Uploaded November 2021 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
#RZR #Rubicon #RockCrawler
0:00 Intro
0:59 Outdoor Ethics
2:18 The gatekeeper
3:02 The Slabs
4:49 Wentworth Springs
5:41 Walker Hill
8:55 The Soup Bowl
9:36 Little Sluice
12:51 Insane RZR Ground Clearance
14:00 Buck Island Lake
18:16 Little Sluice
19:24 Outro
The Details and Mods
2018 Polaris RZR XP1000
SuperATV Front Bumper for Polaris RZR XP 1000: amzn.to/3n6bljM [PAID LINK]
SuperATV Black Ops 3500 LB Winch: amzn.to/3HbO9Zw [PAID LINK]
Allied Powersports 1004 Rock Sliders for RZR: amzn.to/3F7voEB [PAID LINK]
SuperATV Heavy-Duty High Clearance Boxed Rear Radius Arms/Rods: amzn.to/3n99L0C [PAID LINK]
SuperATV High Clearance Upper & Lower A Arms for Polaris RZR XP 1000: amzn.to/3FdDUCh [PAID LINK]
SuperATV Heavy Duty Rhino 2.0 Rear Axle: amzn.to/3ksvZc4 [PAID LINK]
SuperATV Heavy Duty Rhino 2.0 Front Axles: amzn.to/3n7yzWP [PAID LINK]
GDP Portal Gears: superatv.com/polaris-ranger-1000-4-inch-portal-gear-lift-g3?sku=PGH-1-98-302-B-FS#AP [PAID LINK]
SuperATV Heavy Duty Tie Rod Kit: amzn.to/3c1bC1g [PAID LINK]
Cage WRX DOM tubing Roll Cage: cagewrx.com/RZR-XP4-1000-Race-Cage-p/4sxp1kss-diy.htm [PAID LINK]
Cage WRX Metal Roof: cagewrx.com/RZR-XP4-1000-Turbo-S-Super-Shorty-Aluminum-Roof-p/cw4sxp1k-ss-roof.htm [PAID LINK]
Kanati Mongrel Tires 32 x 10 x 14: amzn.to/30iKeJi [PAID LINK]
System 3 SB-3 Beadlock 14x7 ATV/UTV Wheel: amzn.to/3c7tYO5 [PAID LINK]
Learn more about Winching:
Why You Need a Winch: 4wheelparts.com/the-dirt/why-you-need-a-winch/amp
How to Use a Winch: 4wheelparts.com/the-dirt/how-to-use-a-winch/amp
The Safest Way to Hook Uo Your Winch: motortrend.com/how-to/1512-the-safest-way-to-hook-up-your-winch
It all began, as so many of these great adventures do, when Dad bought a Ford Bronco. Not any particularly classic year, it was 1983, plain desert tan, no AC, not even a tape deck. Vinyl low-back seats, lap belts, wing windows and 4 wheel drive. Our first 4 wheel drive. A car that not only promised to not get stuck (it did), and get us over any obstacle (it did) but had the power to get others un stuck (it could).
One thing lead to another, bigger tires were acquired, a winch was bolted on, bright red springs raised it up. And we went deeper and farther into the backcountry, got stuck along the way and had a lot of fun. Magazines were purchased, trails were fantasized about. Well, not trails plural. Just one in particular. The Rubicon.
Fast forward and the Bronco lives on only in old photographs, memories and phantoms on dusty back roads.
Then Dad bought a Side-by-side...
I've been across the Rubicon several times with several Toyotas and several Jeeps. Though I've never driven any of it, I am pretty familiar with the trail now as well as with how to get through some of the obstacles. Even a Jeep JL on 40s doesn't have as easy a time of it as this RZR.
Any disadvantage posed by the small tires and long wheelbase is surpassed by the incredible center clearance. The Indipendant suspension is not a concern at all. But you can't just drive off the showroom and do this. Here are the mods that made this possible.
I should walk that back. You can do this with a stock RZR. I've seen it. BUT a stock RZR will have to use a lot more throttle and will have a lot more trouble. Hard throttle burns belts and heavy bouncing burns axle shafts. So you have more risk with a stock UTV.
That said, we had no real trouble with anything. There were no close calls, and no sketchy moments and no fear of breaking gear.
We only did half the trail. Fires and smoke prevented us from going in sooner, and it was cold and threatening. So we went in to Buck Island Lake, a trip that took all of 2.5 hours. Then we went back out, and I got to drive most of the way!
It was a blast, and we will be back!
