I live in Arizona and I really want to go out to Sedona this weekend to try some trails but I am terrified of being that guy who gets stuck because he didnt buy a certain rope or tool. I have about 2000 bucks left in my fun budget for the month but I dont want to waste it on stuff that is just for looks. Do I need a winch right away? Someone mentioned a recovery kit but what is actually in that? Is a tire deflator thingy necessary or can I just drive on normal air?

Sorry if these are really basic questions but I literally just learned what a locker is yesterday so I am very much at square one. I want to do this right without looking like a total mall crawler but there are so many brands and parts it makes my head spin. What are the absolute basics I should throw in the back before Saturday...

I saw some guys swearing by the Pedal Commander to fix the lag but then other people say it’s just a waste of money that tricks your foot and doesn't actually add any real power. Then I looked into a cold air intake like K&N or something but half the people online say the stock airbox is already efficient and I’ll just be sucking in hot engine air. It’s so frustrating because I love the look and the size of this thing but I need it to actually move when I step on the gas. My budget is around $900 right now and I really want to get this sorted before my next trip in three weeks.

Is there anything that actually works for performance or am I just stuck with a slow car? Like is a piggyback tune even worth it or is it gonna fry my warranty? I just want some actual power accessories that aren't just for show...

Should I go with a spray-in liner first or just get a bed rug? And what about those Molle panels for the sides? I need a way to secure my recovery gear and a CO2 tank without it looking like a mess. Also looking for some solid grab handles since the ones in the Mojave are okay but feel a bit flimsy compared to my old steel ones. I saw some guys talking about a bed rack but I dont want to add too much weight and ruin the high-speed suspension tuning. Any specific brands that fit the desert runner vibe?...

• $2k budget


• Desert weekend trips


• Solo or small group runs

What are the actual must-haves for me?

I was looking online and there are so many terms like crossbars and side rails and mounting points and I literally have no clue what the difference is or what my car already has. My Jeep has those flat silver strips on the roof but they dont look like they can actually hold anything by themselves. Does that mean I have to buy the bars that go across first? Im also really worried because my 4xe has that huge panoramic glass roof and I am terrified that if I put a rack on it the weight will crack the glass or something or maybe the bars will block the sunroof from opening.

We live near Seattle and we are planning to head out to the Olympic Peninsula in about three weeks so I am on a bit of a deadline here to get this figured out. My budget is probably around 700 or 800 dollars but I could go higher if it means I wont destroy my brand new car. We just need to carry a cargo box for some sleeping bags and maybe a couple of those folding camp chairs.

Is there a specific brand that Jeep owners usually go for? I saw some stuff about Thule and Yakima but then I saw some way cheaper ones on Amazon and I dont know if the cheap ones are a bad idea for a heavy hybrid. Also does the 4xe have different requirements because of the battery weight or is the roof just the same as the regular gas ones? Sorry if these are really basic questions I just feel totally overwhelmed and I dont want to make a huge mistake and ruin the paint or the glass...