by Matt Konkle
Torque Editor-in-Chief
LAS VEGAS — This year’s Specialty Equipment Market Association trade show roared into the Las Vegas Convention Center in early November with a number of things on its mind.
Of course, the safety of all its attendees was certainly at the top of that list as the event was virtual last year for the first time ever. And going back to an in-person format meant following Nevada’s indoor mask and social distancing policy, as well as spacing out aisles and exhibitor booths to provide adequate room.
But besides the safety protocol, the trade show also looked to re-acquaint its audience with all those sounds, vehicles, flair and personal visits with manufacturers that make SEMA the automotive industry's premier event each year.
Oh, and one other thing.
New products.
It simply would not be a SEMA event without manufacturers showing off products that will influence the aftermarket automotive industry for the coming year.
For Jeep, that meant items covering all sorts of categories such as tires, recovery, suspension, security, lighting, racks and storage.
While there were scores of vendors with items throughout the off-road section of the LVCC’s new $1-billion-dollar West Hall, we caught up with eight we like that cover just about all of those categories.
Truck Hero/Rugged Ridge Locking Hood Catches
Let’s face it, hood catches probably are not high on your list of modification products. But then, one day, you head outside to drive somewhere only to find out someone has taken your battery.
Or your fancy cold air induction system.
If only there was some way to lock down that hood like a regular car.
Well, you can spend time installing a hood lock on the front grille area, or you can grab a set of locking hood catches.
Rugged Ridge is first to market with these lockable catches and their durable cast aluminum construction will definitely stand up to the elements while eliminating hood flutter.
Plus, their precision cam-style locking mechanism will protect your underhood components from prying hands and ensure you won’t be stranded somewhere without a battery.
Bushwacker HyperForm Flat Style Flares
High clearance flares with maximum durability. That’s what Bushwacker brought along to this year’s SEMA show for Wrangler JL owners looking for a flat flare design that sits high and tight to the vehicle’s body for unbeatable protection.
The benefits of a high clearance flare are really clear to those off-roaders with larger tires who need that extra space for maximum tire travel. And these flares blend that flat fender look with the intensity of a high clearance flare, providing that clearance with a sleek, rugged design.
Additionally, the HyperForm flares are engineered from a unique thermoplastic compound that offers exceptional flexibility to prevent body damage, while its contours extend out to the flare’s back edge to keep stones and other debris from scratching your Jeep’s paint.
Best of all, you don’t need to worry about losing those DRL lighting units in the factory flares, as the Bushwacker edition comes with new dual output LEDs that throw out brighter light — meaning better visibility and enhanced safety.
Oracle Sidetrack LED Lighting System
One thing that stood out when Jeep released its newest Wrangler was that venting unit right behind the front flares. Well, Oracle Lighting found a great way to add some side lighting by creating a Sidetrack Lighting System for those JL owners.
And now Wrangler JK owners have that option as well with Oracle introducing the JK version of the Sidetrack Lighting System at this year’s SEMA show.
This system provides additional side marker turn signals right behind the front flares, just like the JL, that are well-placed so other drivers know when you are turning or changing lanes.
It also offers an entry light mode that illuminates white when the unlock button is pressed — lighting up the ground beside the Jeep so everyone can see potential hazards such as puddles, mud, potholes, or debris before entering the vehicle.
The entry lights are connected to the vehicle’s dome light circuit so the entry lights will activate when the vehicle is unlocked, when the doors open, and can be manually turned on with the factory control knob.
These modules are injection-molded inserts that fit in the Jeep’s original body lines for a seamless appearance with an option to create a functional fender vent. The matte black panels also give off an aggressive appearance, while installation requires no modification to the fender sheet metal — the cladding simply applies with adhesive.
Icon CDEV Shocks
Compression Dampening Electronic Valve. That's a lot of words for a shock, but Icon’s CDEV system is, well, a lot of shock for your Wrangler.
This all-new setup just captured top spot in the SEMA Best Off-Road/4-Wheel Drive Product category and it basically allows for automatic, instantaneous adjustments to the shock’s damping to provide the absolute best setting for any given situation.
Icon accomplishes this through an Intelligent Control module that monitors, analyzes, and processes terrain data in real-time at about 1000 times per second. This unit then performs calculations based on algorithms and user-defined settings to predict terrain and wheel position — seamlessly adjusting shocks to their ideal setting for any given terrain or driving style without you ever having to take your eyes off of the road or trail.
