by Matt Konkle
Managing Editor
It is coming.
Winter.
And no, this is not a Game of Thrones kind of thing, but a Jeep preservation kind of thing.
Because Winter can do some crazy stuff to your vehicle.
Sure, Winter is definitely fun in a Jeep when you are cruising down the road or trail, over blankets of snow, listening to the crunch of tires against that white fluffy stuff. But the season and weather can also do some work on your Jeep if you are not careful. The moisture can find its way inside the cabin to harm your seats or carpeting, or the low outside temperature can sap the warm air right through your hardtop. Even the short-lived daylight can turn into darkness on longer drives, forcing you to squint through the windshield because of those weak halogen headlights. Even worse, the potential slippery conditions may not play nice with your older, need-to-be-replaced tires.
Well, maybe all that stuff doesn't happen at once, but the season does beg for upgrades and seat covers, floor liners, insulation kits, headlights, tires and recovery kits are right at the top of many shopping lists right now.
So while you are huddled up under that quilt enjoying some warmth and a laptop full of Jeep products, here are the winter ones proven to be the most popular.
Seat Covers
Like we just said, winter months can offer plenty of fun while flying through the snow in a Jeep, white flakes splattering past and a wonderland of adventure just ahead up the road.
But no matter which way you travel towards that adventure, your seats can start taking abuse once those white flakes find their way into your Jeep's cabin. And it is not just those melting flakes either, as other moisture can get on your coat or pants and then transfer to the seats. It may not seem like much, but this stuff can really start to affect the seat material over time.
So if you are still sitting on uncovered factory seats, then right now is a great time to get some highly protective seat covers like the neoprene Diver Down versions. Whether your choice is weather-absorbing and comfortable neoprene, highly breathable polycotton, easy-to-clean ballistic nylon, vinyl or great-looking and soft leatherette, protective seat covers will allow your Jeep seats to last longer and give you a little more insulation for the ride. Not only that, but most seat covers are also easy to remove and clean when needed, which makes them perfect for anyone’s on-the-go Jeep lifestyle.
A final benefit to adding protective seat covers inside your Jeep's cab is the ability to customize to nearly any look you want. Most covers have numerous color schemes that can match, for example, accent bezels you have done to the dash area or paint job you've done to the vehicle’s body tub. Or, perhaps, even the respective colors of your Jeep club. It's all up to you.
Floor Liners
Your Jeep's carpeting is nice, right? Good pile. Comfortable. Mildew resistant. It is all good stuff.
And yet that factory carpeting inside your Jeep can also be a magnet for debris like dirt, grime and mud — all the things you really try and avoid when walking around in the winter, yet still seem to attract.
So if you really want to extend the life of that carpet, then look to aftermarket floor liners like our Ultimate or Tru-Fit liners.
Most floor liners simply and securely fit over the existing carpet in the driver and passenger foot area, and are also available for back passenger footwell coverage and cargo area protection. What that means is exposed carpeting inside your Jeep's cabin will now have a protective shield designed to really keep just about anything off it; rain, snow, mud, dirt, whatever. Not to mention the liners will also keep your feet from rubbing against the carpeting and prematurely wearing out the material.
Additionally, liners these days are way more than some generic carpeted overlay that sits above the factory carpeting. Most liners are custom designed to exactly fit your specific vehicle, and are available in a multitude of materials like rubber, thermoplastic and high-density polypropylene—as well as carpeting—that all are able to trap and hold water or debris in place. Plus, they are simple to remove and clean when needed, which makes things so much easier than continually removing whole sections of carpeting. Or breaking out that scrub brush to attack muddy carpet stains.
Headlights
Cold drab days and long dark nights. If anything spells winter, it is those seven words. And then, sometimes that outside temperature even manages to rise causing fog to roll across the landscape. And don't even start with the rain or snow.
What all of this means is winter months usually offer more difficult visibility when driving, and something your factory halogen headlights just cannot really handle. Well, at least, not as well as new LED headlights like our Premium LED Projector Beam or Tactik 9" Halo LED Headlights.
Not only are LED headlights much brighter than halogen, but they also have less battery draw and throw a more accurate beam. All this helps keep you safer, reduces stress on the battery in cold weather and makes for less driver eye strain. Plus, LED headlights have an almost unlimited lifespan.
Additionally, LED headlights these days are more affordable than ever, and most brands out there utilize plug-and-play installation, so simply remove the front grille, pull out the current lights and replace with your superior LED versions.
Finally, once those lights are installed, make sure to spend a few minutes and adjust them correctly. It is not a tough process and oncoming drivers will certainly thank you.
Hardtop Insulation
Sure, a Jeep's heater is a pretty powerful instrument and usually will keep that interior nice and toasty. But maintaining that temperature can sometimes be a challenge in the winter months with a hardtop roof.
Enter hardtop insulation kits.
These things can be considered a sweater for your Jeep's hardtop. A product designed to retain heat inside the cabin all while reducing road noise and providing better audio quality.
Hardtop insulation kits are available for TJ Wranglers, as well as the 2- and 4-door JKs, and consist of thick, insulated fabric pieces that attach either with hook and loop fasteners or peel and stick adhesive which makes for easy installation. No wiring, no messy additives. Just a perfect quiet from road noise and insulation from those chilly outdoor temperatures.
Tires
Own a Jeep long enough, and you are going to have to replace those factory tires. Yeah, you may not want to, but rubber with little to no tread means that nice country ride through the snow is going to turn into a white-knuckle spin around the ice rink.
And nobody wants that. At all.
So before you really do anything else this winter with your Jeep, check stock on those tires and make sure you have some life on them before heading anywhere after a long summer and fall on the road or trail.
If it is obvious a change needs to be made, then don't wait. Winter is an excellent time for tire replacement. After all, those things are the only thing connecting your Jeep to the road.
Now, just about every tire these days can break down into three categories: all-season, all-terrain, or mud-terrain. The quick version — all-season tires are perfect for anyone who sticks to pavement just about all year long, while all-terrain work best for those who daily drive, but also like to put in some off-road time. Mud-terrain tires can work for a daily driver as well, but are usually best for anyone who predominately uses their Jeep off-pavement. For more on tires, please read our How to choose the best tires for your Jeep article.
Recovery Gear
We really don’t need to mention that winter driving conditions can change in an instant. One minute you are cruising along fine, and the next you’ve hit something slippery and spun sideways into a ditch or off the trail. Things happen. But achieving success in this situation really depends on your preparation — which, in this case, means having some good recovery products like our Res-Q Premium Recovery Gear Kits.
These items can include protective gloves, recovery and tree saver straps, D-rings or soft shackles, snatch blocks and a winch line dampener. Most, or all, of these items will be inside a handy storage bag so everything isn’t strewn all over your vehicle’s cargo area. Now, these items won’t help stop you when snow or ice bump you off the trail. But they certainly can help get your Jeep moving again after a minor emergency.
