by Matt Konkle
Managing Editor
Jeeps are built for adventure. If you have one, then chances are this is the major reason you own the thing. If you don’t own a Jeep, but have someone on your holiday gift list, then, well, finding that perfect gift can be an adventure all in itself.
Jeep products can run the full spectrum, from practical upgrades to enhance the driving experience, to fun accessories that enhance enjoyment, all the way to high-grade modifications that allow owners to travel out and see even more remote locations in their vehicles.
And so, when preparing to go on that gift adventure hunt, we present our 10th annual holiday gift guide stuffed with a roadmap of the top 25 products any Jeep owner can add to their vehicle while giving you a hearty Jeep wave in return.
Floor Liners
Like wreaths for a door, or tinsel on the tree, no Jeep holiday gift list would be complete without including floor liners, and it is really because many out there still simply put up with factory carpeting above their metal floor.
Now, we’re not saying carpeting is bad, but carpeting alone isn’t the best way to fight against the elements, or simply just everyday wear and tear.
See, just about every condition out there is trying to harm a Jeep’s carpet in some way. Whether that means mud or snow, accidentally leaving the top down in the rain or some other type of debris, a Jeep's carpet can quickly deteriorate.
So floor liners make an excellent gift for any Jeep enthusiast on this year's shopping list. Most liners are custom-made to perfectly fit a specific Jeep's footwell area, and many come with anchors so the liners do not slide around. Some are carpeted, while others are rubberized or plastic with grooves to trap moisture for easy cleaning.
Seat Covers
A Jeep’s seats seem to attract the elements more so than just about any other type of vehicle’s seating. Whenever that soft top is down, or the hardtop is off, those seats can be assaulted by weather, the sun, or other things like mud and sand. And even though the top may stay on during winter months, all that snow, slush, mud and whatever can easily hitch a ride into the vehicle as well.
This is why seat covers are a solid option for every Jeep owner on your holiday list. Whether it is soft, spongy neoprene, vinyl, nylon, or some other material, seat covers nicely protect that factory material and will help increase the overall longevity of the Jeep's seats. Plus, with all kinds of color combinations, seat covers can also provide a nice way to customize the vehicle's interior.
Dead Pedal
While there are plenty of great items on this holiday gift list, the Jeep Dead Pedal may be the easiest to install and absolutely provides the most creature comforts for anyone with an automatic transmission Wrangler.
Basically, this stainless steel dead pedal fills the gap between the brake and sidewall, providing a handy area to place the left foot for better comfort and drivability. It may not seem like much, but it is something your gift recipient will certainly notice on longer drives. Additionally, the non-slip surface is designed to ensure a quality grip in all weather conditions.
Installation is straightforward and simple, and those on your gift list will not have to do any drilling or other modification to the Jeep as the pedal bolts into factory-provided mounts.
Alloy Wheels
Sure, a Jeep comes with wheels from the factory just like every other vehicle. However, aftermarket versions offer quite a bit more customization for those on your Jeep gift list, as well as a decent weight reduction over stock wheels. That’s because most alloy wheels weigh about 8-10 pounds less than factory wheels, which makes them perfect for anyone who has already added heavier bumpers, winches, racks and other meatier items. Additionally, that weight reduction can help drivetrain components last longer.
With plenty of color options and design cues, you are sure to find some aftermarket wheels that will appeal to enthusiasts on your holiday list. Plus, these wheels usually have a better offset and backspacing than factory ones, so people on your list who have added a suspension lift and larger tires will definitely gain more space under the fenders — perfect for off-roaders looking for added tire articulation.
LED Headlights
If there has been a constant in the Jeep aftermarket world over the past few years, it is definitely LED lighting. More affordable than ever, these superior lighting options have pushed halogen lights into the background and really evolved as far as quality, cost and functionality.
And it is not just for headlights either. LED lighting can be found in taillights, fog lights and even in auxiliary lighting — meaning the Jeep enthusiast in your life can drive smarter, and safer, no matter the conditions.
LED lights increase the forward lighting power, however they draw less amperage so those who also utilize other high-draw accessories will love this product. Plus, many headlights now offer heated versions which are perfect for colder climates.
They are also simple to install, with most headlights simply plugging into the factory wiring and then fitting into the original buckets.
