mean the difference between making a hard job easy and an easy job hard. That saying holds true on the trail. Without the right tools, your fun-filled four wheeling trip could turn into a nightmare. The following are 6 trail accessories that are sure to help you out of virtually any sticky situation you’ll find on the trail.

High Lift Jack and Spare – This is a no-brainer for most people, but many times it gets overlooked. Often, Jeepers will have lifted vehicles with oversize tires but no matching spare. That old pizza cutter spare won’t work with three 35-inch mudders.

If you don’t have a full size spare and don’t want to shell out the money for a new one, there are used tire stores just about everywhere these days. I’ve found 33 and 35-inch spares for as little as ten bucks.

Also, don’t forget to upgrade your spare carrier. The stock tailgate-mounted spare carrier will fail in off road conditions with anything bigger than a 31-inch spare…even that’s pushing it.

As for the jack, here again lifted Jeeps with big tires cause problems for the wimpy stock jack. That’s where a high lift jack can really step in and get the job done. Not only will a good high lift jack help you raise your rig to change a flat, it can also be used as a come-along if you don’t have an electric winch.

Tow Strap – For the money, there’s no better item to carry than a tow strap. I’ve used tow straps for everything from pulling out stuck vehicles to removing stumps from my back yard. Tow straps can be had with our without end hooks and are available in just about any length imaginable.

One of the best tow straps on the market is the Pro Comp Recovery 1" x 15' Tow Strap. "Super-stitched" leather-over wrapped end loops and durable high-strength nylon construction.

On-board Air – This falls more into the luxury category of off road accessories, but what a great tool to have on the trail. Most crawlers air down to ridiculous levels for maximum traction on rocks.

But 10 psi won’t cut it if you’re planning on driving back home after the trail ride. For this reason, on-board air kits have become increasingly popular over the past few years.

They’ve also become much more innovative and affordable. Today you can get portable air tanks similar to those used by scuba divers, so there’s no wiring and no power necessary. Just make sure to fill it up when you get back home.

Masterflow makes a portable air compressor and searchlight kit that runs off of a rechargeable 12v battery. This unit will fill a 35-inch tire from 10 psi to 35 psi in 6 minutes.

Other options include combo compressors like the ARB, which is typically used to operate ARB Air lockers or the Warn Powerplant—a fully functioning winch with a built-in compressor.

For the hardcore enthusiasts with a hefty budget, I recommend the Kilby Onboard Air Kit. Starting at $1300, it’s not cheap, but the Kilby will fill your tires and do it in a hurry.

Winch – There are just about as many sizes, makes and models of winches as there are Jeeps. So picking the right winch for your particular application can be challenging. Be sure to check out our review of some of the top winches on the market before making your decision.

One thing to look for is pulling capacity. Most Jeep-style winches range from 8,000 to 12,000 lbs. You can never have too much pulling power, so err on the side of overkill.

First Aid Kit – You never know what might happen on the trail, so it’s always a good idea to carry a first aid kit. A company called Life Gear makes a great adventure-style first aid pack that does more than just first aid.

The kit includes: a first aid kit, signaling whistle with built-in compass and magnifying glass, protective poncho, thermal blanket for warmth, writing pad and pen, leather gloves, multifunction tool, waterproof document bag, emergency reflective mirror and personal hygiene kit.