This week’s question is simple to ask but tough to answer: what’s the best first mod to sling at your off-road rig?

We could make an inappropriate joke here about never forgetting your first … but we’re too mature for that, right? Right? Hey, where are you going? Hello?

Okay, fine. Let’s stick to off-road rigs. Everyone has to start their build somewhere and the smart ones amongst us are wise enough to ask for help before diving head-first into something they may not understand. This is where the power of the off-road community shows its strength.

In your author’s humble experience, folks in this sport are more than happy to dispense advice when solicited, whether that’s through an online forum or over snacks at the trailhead. To paraphrase a certain wizard movie – help will always be given to those who ask for it.

Setting newbies on the right track to modification is a great way to help first-timers have a good experience with their first build. By assisting them in figuring out what their initial mod should be, they stand a better chance of sticking with the community rather than throwing their hands up and quitting in frustration because they chose to buy enormous meats that won’t fit their rig.

What do you think should be a person’s first mod? Tires are a great place to start, even if it’s just a set of factory size but with more aggressive tread. Most OEM rubber is tuned for the road, not the trail, and it’s easy for newbs to get frustrated on the trail if their rig is still wearing a stock pair of shoes.

How about shocks? Hitting the dirt with street shocks designed for the mall parking lot can lead to all kinds of headaches. Installing a lift kit on one’s ride takes care of clearance issues but can leave the truck looking as if it’s standing on tiptoes absent of beefier rubber. Installing a locking diff might also help a new-to-the-trail driver plow through tough obstacles, giving them confidence for future ‘wheeling.

Which of these do you think should be someone’s first mod? Or is there something else you recommend people do first? Vote then sound off in the comments below.