by Matt Konkle
Managing Editor
The thing is sitting there right now in your pocket, purse, or wallet — calling to you.
Use me. I’m yours to spend.
Yup, the Quadratec Gift Card you received over the holiday season.
And no matter if it is a physical one or a digital version, that is just what you want to do, spend it, right?
But if product paralysis and overload have you wondering what, exactly, would be good for your Jeep, well, here are a few ideas to hopefully provide some inspiration and put that gift card to good use.
Awaken Your Jeep’s Power
We’ve said it before over the years, and it bears repeating here — no one will ever compare a Jeep to a sports car. Well, outside the 392 Wrangler or SRT Grand Cherokee, anyway.
So adding power-enhancing items to your Jeep can make sense, no matter if you are a daily driver or off-road enthusiast.
Things like a new air intake, exhaust system, or programmer help bump horsepower, performance and torque so your daily driving, and trail adventures, are just that much more enjoyable.
Air Intake
Your Jeep’s factory air filter was designed to simply keep harmful air particles from entering the engine and sapping power over time. However, by removing that filter and adding a new cold air intake system, you can ramp up the airflow into the engine bay without affecting the air quality.
Aftermarket cold air intake systems replace the current filter, add larger tubing and are designed to pull more cold air into the engine — thus unleasing more power, torque and throttle response, while also improving engine sound.
Most intakes also include a shroud to protect the filter, and include attachment brackets to securely mount over the factory inlet system.
One thing to note: make sure to match your Jeep’s engine to the intake as different systems are designed for different engines.
Exhaust
Yeah, your factory Jeep exhaust provides modest performance for those who expect modest things from their vehicle. When you want more power, though, that restrictive factory piping just won’t allow you to accomplish what you need.
That’s why an aftermarket exhaust system is normally one of the top things people replace once they acquire a new Jeep. These kits have larger tubing, which allows for increased exhaust flow and helps eliminate back pressure. This also alleviates engine strain — helping boost horsepower, torque (especially low-end torque) and fuel economy as well.
Additionally, for the off-roaders out there, some aftermarket exhaust systems are also more recessed to protect against difficult approach and departure angles encountered during various trail obstacles, and include stainless steel components for added durability.
Programmer
Not every power-enhancing item for your Jeep needs to be a hard product. In fact, one of the best things you can get is a hand-help programmer or tuner system — especially if you’ve recently added a suspension lift, re-geared or added larger tires.
These units simply plug into your vehicle’s OBII port and allow you to change several things on the Jeep’s computer to enhance horsepower, torque, dashboard functionality and overall performance.
We’re talking stuff like shift points, fuel-air ratio, traction and suspension control, tire size calibration, gearing calibration, engine idle, and a host of other performance and vehicle options designed to give you the best on- and off-road experience.
Banish the Night
For just about anyone, nighttime driving is unavoidable. And while the stock halogen headlights serve their purpose, there is so much more that can be done to improve the whole traveling-by-night thing.
Swapping out those dim halogens for a set of power-saving LED versions will give you a whole new perspective through the windshield, while adding auxiliary lighting (especially for off-roaders) can provide even more focused lighting options.
Finally, a pair of LED taillights will provide even more visibility for those behind you when conditions warrant slower driving.
LED Headlights
LED lighting has been around for years and has become way more affordable and versatile. And yet, there are plenty of Jeep owners out there who still run with the frail factory halogen lighting.
Quick summary if you don’t already know — LED lighting emits significantly more light than traditional halogen, providing much better visibility at the front and sides of the vehicle. Additionally, these lights also draw less power from the battery so anyone who runs stuff like winches, air systems, fridge freezers and aftermarket infotainment systems, will appreciate the energy savings.
Auxiliary Lighting
Headlights aren’t the only thing that can help increase visibility — especially when off-roading. Good auxiliary lighting can also enhance nighttime driving, or, really, any low-light driving as well.
For some, this could mean a lightbar across the top windshield frame or along a front aftermarket bumper. For others, cube lights placed against windshield hinges or strategically attached to that front bumper.
Auxiliary lighting can even be tuned as spot or flood lighting to customize that front visibility, with spot throwing a narrow but deeper beam, and flood providing a wider range.
Tail Lights
Not exactly something high on the modification list, but swapping out standard factory taillights for aftermarket LED versions can provide similar benefits as LED headlights.
During inclement weather, foggy and poorly illuminated roadways, brighter LED taillights help those driving behind your vehicle understand and react faster during braking situations.
Plus, these aftermarket taillights can plug into the factory harness and do not require any re-wiring or splicing.
