Planning on going on an overland trip through Africa some time this year, but don’t know where to start when it comes to getting the necessary equipment for your 4x4?

If only it was as easy as deciding at the last minute to take a quick safari trek to clear your mind and lungs of the city’s congestion and pollution. A couple of weeks ago I met a German tourist who said that they drove through Namibia on the Caprivi Strip into South Africa on a 4x4 trip and suffered numerous breakdowns, even though they had planned everything six months in advance.

When it comes to accessorizing your 4x4, although you can’t foresee the major problems, you can at least be prepared for smaller unfortunate incidents.

Andrew St Pierre White, author of 'The Complete Guide To Four-Wheel Drive', says that there are many products on the market to improve your trip, but most of the time accessories are simply there for the aesthetic value, with no real purpose.

The bull bar is a prime example for instance. Bull bars are commonly seen on city cars and are generally fitted for that "macho" look. But they do serve a purpose offorad, when it comes to fitting items such as winches and spotlights.

When fitting a bull bar, you need to take a few factors in consideration: for starters, if your vehicle is equipped with air bags, make sure that the bull bar is manufacturer approved.

These days, most bull bars are made from lightweight aluminium, but Adrew warns that most of the time it simply protects the radiator and nothing else. Make sure that you buy one that protects the whole front part of the vehicle, but without hampering the drivers visual capablities.

Another feature which most 4x4 manufactuerers tend to add on are side steps or running boards. These are normally the first things to get damaged, says White. And while they are not necessarily needed, the majority of the time they are either placed too high or too low on vehicles.

Front tow bumpers are an essential 4x4 accessory and are vital when needing to launch a boat — this should be placed off-centre to the left of the front of the vehicle to allow the driver to see alongside of the trailer and it improves directional control.

Sometimes the suspension of 4x4 vehicles need to modified as some offroaders are not properly equipped to take on the rough terrain. You can remedy this by fitting heavy-duty springs, which will improve offroad handling.

However, Johan Kellerman from Safari Centre, a 4x4 fitment centre and accessories store, says that most of the time it depends on the type of vehicle and where you plan on going for your trip. Most overland trucks are fitted with good suspension, and sometimes heavy-duty shock absorbers are not even needed.

So what about spare fuel for that long trip across the desert?

When transporting fuel, never use ordinary plastic containers as the plastic can stretch during rough conditions and may become porous, allowing the petrol or diesel to seep through. Rather spend the extra cash on steel jerry cans. And never store fuel containers near to heated surfaces like the engine or radiator, warns Andrew.

The same principle applies when storing water tanks, which can normally be fitted to the vehicle by most safari 4x4 supply workshops. Make sure that a hose is attached to the water tank for an easy supply and, if you feel the need, a portable shower.

This is also where the question of roof racks comes in — many fitment centres would recommend fitting these, as they provide extra storage space for water and fuel, says Johan. It saves the space that may be needed for other items that should be stored in the interior, like auxiliary batteries needed to power a fridge.

And if you;re really looking to row the boat out, you can consider roof-top tents, packing shelves, storage containers and sand tracks, which are used if stuck in sand or mud.

But what about when things go wrong? Recovery equipment is a fundamental part of any 4x4 trip, so make sure you have a high-lift jack, recovery points, which act as tow bars, and a recovery kit. The kit consists of shackles, gloves, kenetic trap, tow strap, tyre repair kit, tyre gauge kit and a compressor, used to deflate and inflate tyres.

For vehicle recovery, a high-lift jack is virtually indispensable and besides being used to get your vehicle unstuck, it can also be used to remove wheels.

What about a winch? You're looking at five basic types: hydraulic, capstan, drum, hub and hand/electric. But experts say that a hydraulic winch is probably the best to use, although some expertise is required to fit it, and sometimes they’re not readily available.

Where lights are concerned, auxiliary lighting is especially important when doing most of your driving during the night.

For example, fog lights are important for when driving through misty conditions. These lights throw low beams across the road that are very broad, while long range lights penetrates the darkness for up to 3km ahead. Andrew also recommends that you have small floodlights attached permanently to the rear of the vehicle, for when setting up camp for the night.

And for added protection and piece of mind, invest in a good GPS system, and if you end up in the middle of nowhere without contact with the outside world for days on end, it's best to have communication systems on board. A satellite phone will set you back, but it's worth considering for those more exotic trips.

Remember to always have your vehicle fitted at a reputable dealer, or you can enquire through your vehicle manufacturer about recommended centres.