by Matt Konkle
Managing Editor
Part Two of Two
It starts, usually, even before the vehicle leaves its dealership lot. The plotting. Planning. Wanting.
Maybe pick up some floor liners and seat covers here. Add a new bumper there. Perhaps grab some better lights and get a bimini top for the summer. What to do with the soft top windows, though? Or the hardtop. Is there a good way to store the thing?
It could be yourself with these thoughts. Or probably from those in your Jeep circle. Definitely from those in your Jeep circle. Which is why you have so many people on your holiday gift list this year. Which is also why, for the ninth straight year, we put out our annual Holiday Gift Guide.
Because with so much stuff out there, it can be hard to narrow down just what, exactly, makes for a great Jeep gift this time of year.
Of course, really, anything can be a great gift and there are loads of categories that offer tremendous products. But over the past year, there are some that have proven a bit more popular and could really make your holiday list stand out.
In the first part of our Holiday Guide, we covered items from the Interior, Lighting and Soft Goods categories. And, um, we may have picked up a few things ourselves in the process.
For Part Two, we move on to the hyper-popular Overlanding category, as well as how to better protect your vehicle (or someone else's on your gift list) and trendy tool items that can make anyone’s holiday just a bit better.
Overlanding
Recovery Kits
Packed with accessories that off-roaders, as well as daily drivers, should always have in the vehicle, recovery kits can be a perfect one-stop holiday gift resource for those on your list — or yourself.
Whether it is is oncoming rain, snow or just unexpected traction problems, driving conditions can change in an instant. One minute you are cruising along fine, and the next finds the Jeep sideways into a ditch. Or perhaps that line picked to overcome an obstacle actually wasn't the best and caused the Jeep to high-center.
Things happen.
But with a recovery kit inside the vehicle, good things can happen to get the vehicle moving. These kits include protective gloves, tow straps, D-rings, snatch blocks and tree truck protector. Some also will have winch line dampeners, soft shackles and pull straps. Most of these kits will also be packaged inside a handy storage bag, or backpack, so everything isn’t strewn all over your vehicle’s cargo area. These items won’t help stop you when snow or ice knock you off the trail. But they certainly can help get your rig moving again.
Traction Boards
Drive or trail ride long enough in different conditions like snowy, nasty weather, or hard rain that turns the ground to a muddy mess, and everyone most likely will have some type of traction issue. And when a vehicle gets stuck, it seems like things only get worse by hitting the accelerator.
Sure, having four-wheel-drive on the Jeep is helpful, but often those wheels dig themselves into a spot where something else is needed to find freedom.
Something like a good set of traction boards — which is why they make a great gift for yourself or anyone on your holiday list.
Unlike cat litter, which can mix up in the sand, snow or mud and lose effectiveness as you try to escape, you can use traction ramps to help dig into the obstruction and then lay them down so your tires find the purchase they need. The boards normally are engineered with a heavy-duty polymer for long-lasting durability and come with either plastic or metal nibs that ensure a solid grip.
Tents
You only need to walk a few feet during the annual Specialty Equipment Market Association event in Las Vegas to know just how much tents have crept into the Jeep world. Rooftop, freestanding, hard shell or ones that integrate with the cargo area are all high on the gift wish list of almost anyone who hasn't already taken the plunge.
After all, unless the vehicle is already set up to sleep inside, it is tough to merely recline the front seat and try to get rest after a long day of overlanding or off-roading. It is much better, and much more comfortable, to put up a tent. Whether it is a pop up version or something larger mounted to the roof of the Jeep, using a tent gives you the chance to stretch out and relax so you are rested and ready for whatever the day brings. Most are fairly easy to set up, provide excellent resilience against most weather conditions and can be quickly stowed when its time to pack up and head home.
Tailgate Gear
When it comes to gift list items, a Jeep's tailgate has quickly risen near the top and become an excellent source of storage and other innovative accessory ideas. Things like organizers, covers and cargo shelves can be a great way to secure smaller cargo or create some much-needed room for recovery gear items, camera equipment, utensils and other kitchen-type things. There are even MOLLE panels available to attach pouches for even more space.
But storage isn’t the only thing to consider for tailgate gift ideas. Multi-purpose tables easily attach right to the tailgate and fold down, which makes them perfect as a food prep area when tailgating, stopping for lunch on the trail, or maybe even as a meal countertop when taking a driving break. Just pull out a chair and sit down for a quick snack break. Then, when you are ready, just fold everything up and you are back on the road and headed for your summer driving destination.
Protection
Bumpers
With the exception, perhaps, of wheels and tires, a new Jeep bumper is usually one of the first modifications people make to their vehicle. So if someone on your holiday list still has the weak plastic front and rear bumpers, then an aftermarket upgrade makes for a thoughtful gift.
Most of these accessories utilize thick, heavy-duty steel and can take a punch when off-roading without flinching. Plus, they normally have spots for the factory fog lights as well as a winch mount if/when that becomes another modification project.
Bumpers these days also are not a one-size-fits-all application, either. There are stubby options for those who like a smaller footprint, mid-width or full-length versions. Some are also modular with pieces that can be easily added or subtracted like an overrider bar or longer end caps.
Many also accept auxiliary lighting options like spot or flood lights, and will have important recovery points to accept D-rings or soft shackles.
Side Bars
Many Jeeps these days do not come from the factory with any type of side protection. And even if they do, it is usually only some kind of narrow aluminum step or a thin rail that really doesn’t seem like it protects much of anything.
So if you are stumped on a good holiday gift this season, then definitely look at some beefier side protection that also provides functionality when entering or exiting the vehicle.
