Beyond Stock: 3 Overlooked Accessories to Supercharge Your 4WD

Utes and 4WDs are the bestselling vehicles in Australia. They’re big, brawny and battle-ready for any terrain you can throw at them. Stock vehicles have grunty diesel or petrol engines with huge power and torque numbers and capable drivetrains that engage all wheels when the terrain turns tough. Add sophisticated independent suspension all around, high ground clearance and the best approach and departure angles of any vehicle to see why nothing else comes close.

Besides the regular list of additions (bull bars, roof racks, tray conversions, canopies etc), 3 overlooked four wheel drive accessories – aftermarket air filters, E-lockers, and differential breathers transform any 4×4 or ute into a mud-slugging, off-roading beast. They’re what you need when hitting harder bush trails, technical terrain that tests the limits of the drivetrain and looser ground that can easily get you stuck. These additions promise unrivalled performance on any surface or weather conditions, leaving stock cars in the dust.

Why Choose Aftermarket Air Filters?

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Air filters and intake kits restrict outside contaminants including dust, dirt, mud, road debris and water. In standard 4×4 guise, you’ll usually encounter a dry paper filter. This needs to meet manufacturer-prescribed restriction rates, and will negatively impact air volume that gets through to the throttle body. The dirtier the filter, the less cleansed air. And this can seriously eat into your engine’s power and torque output.

Multi-layered cotton or foam, oiled filters are aftermarket varieties chosen for serious off-roading. They feature unique filtering properties due to the pre-oiled layer, capturing both small and large particles before they damage the engine. The most significant difference, however, is that they are less restrictive, preventing pressure drops that can cause power loss or uneasy throttle response. In short, oiled filters allow more air into the engine, while filtering more contaminants out in a typical off-roading setting. All aftermarket replacements are of the drop-in type, so are simple to replace. And most are reusable (some washable) offsetting the higher purchase price with fewer replacements.

Get Out of Tight Spots with E-Lockers

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Technical off-roading tracks and trails can catch you off guard, to the point that one or all wheels lose traction, and you get stuck. This is down to how power is transferred in the open differential design seen in many 4x4s and utes. When the car stalls, the drivetrain will send almost 100 per cent power to the axle and wheel with the least resistance. This is usually the wheel that is lifted off the ground or one spinning in mud or water.

Electronic lockers lock the front or rear differential (or both if you install them at either axle) with a simple flick of a switch. This sends a proportionate amount of power to both wheels, letting you get out of a sticky situation. Current activates an electromagnetic locking mechanism, and divides torque evenly between the wheels. Once you’re out of ruts, obstacles or anything hindering movement, just flick the switch to the off position and continue with your journey.

While most off-roaders will find a front-axle e-locker more practical, also having one at the rear in a dual setup offers the best maneuverability on virtually any type of surface. These differential accessories find the most use in demanding off-roading, trail riding, rock crawling, and when towing heavier trailers, boats and caravans on loose ground.

The cost of 4×4 vehicles is largely due to the complexity of the drivetrain. If you’re intent on testing your off-roading skills, then don’t cheap out on subpar imports. The biggest names in lockers use tried and tested parts, with quality builds and reliability at the forefront. The only downside (possibly after the cost) is the time and money in the initial setup. But once installed, and the wiring and switchgear connected (to an auxiliary battery), you’re good to go. Switches can be placed along the roof, or in the pillars along with automotive gauges that monitor differential temperatures and other vitals.

The Benefits of Differential Breathers

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While aftermarket air filters are best paired with snorkels to filter both air and water, aftermarket diff breathers are four wheel drive accessories that prevent the differential from getting soaked and cooked. Diff breathers act as release valves for pent-up, expanding air as the differential, gears and axles heat up. This increases the pressure inside the differential and can cause serious damage.

The workaround is a differential breather located atop the diff housing. This is standard in most utes and 4WDs. Where aftermarket units differ is that they have much longer breather hoses that don’t risk flooding the diff with water when you’re in deeper. The drivetrain can work smoothly, even outpacing listed manufacturer wading depths, and there’s no risk of contaminating the oil inside. The parts are cheap to buy and easy to install. And they protect thousands of dollars of metal if you find yourself crossing streams or floodwater. While sold on their own, these 4WD accessories can also come as complete kits that take care of the transfer case and transmission without costing much more.