Each shock uses an electronically controlled valve that meters the flow of oil to regulate the amount of damping force that is created by the shock when compressed. This means the valve can react in less than 40ms and has the ability to make extremely precise adjustments for varying terrain in order to provide the best driving experience.
Factor 55 HitchLink Pro
In case you don’t already know, Factor 55 is one of the leaders in providing high-quality recovery gear products. Not only are those items all built in the USA, but each one is meticulously tested to exact specifications, and those specs are included with the product so you know just how much abuse they can take before failing.
The company is also a strong proponent of closed-system winching, which eliminates a normal open hook for a closed soft shackle or solid ProLink that is safer to operate during any style recovery.
And at this year’s SEMA show, Factor 55 showed off a redesigned version of its HitchLink 2.0 and 2.5 system dubbed HitchLink Pro that is perfect to use in that closed-loop system.
This product is designed to fit into either a two-inch or 2.5-inch hitch and is set up to accept a D-ring or soft shackle so you can use your receiver as a recovery point.
It is also engineered with an oversized corner radius which puts less stress on those soft shackle fibers and has a 50,000-pound break strength. Additionally, it is constructed with lightweight billet aluminum that is anodized for corrosion protection.
Go Rhino XRS Xtreme Rack
At the last in-person SEMA show, it seemed everyone had a Jeep Gladiator in their exhibiting booth. And many of those Gladiators had some sort of bed rack system on the vehicle.
Well, fast forward two years and rack systems have definitely improved quite a bit, and Go Rhino’s new XRS Xtreme Rack deftly shows off these changes as the product isn’t satisfied with just being a simple rack system.
Instead, it offers virtually unlimited ways to haul overland cargo and mount gear thanks to a 4-CORE extruded crossbar track system of slotted bars that accepts 1/4 inch-20 hex bolts or quick-release clamps, meaning almost any accessory can be mounted. This kind of setup is an overlanders dream.
The included Accessory Gear Plate also has pre-drilled holes for Rotopax and MOLLE gear and can be mounted on the inside, outside, roof, or ceiling of the Xtreme Rack, which adds even more cargo options. Go Rhino even offers additional accessories such as a Reel Handle Kit, Accessory Gear Table, Quick Release Tent Mounts and Awning Brackets so owners can fully customize the rack however they want.
Mickey Thompson Baja Legend EXP
For the longest time, Jeep and other 4x4 drivers had to make a choice when it came to their vehicle’s tire performance. Either use a better road performance all-terrain tire and sacrifice some trail ability or put on some trail-munching mud-terrain tires that do not exactly have the longest of life (or quiet riding) when driving on pavement.
Lately, however, more and more ‘tweener’ tires are coming to market that perform just as good off-road as they ride on road. And Mickey Thompson has really led the way when it comes to this type of tire.
For this year’s SEMA Show, the company launched its Baja Legend EXP series and captured top spot in SEMA’s Best New Products for Tires.
These rugged, aggressive-looking tires offer an optimum tread design featuring chunky, heavily siped lugs on the outer edges and a tighter tread pattern in the center, meaning they’ll stand up to road conditions just as well as trail obstacles. Plus, Mickey Thompson says these tires will have 41 sizes to choose from, with each offering a 50,000-mile warranty.
Bolt J-Mount for Hi_Lift Jack
Bolt has long been known for its unique hood lock that utilizes your Jeep key to secure and unlock the device. Well, Wrangler JL owners can now choose this J-Mount that attaches right in front of your driver or passenger door and locks your Hi_Lift Jack into place.
The device uses existing holes on the windshield hinges so there is no drilling to attach and, like the currently available TJ and JK version, utilizes two threaded knobs to keep the jack in place.
Bolt’s specialized auto-return spring locks automatically with the vehicle’s factory Jeep key and the plate tumbler sidebar does a great job to prevent picking or bumping.
If you struggle with where to put your Hi-Lift Jack every time you hit the trail, this is the perfect solution.
Other Articles That May Interest You:
What Are The Best Accessories For My Jeep Hardtop?
What Are The Differences In Jeep Fender Flares?
Stellantis Serves Up Three New Jeep Concepts for 2021 SEMA Show