This means products like nerf bars, side steps, side armor and rock sliders that usually simply bolt into factory mounting holes, and don’t require much in the way of installation — but do offer exceptional security against stuff like errant carts in a supermarket lot, or an accidental door strike by someone in an adjacent parking spot. On the trail, it could mean a tree branch or rock strikes.
But like we said earlier, it is not all just protection either. These items make getting in and out of the Jeep much easier for young children and older adults — especially if the vehicle has a suspension lift.
Most bars and steps utilize heavy-gauge steel along with aluminum panels on the top and bottom for the ultimate in strength as well as lightweight functionality, and are engineered with a durable black powder coat finish designed to match the finish on most front and rear bumpers.
Top Storage
Sure, the winter months (for most, anyway) mean that hardtop or soft top will remain on the vehicle for the foreseeable future. However, even though it may not feel like it now, warmer weather will eventually return.
When it does, a protective storage cart, hoist or wall-mounted unit to store a top all make for great holiday gifts.
These handy products ensure a top has a loving home to stay when not with the vehicle, so they aren’t just tossed into the garage, backyard, carport or porch when dents and other damage is almost certain to occur.
Wall-mount soft top units allow for the top to carefully hang — hardware and all — which keeps it off the floor, while storage bags serve to safely protect doors and windows.
For the hardtop crowd, storage options are a bit more plentiful. If you do not have a family member, neighbor, or friend who can help remove the thing, you can hook up a hoist (power or regular) in your garage that will easily lift the top off your vehicle, and even store it, until you are ready to mount it back on the Jeep.
Of course, having a buddy or two help lift the hardtop off your vehicle makes things easier. But again, if you are planning on just setting it in the garage or backyard, then you may want to think again before a window accidentally breaks or the top is gouged.
For the best non-hoist storage, hardtop carts have become extremely popular over the past few years. These movable carts securely hold both the top and panels, and include a base with wheels so the whole ensemble can pretty much go wherever you need when storing.
Additionally, when you remove the Jeep’s doors, don’t just place them on the ground somewhere (see the theme here) where they can fall over and become damaged. For those doors, a good set of wall storage pegs are a great way to keep them off the ground and out of danger.
Differential Covers
Even though a Jeep’s differential area is one of its weaker spots, it is also something often overlooked as a lot of people focus on other areas.
However, if you have someone on your holiday gift list who loves taking their Jeep off-road, then adding new, stronger, differential covers can certainly be helpful.
These covers replace the weak factory aluminum versions and ensure that the sensitive gear components inside the differential will survive should the diff take a rock strike, or some other abuse when off-roading.
Before you order, though, make sure you know the specific Jeep’s axles as there are several different ones that Jeep has used over the years.
.Jeep Tools
Tire Deflators
Maybe it is you. Maybe it is someone on your holiday Jeep list. But chances are someone in your Jeep circle is just getting into off-roading. And if they are, having the proper air-down tool can save time and get the group out on the trail faster.
Why air down? Well, the short answer is simply the lower the tire pressure, the more a tire's rubber can stay on a rock or other obstacle - providing much better performance.
So tire deflators are great choice for someone on your holiday gift list who has caught the off-road bug. Some are single units that do a good job, while others provide deflators for all four tires so the job can finish even quicker. Many even let you set the required tire pressure and will shut off once that pressure is achieved.
But regardless the choice, this is an essential product that every off-roader should have in his or her trail kit.
Repair Kits
If you want give yourself something crucial for your Jeep this holiday season, or show someone on your holiday gift list that you really care, then a tire repair kit is the perfect solution. It is one thing no one really ever thinks about until they are sitting on the side of the road, or trail, with a flat tire.
These kits include pliers to pull out whatever caused the tire puncture, a reamer to open up the hole and an insertion needle that holds self-vulcanizing rubber threads to repair the damage. Some kits even have replacement valve stems and caps. This is one gift that certainly can come in handy all season long — especially for those Jeep owners who have added larger tires to the vehicle and do not want to mess with changing to a spare tire.
Tool Kits
Regardless if you, or anyone on your holiday gift list, is an expert with tools, it is always helpful to have some inside the vehicle just in case something needs a small fix during a daily drive or trail event. This way, the Jeep can hopefully get back to the trailhead or home, where a better fix can be determined.
Sure, as a daily driver, there is always a tow truck or Triple-A to help if needed, but the right tools, and the right knowledge, can have save time. And, well, if out on the trail then a off-road repair is probably your only solution to get the vehicle moving.
Full Jeep tool kits can involve up to 265 pieces that may include several ratchets, sockets, wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, hex keys and drill bits. Other kits can be sockets and a ratchet, wrenches, torx bits — even a multi-tool for those smaller jobs. Plus, many kits include a case or storage unit so everything can be safely stowed inside the vehicle.
Jacks
All Jeeps come with a factory jack usually hidden under the rear cargo area. The catch, though, is the thing is pretty much just like any other car scissor jack and is often more hassle than help when needed. And this factory jack is also just about useless when larger tires and wheels are added on the vehicle.
So any Jeep enthusiast on your gift giving list, especially those who love to head off-road, will definitely appreciate a proper jack. These heavy-duty offerings are capable of lifting any Jeep just about anywhere in order to change out a tire(s), as well as helping hold the vehicle in place while other trail repairs are made. They are also extremely durable so they'll hold up well under stress and last for years.
Typically, mechanical farm-type jacks like a Hi-Lift are the most popular — especially for gifts, but the newer hydraulic recovery jacks such as what ARB offers, are lighter and do make for an easier tire change job.
Related Articles:
Best Jeep Gifts For 2022 — Part One
