You've come to the right place if you're thinking of what to get for your dad this Father's Day and want to splash out on more than a pair of fancy socks this year.

We've wrangled together some fantastic items that you can buy online to enhance dad's vehicle. From audio upgrades to light bars, here are five must-have car accessories that you can find on Takealot to improve life on the road for your father in 2022.

If your dad's car is running an older generation double-din audio system head unit that can easily pop out, it might be the ideal time to upgrade to an Android receiver. Google Android-based multimedia units with touch screens have come down in price, and you can get a decent one like this Pioneer for around R8 000.

Some of these head units can support both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, although CarPlay receivers are pricier. It's an ideal upgrade for older sedans, bakkies, and vans. Android head units support easy-to-use navigation apps like Google Maps and Waze, so no more excuses from dad about getting lost on the way to a function because he refuses to ask for directions.

Of course, before you buy any audio upgrade, it's advised to give a reputable installer a call to see if they can fit the device for you. To avoid splicing wires to cut into power source lines in the car, ask fitment centres about the correct harness for the head unit/vehicle. With the right head unit, and once it's set up and paired with your dad's phone for data, he'll be able to stream his favourite music and access his favourite apps safely when on the road. A YouTube Family account could also pair nicely with this gift.

2. More 'crunk' in the trunk

Suppose your dad already has a car, bakkie or SUV with a decent multimedia head unit but regularly complains about a lack of thump in the cabin. In that case, you might want to get him some subwoofers and an amplifier. Well, that's what you could have considered in the past, but now, you can buy an all-in-one bass driver that fits under the driver or passenger seat.

These compact subs usually measure around 8-inches, and they come in bespoke enclosures designed to work in tight spaces. Usually, they are also fitted with an amplifier, so all you'll need to do is get the woofer connected to the head unit by a professional installer. Original equipment manufacturers in the premium segment favour compact bass drivers as they don't infringe on boot space. 

Takealot stocks a variety of active compact subwoofers for vehicles, but you can also pop into stores like Autostyle to gauge the quality of what's out there before you make any purchase decisions. While upgrading the bass drivers, you can also investigate mid- and high-frequency speakers and tweeters to replace the standard items in the vehicle's doors. Our advice is to set a budget and stick to it, as you can get carried away with audio upgrades, especially for your old man.

These days, most of us will have a compact power bank in our laptop bag or somewhere around the house to keep our smartphones and tablets topped up when the inevitable loadshedding takes place. But, what if you need more juice, say enough to jumpstart a vehicle? You can get your dad a powerful power bank like one of these that can be used as an electricity backup, or he can use it to jumpstart the car.

It's a particularly thoughtful gift if your dad is an adventurer and spends lots of time camping. We've all been there at the campsite where the car battery runs flat, and there's no one in sight with jumper cables. Or you might even have jumper cables, but there aren't any vehicles around to give you a boost. There are numerous power banks, so it's best to speak to an outdoor adventure centre or 4x4 fitment centre to find out what battery capacity and output might work best for your dad's vehicle.

Some of these power banks are large enough to run home LTE routers and a couple of lights, which can also come in handy during the colder months when power cuts become more frequent. Takealot offers a range of cable and accessories that enable you to use power banks to run routers and lights, so once you've decided on the power bank you want for your dad, perhaps invest in a few cables that he can also use around the house.

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If your dad's an avid off-roader and usually driving in soft sand, you might want to think about getting a compact tyre inflator for him. Arguably, the most crucial component of a vehicle, and if you can, help him take care of his tyres by driving with the correct pressures. Driving with the proper tyre pressure prolongs the life of a tyre and ensures that the tyre works as designed by the manufacturer. My dad and I took chances driving back from the beach (back when we were allowed to drive there) with underinflated tyres.

These portable tyre inflation devices can help you old man ensure he's pumped up his tyres to the correct operating pressure. Regardless of whether he's an off-roader, the product can be used at home before a long road trip or to ensure that his car's spare wheel is topped up in case of an emergency. There are numerous makes and models of inflation devices on sale, and you can easily find one online and have it delivered to his doorstep for Father's Day.

Portable inflation devices can also come in very handy during summer and those trips to the pool where you can use them to inflate swimming accessories. Heck, your dad might even use the device to keep the grandkids' soccer and rugby balls topped up with air, or it can come in very handy during birthdays and festive occasions to fill up balloons. Most 4x4 centres stock inflation devices, so it's advised to ask for one that can handle the tyre size of your dad's car before buying.

5. Driving lights and light bars

Now, while it's not advised to drive around on public roads with glaring lights and light bars that make it difficult for other road users to see, additional illumination devices can improve your dad's vehicle immensely. Different lighting can boost his bakkie's off-road capability by helping him see better at night when bundu bashing.

We found these Hella light bars on Takealot, and they are well-priced considering the brightness on offer. These light bars can come in handy on top of the vehicle's roof, mounted to a bar or rooftop tent. They can also be mounted to face the rear of the car to be used to light up campsites for brief periods when working in the dark. 

If your dad's vehicle has a bullbar fitted, you could also consider a pair of driving lights instead of a light bar to give it more of an old-school look. Again, using these additional lights on the road can blind oncoming traffic, but as an accessory to use on dark plot roads or when on safari, they are an excellent choice. You might want to visit a vehicle accessories outlet to see the different lights (shapes, sizes, LED/halogen) available to avoid buying something that might be too big for a particular car.

If these accessories don't hit a sweet spot, perhaps look at these items in the vehicles accessories section in your Takealot app. You can even find hand tools, service and maintenance items, car care equipment and even vehicle diagnostics tools for your father this Father's Day - and that's a lot nicer than a pair of psychedelic socks.

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