One thing to remember though. Make sure to tell your gift recipient to adjust those headlights once installed to get the most out of the product.
Auxiliary Lighting
While light bars have dominated in popularity over the past few years, many Jeep owners are swapping to smaller auxiliary LED lighting options these days because they get nearly the same lighting output with a smaller footprint. So these things can blend in well, say, against windshield hinges or attached to a bumper without taking up all that roof space like a lightbar.
Normally, auxiliary lighting products are smaller cube or round lights that offer either a powerful choice of spot or flood beams. This means a targeted, forward light beam (spot) or a wider, full-range light throw (flood).
This type of light is often simple to install as many bumpers come with light attachment points to accept the auxiliary lighting bracket, or that bracket can bolt into windshield hinges to provide a connection. From there, it is just a matter of connecting the harness to a power source.
Side Steps
It doesn’t matter if it is a weekend on the trails, or just a trip to the local grocery store, the side of a Jeep can easily get scraped up from tree branches, rocks, or even runaway shopping carts.
It just happens, no matter how careful a Jeep owner tries to handle the environment.
The solution is simple. Rather than just leaving the door area exposed, choosing some bolt-on side rocker guards, side steps or rock sliders for someone on your Jeep holiday list will give them an excellent shield against such objects, and that step area certainly makes it easier to get in and out of the vehicle.
Many of these products offer a textured black finish which blends neatly with other accessories on the vehicle, and are engineered with thick, durable steel that pretty much ensures protection against most types of objects that want to harm Jeep doors.
Bumpers
Just as side guards and rock sliders do a great job shielding those Jeep doors, upgrading to aftermarket front and rear bumpers — over plastic factory versions — are excellent security for those on your holiday list who have vulnerable front grille or back tailgate areas.
Now, there are all kinds of bumpers to choose from, such as stubby, mid-width or full-length front versions, or rear styles with, or without, a spare tire carrier, but the constant is to make sure they have a rugged steel construction, or high strength aluminum for durability while allowing for additional modification — such as fog lights, auxiliary lighting, recovery points, or a winch.
Some front bumpers will have a protruding hoop or grille guard that extends above the bumper to give that grille extra protection, while rear versions work around the factory spare tire, offer hitch openings, recovery points, and many help to reinforce the tailgate when using larger aftermarket tires.
Tailgate Accessories
When it comes to gift list items, a Jeep's tailgate has quickly become a top contender for products offering 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 to your destination.
Recovery Kit
One of the key tenets any off-roader or overlander on your gift list should know is to always be prepared. That means those who choose to engage in these endeavors should carry pretty much everything they need when they head out into the wild. With no stores, gas stations, or repair shops in the wilderness, it simply makes sense.
So, if you are looking for the perfect item this holiday season for that Jeep enthusiast who loves getting away in their Jeep, then a Recovery Kit can be more than a gift. It can be a lifesaver.
Most of these kits are packed with all the recovery essentials needed when off-road — like tow straps, gloves, shackles, winch line dampeners, snatch block and more. Great stuff that is often overlooked by many who think they'll never be in a recovery situation.
Tube Doors
One of the most common things people want when off-roading is added visibility. When you are headed over a particularly difficult obstacle, especially without a spotter, it certainly helps to know where your tires are at all times.
And whether it is you who wants that extra visibility, or someone you know on your holiday list, adding some aftermarket tubular doors makes for a perfect off-road focused gift.
Sure, those on your holiday list can take the factory doors entirely off and head off-road with nothing between them and the environment, or you can get (or give) some tubular doors in order to provide safety, while still adding that extra visibility.
Many tubular doors either have optional mirrors, or work with the factory ones, to remain legal when on the pavement, and install right on the factory mounting locations—while including OE style latches.
Jeep Covers
Jeep Covers may feel like they are merely summer-type items, and they certainly do have their place in warmer months when tops are constantly off, but they also are excellent protective items in the winter as well.
For those on your holiday list, a Jeep Cover eliminates worry when there is rain in the forecast and that soft or hardtop is unavailable. It also keeps stuff like dust, pollen or tree leaves out of the Jeep. During the winter, these covers make excellent shields between a Jeep and ice or snow.
