Protection is always good. Gas tank skid, rock rails. Tires, better gearing for those bigger tires. Performance mods for your engine. Trans cooler. K&N air filter or air tube.
All the lift kits and accessories in the world are worthless if your rig wont back out of the driveway!! Make sure your engine is running tops. So many "mods" you can do for free.
Clean all grounds, clean throttle body, flush radiator, clean motor, clean and check all hoses and lines, especially vacuum lines. Check and rust-proof, de-rust underbody and unibody where ever you can. Check manifold for cracks. Change your diff fluid. How many of you newb's have done that even since you've owned your vehicle.
SO MANY TIMES, I see guys, with all kinds of mods, holding up the show, 30 minutes into wheeling because a rotted brake line breaks, or it overheats, bad plug wires, alternator dies. yadda yadda yadda.
FIRST THINGS FIRST, make sure the damn thing runs!!