Gear Up for the Great Unknown
Get up. Zip open that tent. Breathe in some crisp, fresh air. And go explore. Camping/overlanding can be a great experience for almost anyone no matter the season. For Jeep enthusiasts, that experience can only soar higher by using that vehicle to get to, and from the campsite, as well as for investigating all surrounding trails.
So if you do not already have some good equipment to help you with that task, then using your Quadratec Gift Card to help enhance your camping/overlanding experience is a fantastic idea.
Stuff like a winch, recovery kit, and a heavy-duty jack to change larger tires, can only help you turn a camping weekend, week, or longer, into a full-blown lifetime of memories.
Winch
Quite possibly the ultimate recovery device you can place on your Jeep. A winch can pull you, or someone you come across on the road or trail, to safety should the vehicle become stuck.
Sure, a tow or recovery strap can be an option in these kind of situations, but the sheer power of a winch is sure to recover a vehicle from almost any situation.
Another plus — winches are more affordable than ever.
Not sure what to choose in pulling power or rope type, well, we’ve laid it all out for you here.
Then, once you have it in place, make sure to follow good safety practices and get the product all set by pre-tensioning the rope before using it for the first time.
Recovery Jack
If you’ve ever tried to change a Jeep tire with the factory-supplied jack, then you know why we added this option. See, those larger tires make it that much more difficult to set up a jack and pull off a damaged tire — especially on un-even or rocky trail surfaces. Now, if you’ve added larger tires to the Jeep, compound that difficulty by 10 (or a 100).
However, by using your Quadratec Gift Card to purchase a stronger and more powerful mechanical jack or hydraulic version, you’ll find that tire swap out much easier, and much safer on varying types of terrain.
Recovery Kit
Imagine a one-bag product that has pretty much all your standard recovery tools — straps, gloves, d-rings or soft shackles, snatch block, tree saver and winch line dampener. That’s what a good recovery kit offers.
Use those straps to hook up another vehicle and pull them out of certain recovery situations like sand, snow or mud, where a winch just really isn’t needed. Or throw those gloves on, activate the winch and throw the dampener over the line to keep everything safe in more involved predicaments.
And the best part, most of these kits come with a handy storage bag so everything can go back inside between uses, so they don’t go rolling all over the cargo area.
Comfort
It’s been said plenty of times that a Jeep is not a vehicle designed for comfort. And yet, over the years, more and more comfort has found its way inside the cabin. Stuff like larger and more powerful infotainment systems, larger and friendlier seating, and thicker, sound-deadening carpeting.
Well, despite all the more recent refinements, there are still some things out there you can get with your Quadratec Gift Card that will ramp that comfort level up even higher.
Floor Liners
Liners that sit above your Jeep’s carpeting aren’t there just for looks. They serve as a protective barrier against all kinds of debris like mud, dirt, snow and other road/trail grime.
No matter the season, your shoes are going to pick up stuff and bring it into the vehicle. Additionally, you and your passengers may have drinks in the cupholders that may slip out and spill from time to time. Well, a nice set of floor liners will keep all that stuff from leeching into that carpeting and causing problems.
Many liners are even specifically designed to fit the contours of your specific vehicle so the sit down perfectly, while raised edges keep liquids and dirt from splashing over into the carpeting.
Then, when a good cleaning is required, the liners pull right out and can be quickly hosed down into a like-new appearance.
Grab Handles
We know there are a lot of people out there who sometimes struggle when getting in and out of their Jeep — especially those with lifted vehicles, or who have small children and/or elderly passengers.
Newer JL Wrangler models help out a bit with integrated handles on the A pillar, but adding nylon or paracord handles right in the middle of the upper door frame (front and back) helps provide a stable touchpoint for vehicle entry and exit.
Most will attach either with hook and loop straps around the roll cage, or screw into factory mounting locations. Some have foam pads to grab, while others have a nylon or paracord strap.
Seat Covers
Sure, your Jeep’s seats do have a pretty decent cloth or leather protective material designed to stand up to Mother Nature. But if you really want those seats to last and not have that material rip, break down or dry up and crack, you can use that Quadratec Gift Card towards a handy set of seat covers.
Some utilize a thick and thirsty neoprene material that locks out moisture and grime, keeping it away from the seats while providing excellent riding comfort and UV stability. Others provide a nylon material or leather to protect those seats.
Additionally, many come in a variety of colors so you can neatly customize your Jeep’s interior however you please.
And the best part, they easily slip over the existing seats and cinch up with hook and loop straps or clips.
