You have an SUV. In the old days that used to stand for Sport Utility Vehicle. Reclaim the SUV from its current fate of soccer team transport and grocery hauler. Bring back the Sport. Bring back the Utility. Here’s how.

Off-Road Gear: If your SUV has four-wheel-drive, fun came standard. But there’s a few things you might need before you begin your mud-spattered, off-road adventure. A sturdy, immortal winch from a manufacturer like Warn will pull you out of just about anywhere. Nerf bards, skid plates, and brush guards from people like the folks at Westin will protect your SUV from the rigors of the trail, and a set of fender flares from Bushwacker will keep your finish from looking like it’s been through a war zone. We’ve even got all the lighting you’ll ever need to see what you’re doing should you stay out a little too late.

Tires: But no matter what gear you fit to your SUV for getting you out of sticky situations, you’ll never get there in the first place if you don’t have the right tires. Off-road SUV tires are specially designed to handle the toughest terrain, the deepest mud, and the sharpest rocks. Before you hit the trail, make sure your SUV is wearing its hiking boots.

Lift: For many SUVs you’ll need to get your rig a little higher off the ground before you’ll even be able to bolt those tires on. That’s where a lift kit comes in. With a performance, high-clearance spring setup, you’ll be able to keep your bottom end off the ground, and absorb the shock of coming down when you’re already too high off the ground.