These simple-to-use soft covers are weather-resistant and can be quickly thrown over the Jeep and then secured down with straps or a cable kit. That way the cover won’t blow away or somehow get loose and expose the cabin.
Then, when the storm clears or you are ready to get back into the vehicle and continue your trip, you can simply detach, shake off any water or debris, and get on your way. Best of all, these covers can be rolled up, placed inside a carry bag, and tossed into the back seat or cargo area for no hassle storage.
Bike Racks
Those who love adventure and activity dream about taking their toys along to whatever destination they have for the weekend (or longer). And for many those toys mean mountain bikes.
Yet many who love this sport simply do not bring along their bikes because of space considerations on their vehicle. So if you have someone on your gift list who fits this category, then a quality bike rack is certainly an excellent option.
These racks either fit around the Jeep’s spare tire, or attach into the vehicle’s rear hitch, and can securely stow up to four bikes depending on the specific rack. Plus, when they are not needed, they can easily be detached and stored until the next adventure.
Lifestyle
Owning a Jeep is, well, a lot more than owning a Jeep. When you have one, it quickly becomes part of the family. And that's why you hear phrases like 'It's a Jeep Thing' or 'JEEP - Just Empty Every Pocket', become part of the everyday vocabulary.
So it is almost natural that many Jeep enthusiasts on your holiday shopping list have a great degree of loyalty to the brand, including stuff like decals and reference books — even clothing or Jeep logo items like hats, key chains, mugs or glasses, even Jeep-themed license plates are hugely popular and make for excellent holiday gifts.
Tinted Windows
Not every Jeep sports a hardtop. In fact, there are plenty of soft top vehicles out there and, chances are, someone on your holiday gift list has one themselves. And with a soft top comes all the scrapes, gashes and other marks its windows take on a daily basis. Over time, all this can add up to some unsightly plastic openings that are difficult to see out of while driving.
So, the perfect solution for this is a new set of three tinted windows — two side quarter ones and a rear window — that easily attach to the factory soft top deck.
Tinted windows better hide any of those daily scrapes, plus they help regulate interior temperatures, so the cabin stays cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. They also provide some extra security as their 30-plus-degree tinting makes it much harder to see into the vehicle when attached.
These windows also maintain the same factory material and coloring so they can be a direct replacement to the original top and hardware.
Hood Lock
No matter which Jeep Wrangler those on your Jeep holiday list drive, one of the trickiest things they deal with is the vehicle’s hood. That’s because, unlike regular cars, a Jeep’s hood does not offer any locking protection from the factory. At all. So should they have any under-the-hood modifications like an air intake or accessory switching system, those products could be vulnerable to those with prying eyes. Even the Jeep’s battery could be in jeopardy if the hood is popped.
So a highly popular gift idea each year is a Jeep hood lock. These lockable solutions mount directly behind the front grille and guard against anyone trying to pry open the hood. Plus, many install with no drilling so there isn’t much mechanical skill required — making it an ideal driveway or garage project. Additionally, some even work with the Jeep’s original key when installed, so there won’t be any extra keys to attach to your keyring.
Tire Repair Kit
If you want to show someone on your holiday gift list how much you care, then sending them a tire repair kit is ideal. It is really something no one really thinks about until they are sitting on the side of the road, or trail, with a flat tire.
These handy 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 damage. Some kits even have replacement valve stems and caps should the originals become unusable during a repair.
Air Compressor
When that bracketed yellow exclamation point appears on the instrument cluster, it isn't going away on its own. No matter how much a Jeep owner on your gift list says it will. It simply means the air in a particular tire (or multiple tires) is low.
And while it isn’t always a bad thing right away, or means impending danger, driving too long on a low-pressure tire is bad for gas mileage and it can cause a flat (or worse) if left unattended.
Sure, a trip to the local gas station can air up a tire, but sometimes there aren’t any around should the need arise — especially out on a trail.
So either a portable or onboard air compressor is an excellent way to ensure your Jeep gift recipient is getting something more than just a cosmetic modification. Plus, many off-road trails or parks around the country do not have air stations, so these compressors are fantastic to have in the vehicle to air up tires after a long day off-roading.
