Next time you’re taking your rock crawler to your favorite off-roading site like Sedona (or any other spot for that matter), you want to make sure that you’re armed and armored to handle whatever terrain and weather the day might throw at you.
At Camera Source, we’re here to make sure that your automotive vehicles are the safest they can be— both on the road, and off the road. Once outfitted with the best backup cameras available, we also want to make sure that you know about the other accessories that are out there for rock crawling.
1. Backup Cameras
First, one of the most important upgrades you can add to a rock crawler is the backup camera. A backup camera traditionally may not be the first thing adventurers think of when selecting accessories to equip their vehicles to prepare for rock crawling and off-roading— but they should be!
As the electric adventure vehicle that can “traverse just about any terrain,” to be released in June 2021, the Rivian R1T will offer a 360º field of vision, utilizing 11 cameras, five radars, and 12 ultrasonic sensors! Even though you may not trust the range of electrical cars compared to a gas car, and the availability of gas stations over charging stations in the middle of nowhere, the capabilities are amazing.
Though not every car will have the augmented reality capabilities and spatial projection features that modern trucks are coming out with, like the Hummer, you can still add significant capability to your vehicle with additional cameras. Backup and front and side cameras are useful for adding safety and convenience when on the road, and when off-roading and rock crawling. When you're crawling over rocks and through tight spaces, it’s important to maximize your field of vision to be able to safely navigate the terrain.
You can install a heavy duty camera to keep an eye on your undercarriage. Front and side cameras can reduce the size and number of hazardous blindspots and help prevent you from getting stuck or damaging your vehicle.
2. Lights
If you’re taking a longer trip, or one that’s going to be going into nightfall, lights are a must. Not only do they provide additional light as you move forward, but they also illuminate the sides, rear, and underside of your vehicle should you encounter problems or get stuck as it’s getting dark. Really, most LED upgrades you can find will be excellent additions, but why only make one upgrade at a time when Camera Source offers backup cameras with lighting?
Boost your nighttime driving visibility with this ultra bright vehicle work light with built in camera. 8 Built in flood lights surround a 700 TVL CMOS camera in the center, providing night vision distance of 150 feet! Perfect for off-road vehicles, ATV, SUV, UTV, 4WD, Jeeps and Boats. It’s versatile with a tough aluminum cover to withstand dust, vibration, high temperatures and it's waterproof! It even comes in a square shape!
3. Winch Rope
If your rock crawler doesn’t have a winch, you need to get one. There’s going to be plenty of opportunities to get stuck, or to be facing a slope that is too much for driving up. A synthetic winch rope will be a blessing. Synthetic materials don’t hold memory like steel does, they don’t rust, and the potential damage in the event of a break is far less lethal.
If you’re headed somewhere extra rocky, make sure to get one rope with a rock guard. Some winch lines, like Freedom Recovery Gear's K.E.R.R. even have kinetic properties to help you get out of sticky situations by being able to "sling-shot" objects free from mud, sand or snow. Hopefully you won’t have to find yourself using it to get unstuck too often.
4. Skid Plates
When you’re crawling, there’s going to be a lot of opportunities for rocks bashing into and damaging the exterior of your vehicle. And that’s the best case scenario. Making sure that you have skid plating and other pieces of armor will help keep the expensive and vulnerable parts of your rig safe. Aluminum skid plates that are at least ⅜” thick are the way to go. They’re not cheap, but new motors or other valuable components aren’t either.
5. Rock Crawler Tires
Crawling up and over large rocks requires quality rubber. Your rig is going to need good tires. For rock crawling, you’ll need tightly-spaced knobs with sipping grooves that will give you purchase on slick surfaces. We recommend the Sedona Rock-A-Billy tire. It’s a great option for most conditions, and its puncture resistance is excellent.
6. Steering & Brakes
Good brakes and quality steering can be the difference between a rock and a hard place. Extreme off-roading isn’t exactly an art of precision, but one turn of the wheel or slip of the tire and you find yourself between that rock and that hard place.
Every single time you head out, you’re going to be giving your brakes a serious workout. Installing slotted or oversized rotors will help keep your brakes cool when they’re under serious pressure. Additionally, upgrading to oversized rotors can add braking power and are a good investment for your machine. Make sure to regularly check your brakes.
7. Suspension
Unless you’re wanting to leave your rock crawler wherever it gets stuck and broken, you’re going to want to make sure that your suspension is top of the line. Custom suspensions are often the best way to go, and can end up being one of the most important upgrades you make. 3-link or 4-link suspensions are a good idea for a custom build, as they offer better ride quality and more control. Triangulation is going to be essential when you’re crawling, and linked suspensions lessen your chances of body roll. Superlift suspensions are a good choice for rock crawling, as they offer kits that can make upgrading many different types of vehicles much easier.
8. Axle
Light-duty and stock axle truss systems increase the likelihood of breakages, simple as that. Prioritizing strong built and well-designed trusses adds structural rigidity to your axles and reduces the chances of bending, warping or breaking an axle. You don’t want to be thinking about breaking axles when you’re out, and opting for upgrades protects against that. We recommend Vanquish axles for a high quality upgrade.
Upgrade Your Rock Crawling Rig with Camera Source
With a quality backup camera equipped on your vehicle, you’ll be able to handle most obstacles that nature might throw your way, and it can also give you a sense of what’s going on in the rear or close to the ground. Camera Source doesn’t just have cameras, we have the accessories to make your next journey your best one.Check out our inventory to find the off-road, heavy duty, and UTV cameras for your next rock crawling adventure.
