Every vehicle in Over the Hill starts out underpowered for the terrain it will face. Steep climbs stall, rocky trails leave you stuck on boulders, and deep water drowns the engine. Upgrades fix that, but only one person sells them, and every stage costs Pebbles.
Quick answer: Drive or fast-travel to the mechanic Crazy Günther, open the Upgrade tab, pick a part, and pay Pebbles. Stages cost 25, then 50, with a 75-Pebble third stage for Winch and Tool Slots.
How to buy upgrades from Crazy Günther
Crazy Günther is the game’s mechanic and merchant. He runs a camp on the map, and that camp is where all performance upgrades, liveries, cosmetics, and tool loadouts are handled.
You can tell it worked when the stage you bought is marked as unlocked and the next stage in that category becomes purchasable. With tool slots, for example, buying slot 2 leaves slot 3 showing a price and slot 4 still locked.
Over the Hill upgrade costs in Pebbles
There are seven upgrade categories and 16 stages in total. Five categories have two stages and two have three. Fully upgrading one vehicle costs 675 Pebbles.
| Upgrade | Stages and prices | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Stage 2 (25), Stage 3 (50) | 75 |
| Tires | Stage 2 (25), Stage 3 (50) | 75 |
| Suspension | Level 2 (25), Level 3 (50) | 75 |
| Water Resistance | 2 (25), 3 (50) | 75 |
| Protection | Stage 2 (25), Stage 3 (50) | 75 |
| Winch | Stage 2 (25), Stage 3 (50), Stage 4 (75) | 150 |
| Tool Slots | 25, 50, 75 | 150 |
Stage names start at 2 because the stock part counts as the first level. The Upgrade tab always shows the exact price before you confirm, so check it there if a number doesn’t match the table.
Upgrade rules: per vehicle and in order
Two rules decide how upgrades work, and both affect how far your Pebbles go.
- Upgrades belong to one vehicle. Buying Tires Stage 2 on one car does not carry over to any other car in your garage.
- Stages unlock in sequence. You must own the earlier stage on that same vehicle before the next one can be bought.
- Every vehicle accepts all 16 stages, including the three starting cars and the 18 unlocked through challenge trails.
You don’t have to finish one category before moving to another. A vehicle can have Tires Stage 3 and stock suspension at the same time.
What each vehicle upgrade changes
| Upgrade | Effect |
|---|---|
| Engine | More power and higher top speed |
| Tires | More grip |
| Suspension | Higher ride height |
| Winch | Longer winch range |
| Water Resistance | Deeper water and longer time before flooding |
| Protection | Less damage taken |
| Tool Slots | More tools carried per trip |
Tool Slots work differently from the others. Instead of changing a driving stat, they raise how many tools you can bring, starting at one and going up to four after three purchases. That matters because the tool list includes recovery gear like the Portable Winch, the Jack for flipping an upturned car, and Planks, plus the Meteorite Radar and Camp Tool.
Winch range decides how far away a tree or anchor point can be and still pull you free. Suspension height helps the car clear boulders instead of getting high-centered on them, and Tires help the wheels hold dirt, mud, and sand rather than spinning.
Engine upgrade numbers by vehicle class
Engine output comes from a vehicle’s class, so every car in the same class gains the same amount. Values below read stock / Stage 2 / Stage 3.
| Class | Peak torque (Nm) | Power cap (kW) | Top speed (km/h) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trail | 100 / 106 / 112 | 50 / 55 / 60 | 27 / 31 / 34 |
| Wagon | 125 / 138 / 151 | 62 / 68 / 74 | 29 / 32 / 36 |
| Workhorse | 175 / 190 / 207 | 60 / 66 / 72 | 22 / 25 / 29 |
| Expedition | 200 / 227 / 256 | 57 / 63 / 69 | 20 / 23 / 27 |
The starting cars, The Protector, The Ding, and The Trailrat, are all Trail class, so their engine gains are the smallest in raw torque. Expedition vehicles like Das Mammoth and The Marshal get the largest jump.
How to earn Pebbles for upgrades
Pebbles are the only currency Crazy Günther accepts for upgrades. You earn them by exploring the world and finishing its objectives.
- Discovering Points of Interest
- Completing Recoveries
- Finishing Challenge Trails, which also unlock new vehicles
Challenge Trail payouts vary. Windy Joe Trail in Emerald Lake pays 25 Pebbles along with The Trail Burner, while Hermit Trail pays 40 with The Burro. At 675 Pebbles for a single maxed-out vehicle, most players will be spending stage by stage on one main car rather than upgrading the whole garage.