Differential Covers
One component overlooked by most Jeep owners is the need to upgrade differential covers — especially if future plans include more off-roading. We get it. Swapping out those covers isn’t as rugged or noticeable as, say, new wheels or flashier lights.
But for those on your holiday list who love a good weekend on the trails, all it takes is one rock or sharp obstacle to come in contact with that thin metal factory cover on a weird angle, and that cover could start to peel.
And once that factory differential cover’s lip is peeled back, the slow leak begins. It may not be noticeable either, so the vehicle is driven longer and faster. Meanwhile, the fluid inside the axle is becoming hotter and when it heats up it drips out faster. Until the differential fails.
Of course, all this can be prevented with a heavy-duty aftermarket differential cover. These can be found for all the common axle sizes like 30, 35 and 44, and most are engineered with high tensile nodular iron which is built to take a hit without blinking. Plus, some even have the fill plug positioned in a better spot than the factory, so refilling the differential with fresh gear oil is much easier for those on your gift list.
Interior Storage
Ask most Jeep owners about storing extra gear inside their vehicle, and you’ll most likely get a sigh and eye roll in return. Even with the four-door versions, there really isn’t that much extra space.
So a popular gift idea, especially for someone always on the go, are products that will solve storage issues. Things that can turn unused space like under seats, between roll bars, or even the back cargo area, into ideal storage solutions.
These interior storage products can be anything from secure metal boxes with slide-out compartments to MOLLE bags that could attach around the seat headrests, to weather-resistant items that strap around the Jeep’s roll bars. Some can even turn the dash into usable storage space as well. And they are all easy-install products that any Jeep enthusiast can tackle when they have spare time.
Traction Boards
Drive around 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. Especially those Jeep owners on your holiday list. 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 when trying 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.
Top Storage
Whether it is soft top upper doors and windows when swapping to a hardtop for the winter, or removing full doors during warmer summer months, it is never a good idea to just take these things off the vehicle and find a spot in the garage, basement, or wherever to store.
Unfortunately, accidents can happen when these products are off the vehicle and improperly left somewhere. And dented doors or door pins, or severely scratched plastic windows, are usually the result.
So if you have someone on your holiday gift list who does this, then think about getting them a good set of storage bags.
Soft storage bags are perfectly designed to house soft top windows, giving them their own individual felt-lined pockets to preserve plastic glass, while half- and full-door bags easily hold one steel door per bag so there is no chance they clank together. Cushioned foam bottoms also protect the door’s bottom lip when stored upright.
Additionally, these bags utilize heavy-duty straps so they are easy to move around and door bags can be placed right over the doors when on the Jeep, simplifying the removal process.
Tire Deflators
Everyone really should air down their tires before heading off-road. And yet whether it is new owners on your holiday list, or those who just don’t know any better (or even how), there are always those in the trail group with fully-inflated tires. So giving a proper air-down tool as a holiday gift can save time, provide peace of mind 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 an ideal 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 finishes even quicker. Many even let you set the required tire pressure and will shut off once that pressure is reached.
But regardless of the choice, tire deflators are an essential product every off-roader should have in his or her trail kit.
Tool Kit
Whether woodworking, fixing an electrical problem, installing a new computer system, or fixing some small vehicle damage after trail riding, the proper tools can make any job or issue easier to handle.
For those on your Jeep holiday gift list, this could mean a complete tool kit, diagnostic scanner to determine vehicle issues, replacement Torx bits, or simply a multi-tool for smaller repair jobs. Additionally, just about everything can be stored safely inside the vehicle so these tools are always available when needed.
Recovery Jack
You, or those on your holiday list, may not know this, but a factory Jeep Jack works like any other car jack - meaning it is mostly useless for those with larger tires, or for people who take their vehicle into the woods on camping/overlanding excursions.
So any Jeep enthusiast on your gift list, especially off-roaders, will definitely appreciate a proper off-road jack. These heavy-duty jacks are designed to take on larger tire changes and can attach to a wider base so they are more stable on rougher ground. They can also hold the vehicle in place should any other trail repairs be needed, and they are extremely durable so they'll hold up well and last for years.
Now, should you still need some gift-giving inspiration, we do offer our handy Ultimate Gift Guide where we break down nearly everything we offer into gift budget ranges, top mods, special offers and closeout items.
Happy shopping.