Happy Trails,
-M
#RZR #Rubicon #RockCrawler
0:00 Intro
0:59 Outdoor Ethics
2:18 The gatekeeper
3:02 The Slabs
4:49 Wentworth Springs
5:41 Walker Hill
8:55 The Soup Bowl
9:36 Little Sluice
12:51 Insane RZR Ground Clearance
14:00 Buck Island Lake
18:16 Little Sluice
19:24 Outro
The Details and Mods
2018 Polaris RZR XP1000
SuperATV Front Bumper for Polaris RZR XP 1000: amzn.to/3n6bljM [PAID LINK]
SuperATV Black Ops 3500 LB Winch: amzn.to/3HbO9Zw [PAID LINK]
Allied Powersports 1004 Rock Sliders for RZR: amzn.to/3F7voEB [PAID LINK]
SuperATV Heavy-Duty High Clearance Boxed Rear Radius Arms/Rods: amzn.to/3n99L0C [PAID LINK]
SuperATV High Clearance Upper & Lower A Arms for Polaris RZR XP 1000: amzn.to/3FdDUCh [PAID LINK]
SuperATV Heavy Duty Rhino 2.0 Rear Axle: amzn.to/3ksvZc4 [PAID LINK]
SuperATV Heavy Duty Rhino 2.0 Front Axles: amzn.to/3n7yzWP [PAID LINK]
GDP Portal Gears: superatv.com/polaris-ranger-1000-4-inch-portal-gear-lift-g3?sku=PGH-1-98-302-B-FS#AP [PAID LINK]
SuperATV Heavy Duty Tie Rod Kit: amzn.to/3c1bC1g [PAID LINK]
Cage WRX DOM tubing Roll Cage: cagewrx.com/RZR-XP4-1000-Race-Cage-p/4sxp1kss-diy.htm [PAID LINK]
Cage WRX Metal Roof: cagewrx.com/RZR-XP4-1000-Turbo-S-Super-Shorty-Aluminum-Roof-p/cw4sxp1k-ss-roof.htm [PAID LINK]
Kanati Mongrel Tires 32 x 10 x 14: amzn.to/30iKeJi [PAID LINK]
System 3 SB-3 Beadlock 14x7 ATV/UTV Wheel: amzn.to/3c7tYO5 [PAID LINK]
Learn more about Winching:
Why You Need a Winch: 4wheelparts.com/the-dirt/why-you-need-a-winch/amp
How to Use a Winch: 4wheelparts.com/the-dirt/how-to-use-a-winch/amp
The Safest Way to Hook Uo Your Winch: motortrend.com/how-to/1512-the-safest-way-to-hook-up-your-winch
It all began, as so many of these great adventures do, when Dad bought a Ford Bronco. Not any particularly classic year, it was 1983, plain desert tan, no AC, not even a tape deck. Vinyl low-back seats, lap belts, wing windows and 4 wheel drive. Our first 4 wheel drive. A car that not only promised to not get stuck (it did), and get us over any obstacle (it did) but had the power to get others un stuck (it could).
One thing lead to another, bigger tires were acquired, a winch was bolted on, bright red springs raised it up. And we went deeper and farther into the backcountry, got stuck along the way and had a lot of fun. Magazines were purchased, trails were fantasized about. Well, not trails plural. Just one in particular. The Rubicon.
Fast forward and the Bronco lives on only in old photographs, memories and phantoms on dusty back roads.
Then Dad bought a Side-by-side...
I've been across the Rubicon several times with several Toyotas and several Jeeps. Though I've never driven any of it, I am pretty familiar with the trail now as well as with how to get through some of the obstacles. Even a Jeep JL on 40s doesn't have as easy a time of it as this RZR.
Any disadvantage posed by the small tires and long wheelbase is surpassed by the incredible center clearance. The Indipendant suspension is not a concern at all. But you can't just drive off the showroom and do this. Here are the mods that made this possible.
I should walk that back. You can do this with a stock RZR. I've seen it. BUT a stock RZR will have to use a lot more throttle and will have a lot more trouble. Hard throttle burns belts and heavy bouncing burns axle shafts. So you have more risk with a stock UTV.
That said, we had no real trouble with anything. There were no close calls, and no sketchy moments and no fear of breaking gear.
We only did half the trail. Fires and smoke prevented us from going in sooner, and it was cold and threatening. So we went in to Buck Island Lake, a trip that took all of 2.5 hours. Then we went back out, and I got to drive most of the way!
It was a blast, and we will be back!
Happy Trails,
-M
