My Adventure Accessory Setup - Part 1

Ah, the American Southwest, where the sun shines brighter, the cacti stand taller, and the roads seem to stretch on forever. For those of us with a sense of adventure and a trusty off-road vehicle, this region is a playground waiting to be explored. So, how do you begin setting up your off-road vehicle for adventure in the beautiful Southwest? Let's dive in.

First off, let me begin with my past vehicles and where I've learned some of this from.

My first off-road vehicle was a 1991 Toyota 4-Runner, followed by a 1998 Jeep Wrangler Sport, a 2001 Land Rover Discovery II, a 2002 Jeep Liberty (tried my best to make it a serious off-roader to no avail.), a 2003 Jeep Wrangler Sport, a 2017 Jeep Rubicon and currently a 2022 Ford Bronco. Let me begin by saying there is no perfect vehicle for everyone. You have to decide what features are important to you and what your primary use will be.

At my older age now, I'm no longer interested in rock-crawling, nor do I enjoy getting into a situation that may cause me an expensive repair, been there, done that and am over it. I'm now looking for a capable vehicle that can take me on most rough dirt roads and snow the Southwest may throw at me and gives me a comfortable road trip. One with plenty of safety features that will help me on long drives. Both the newer Jeep Rubicons and Ford Bronco Badlands meet those requirements. I primarily use my vehicle to explore remote historical, abandoned, indigenous, and beautiful natural areas. I do a lot of landscape and wildlife photography as well. So here are my recommendations for getting your vehicle ready for the great outdoors.

Gas Carriers: let's talk about everyone's favorite topic: fuel. Because let's face it, running out of gas in the middle of the desert is not anyone's idea of a good time. That's why I've equipped the Bronco with Rotopax, the Swiss Army knife of gasoline containers. With these containers strapped to the sides, I can go to remote areas without having to worry about being stranded in the middle of nowhere (well, at least not because of an empty tank).

Rotopax 2 Gallon Gas Carrier https://amzn.to/3JBpUq4

Rotopax 2 Gallon Water Container - white https://amzn.to/3QiugWX

Rotopax 2 Gallon Water Contrainer - black https://amzn.to/49XDoaz

Rotopax Mount https://amzn.to/3UBC0FY

Rotopax Locking Mount https://amzn.to/4aT5DZc

Polerden Locking Mount for Rotopax Containers https://amzn.to/4aTiDOs

Interior Cargo Rack: Next up, storage. The Southwest is full of wonders, and you'll want to bring along all your gear to make the most of it. That's where my Hooke cargo interior rack comes in handy. With its dimensions, I can pack everything from camping gear to my power station to my photography equipment. It absolutely helps me carry more items and keeps my things better organized and easier to get to without having to move everything around. Plus you always need more space for the random things you'll find in tourist stores. There are countless interior racks, however I recommend this one for its' size, height off the floor and I don't think you can beat the quality for the price. It is half the price of many others and has held up perfectly without rattling on some very rough roads. Highly recommend it, it is currently my top choice for what you get for the price.

Hooke Road Interior Cargo Rack

Hooke Road Interior Cargo Rack

Hooke Road Interior Cargo Rack

If you have a four door Bronco soft top, I also like the foldable Rynoskin cargo rack. It actually folds for times when you have your dog in the rear cargo space or just need more height for bulkier items. They have a 4 door hard top version, however, you have to do a small cut into the rear cargo side panels, no thank you, that was a deal breaker for me.

Hooke Interior Rack for 2021 and newer 4 Door Ford Broncos https://amzn.to/49VEkfm

Rynoskin Rear Foldable Interior Cargo Rack for 2021 and newer Ford Bronco 4 Door Hardtops & Softtops https://amzn.to/49QIm8U

Hooke Cargo Interior Rack for 2007-2024 Jeep Wrangler JK JL Unlimited 4-Door Hardtops https://amzn.to/3Wc3OSC

Roof Rack: I've opted for the Badass Half Roof Rack because I have a Bestop Skyrider and full roof racks will not work with the Skyrider top. This roof rack is large enough to easily carry sleeping bags and tents for three or four. The optional side panels allow me to carry Rotopax fuel and water containers. With this roof rack and side panels I can secure all sorts of gear, from camping gear to solar panels to Rotopax containers.

BA Tests has a coupon worth 20% off the rack at the time of this post. Here is the link

https://badasstents.com/?ref=572

I always place a roof protective mat under the items I carry on the roof rack so as not accidentally damage or scratch the roof. I use the Racoona Roof Rack Mat. It is inexpensive so definitely recommend it.

https://amzn.to/3WCbtK9

Half Soft Top: Last but not least, let's talk about letting in some sunshine. I've always loved the feeling of the air rushing by and feeling the sunlight. I love convertible sport cars, motorcycles and the Bestop Skyrider or Sunrider top is the perfect solution for Jeep and Bronco hardtops. With its open-air design, I can soak up the sun during the day and gaze at the stars at night, all while staying protected from the elements (because when it comes to sunburn and sandstorms, well ain't nobody got time for that!) The Skyrider opens completely above the two rows, front and rear seats in the 4 door Broncos. One is made of twill material and the other from what they call black diamond. I only recommend the twill material one. If you want a larger roof rack, then you can go with the Bestop Sunrider, that opens only above the driver's row, not the rear passenger seats. Four door Jeeps can only use the Bestop Sunrider, not the Skyrider. I have a son who typically sits in the rear seat and loves the top above him completely off. I like my rear passengers to enjoy the view above as much as I do. Oh, and I drive on the highways at speeds of 65mph with it open and never have had any issues. I do put a little foam on the front part of the half rack where the top lays on so as not to cause any fraying. Then I remove the foam when the top is closed.

Bestop 5246217 Bronco Skyrider for 4 Door Hardtop (twill - recommend) https://amzn.to/4be9ujf

Bestop 5246235 Bronco Skyrider for 4 Door Hardtop (black diamond material) https://amzn.to/3UyUpmS

Bestop 5246117 Bronco Sunrider for 4 Door Hardtop - '21-Current Bronco 4-Door (Black Twill - recommended) https://amzn.to/3y3pOVw

Bestop 5246017 Bronco Sunrider for 2 Door Hardtop - '21-Current Bronco 2-Door (Black Twill) https://amzn.to/49Z6uGe

Bestop 5245417 Black Twill Sunrider for 4 Door Hardtop 2018-Current Jeep Wrangler JL & Jeep Gladiator https://amzn.to/3Wif28f

Bestop 52453-17 Black Twill Sunrider for Hardtop for 2007-2018 2-Door and 4-Door Unlimited https://amzn.to/3UiMfh1

The foam I put on the front of the rack is  the K-Flex 7/8" x 6 ft. Elastomeric Pipe Insulation. It has a precut slit so I just slide that over the rack that touches the open top and use velcro ties to secure it in place when I open the top https://amzn.to/3QE7l8O

So, there you have it, folks. My beginners Bronco and Jeep add-ons for adventurous road trips. They're rugged, practical, and ready for whatever that mother throws my way, (mother nature). I'll have more in part-2. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got some exploring to do.

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