4 Modifications for turning your 4x4 into a practical work vehicle

Contractors and response staff typically use regular road vehicles for their work, but circumstances can dictate the need for a more rugged and specialized work wagon. Therefore, 4x4 vehicles have become the class of choice for people needing to go out on call to rural and hard-to-reach areas. A diverse industry has sprung up around the needs of such people, and third-party hardware for these working vehicles comes in all shapes and sizes – usually relating to the task at hand.

Here are some of the most useful additions that you can make to your 4x4 to get it ready for a rough life of off-road work. Whether you are a rescue worker, contractor or wildlife ranger, there are plenty of bolt-on-bits that will help you do your job. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but the following modifications will certainly help you out.

Powerful LED Work Lights

Sometimes, regular vehicular lights just won’t do. When you are working in a dark area, you’ll need some additional illumination if you want to do a good job safely. There are plenty of different paths to take when you are choosing an LED work light. Bar lights are generally considered to have the best overall coverage, providing a very wide field of bright illumination when connected with your car’s battery or alternator.

Winches

The first powered winches on vehicles appeared in the 1930s. They were powered by a PTO gearbox connected to the engine of the vehicle. Today, powerful electric winches are more common – and are an extremely useful addition to any off-road vehicle. An electric winch won’t cut out if your engine has died, meaning that you’ll be able to get out of a sticky situation even if you have suffered a stall. All off-road vehicles in working use should be retrofitted with a winch. Installing a rear winch and a front winch adds weight, but will enable you to pull other vehicles.

Cherry Pickers

Useful for firefighting, forestry or rescue 4x4 vehicles, a cherry picker is a platform that allows the operator access to otherwise unreachably high places. Cherry pickers that have been mounted on 4x4s are usually pneumatically operated. You’ll need to install additional stabilizers on the bottom of the vehicle if you want to operate a cherry picker in anything less than perfect conditions. It is good practice to always operate a cherry picker alongside a banksman, who can ensure both your safety and the safety of any passers by below you.

Snorkels

Vehicle snorkels allow the fording of deep water. They attach to the air intake of the engine and allow air to be used for combustion even if the rest of the vehicle is under water. These devices were first invented in 1916 for use on submarines. By the end of World War Two, snorkels were being fitted to 4x4 land vehicles that needed to ford rivers. If you are working in an especially wet rural area then you’ll need to install a snorkel to prevent your engine from choking.