Essential
🚐 Outbound Vehicle Upgrades Guide
All engine tiers, chassis expansions, cargo upgrades, and cosmetics — with full materials and stats.
7 min readUpdated: May 12, 2026
📋 Table of Contents
🔧 Engine Upgrades
| Engine | Speed | Climb | Power Draw | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter Engine | 40 km/h | 5° | 8 EU/hr | Default |
| Upgraded Engine | 55 km/h | 10° | 10 EU/hr | 12× Metal Component + 6× Gear Part |
| Performance Engine | 70 km/h | 20° | 12 EU/hr | 10× Advanced Metal + 8× Motor Unit + 4× Iron Component |
| Mountain Engine | 65 km/h | 45° | 15 EU/hr | 14× Summit Alloy + 10× Motor Unit + 4× Power Core |
Mountain Engine is required to enter the Mountain biome. The 45° climb angle is the only way to navigate mountain terrain. Note it's slightly slower than Performance Engine on flat ground.
📐 Chassis Expansions
| Chassis | Requires | Total Slots | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter Chassis | — | 8 | Default |
| Extended Chassis | Upgraded Engine | 12 | 16× Metal Component + 8× Wood Plank |
| Elongated Chassis | Performance Engine | 18 | 14× Advanced Metal + 10× Wood Plank + 4× Iron Component |
| Full Chassis | Mountain Engine | 24 | 16× Summit Alloy + 12× Advanced Metal + 6× Power Core |
📦 Cargo Upgrades
Increases maximum carry weight. Overloading reduces speed; Cargo III eliminates the penalty entirely.
| Upgrade | Weight Added | Overload Penalty | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo I | +200 kg | −5% speed | 8× Metal Component + 4× Spring |
| Cargo II | +300 kg | −8% speed | 8× Advanced Metal + 4× Spring + 2× Reinforced Frame |
| Cargo III | +400 kg | No penalty | 10× Summit Alloy + 6× Spring + 4× Reinforced Frame |
Reinforced Frame recipe: 3× Advanced Metal + 2× Iron Component → Ore Smelter
🎨 Cosmetics
| Item | How to Get | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Paint (7 base colors) | Trading Posts | 2× Pigment each; rare colors in POI crates |
| Stickers (20+) | POIs & Trading Posts | Visual only |
| String Lights | Craft (Advanced Workbench) | 1 interior slot, 1 EU/hr, happiness bonus |
| Bike Rack | Trading Posts | 1 side slot, deploys short-range bicycle |
| Tool Rack | Trading Posts | 1 side slot, +10% tool efficiency |
| Spare Tire Rack | Trading Posts | 1 side slot, one free tire repair |
✅ Upgrade Priority Order
- 1Upgraded Engine + Extended Chassis (12 slots) — Do this before leaving Meadows. Required for Dense Forest slopes.
- 2Cargo I — Early weight relief, cheap materials.
- 3Performance Engine + Elongated Chassis (18 slots) — Mid-game. Unlocks Desert and Coast access.
- 4Cargo II — Needed for heavy late-game resource hauls.
- 5Mountain Engine + Full Chassis (24 slots) + Cargo III — Final tier. Summit Alloy required; farm Mountain ore deposits.