The New Polaris Ranger RZR-S

If you own or have driven the Polaris Ranger RZR, you need to get yourself behind the wheel of the new RZR-S (S=Sport). The new model features an 800 EFI engine that screams its way up to 63 mph. It hits that mark, we know. We tested it. The RZR-S has a 60-inch track width and provides a whopping 12-inches of wheel travel at all four corners. If your cup of tea is hitting the rocks, the Polaris comes stock with 12.5-inches of ground clearance which should be more than enough for what you would tackle in a vehicle like this.

A few other features of the RZR-S include Chrome-Moly upper front A-arms, adjustable Fox coilovers with Podium reservoirs, independent rear suspension, on-demand all-wheel drive, and 26-inch Maxxis Big-Horn tires with 12-inch aluminum wheels. The two action pictures you see were taken while wheeling in Wrightwood, California. We were able to thoroughly test the travel, clearance, and top speed, leaving the trails with ear-to-ear grins.

With our new ride tested and aching for mods, we decided it was time for a couple quick and easy upgrades. First up is a UMP (Unique Metal Products) Intake system. If you follow desert racing, you probably recognize UMP intake systems, they are found on an assortment of race vehicles from Trophy Trucks to Baja Beetles. They are well known for being one of the best filtering intakes on the market when it comes to spending serious time in the dirt.

	The UMP intakes come with...        read full caption The UMP intakes come with the mounting bracket pre-installed, a new breather tube and FRAM breather tube filter. Intake installs are relatively easy but please read through the instructions. There are a few drills and cuts that need to be made.	The removal of the stock intake...        read full caption The removal of the stock intake is easy but time consuming. We removed the rear portion of the cage and the bed to expose the stock intake. The stock intake is mounted from above by this zinc colored L-bracket that needs to be removed.
We removed the black mounting...        read full caption We removed the black mounting bracket from the intake and used the provided new transmission bolts to mount it to the top of the transmission housing. The mounting bracket needs to be installed first.	The stock intake inlet box...        read full caption The stock intake inlet box needs to be cut to allow clearance for the larger UMP intake tube. You will also need to cut a hole in the side of the box for the new breather filter. Once both holes are cut, the new goods slide into place perfectly. Remember, read through the provided instructions for correct size cuts and measurements.	After a few slight modifications...        read full caption After a few slight modifications the new intake mounted up quickly and easily. The tone coming from the unit is much improved over the factory intake. The new sound is noticeable but we would not say it is louder. Over the next month we have a few excursions planned for the RZR-S so look for an update to how our new UMP Intake is doing.
Trekking out into the wilderness...        read full caption Trekking out into the wilderness usually means a thought-out planning process before hand. Carrying the proper gear, tools and spare parts can be a lifesaver. Polaris offers a really nice bolt-in Lock & Ride Cargo Box unit that will carry everything you need in the bed of your RZR or RZR-S. Even better, the install took us all of 5 minutes. The box slides into place over factory holes already located in your bed space and mounts with four of these handy snap-locks.	Once mounted to each of the...        read full caption Once mounted to each of the four holes, you simply twist down the snap-lock and viola, the box is mounted. There is an extra hole drilled into each snap-lock to secure the box with your favorite lock for theft protection. The box can also be removed in seconds if you need full bed space.	The Cargo Box provides ample...        read full caption The Cargo Box provides ample room for all of your gear and because it was made for this vehicle, you still have plenty of room on either side of your bed space. We have a spare fuel tank and cooler that will be mounted soon and featured in an upcoming article.
If you were wondering if the...        read full caption If you were wondering if the box was tough, check out one of our 200-pound-plus friends standing on it. The cargo box didn't even flex. This easy modification is a must-have for all Polaris RZR and RZR-S owners if you ask us.