If you are the proud owner of a 4WD truck, you are probably the type of person who loves upgrades, and why not indeed?

There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to keep your vehicle relevant and with so many add-ons, you can always find something to make your truck perform better or add comfort and convenience.

Here are some of the more popular upgrades for a 4WD truck.

• Stainless steel performance exhausts – Many truck owners switch to performance exhaust systems for several reasons; as the name suggests, engine performance is improved, while these rugged exhausts are suitable for off-road driving. A snorkel exhaust system, for example, enables you to drive through deep water, as the air intake is at roof level.
• Bull bars – Stainless steel bull bars are a great add-on, which not only looks good, but also protects the front of your vehicle. The units are sold in kit form and are self-assembled and they are fabricated for specific makes and models, so you know the bars will fit. Start with an online search to locate a leading Australian supplier and enter your make, model and year to be directed to the page that contains bars suitable for your vehicle.
• Extra LED spotlights – A row of LED spots will light up the entire area at night, which is ideal if you have a breakdown or you are setting up camp. These spotlights are mounted in swivel brackets so you can direct the beam in any direction, plus they are very easy to install, with screws and brackets provided with the product. Here is a list of common vehicle parts that you can find from the online supplier.
• 4×4 shock upgrades – The standard shock absorbers might not be suitable for rough terrain and that’s why there are special suspension units that offer a smoother ride over rough ground. Order the units online and when they arrive, visit a local exhaust/tyre shop and they can easily install the new suspension units. They will also clean up the old units and give them to you, so you can replace the new units with the standard ones should you decide to sell your truck.
• Recovery winch – An electric winch that is usually fitted to the front of the truck, which can be utilised in a number of ways. The cable can be attached to a rock or sturdy tree and the winch can pull the truck out of deep mud or water, or the winch can pull another stranded vehicle to safety. Another way to use the winch would be to remove a large tree that has fallen across the road/track.
• Rear locking differential – The factory standard limited slip differential might be fine on most surfaces, yet with rocky terrain, a rear locking differential makes short work of heavy ground conditions.

All of the above items are available from a leading online Australian supplier and when you shop online, you have the same consumer rights as you would when buying in a traditional store.