Yamaha Rhino - Bolt-On Long-Travel Kit

There's no doubt about it: side-by-sides are here to stay, and they're going to be gaining an even bigger chunk of the off-road market as time goes on. Though Yamaha's Rhino wasn't the first, it was the UTV that would break into the performance off-road market and spur the creation of thousands of aftermarket products. Now companies like Polaris, with its new RZR, are joining the performance UTV market. These might very well go on to be just as big of a craze as Jeeps. Even big-name suspension manufacturers such as Fabtech, Rancho, and CST are jumping on the side-by-side wagon and producing some bolt-on long-travel kits.

Though we've driven many Rhinos, we hadn't yet tried out one suspended with a long-travel kit. When Brent Riley offered to put us side by side (jeez, terrible pun, sorry!) in his long-travel Rhino next to a stocker, we asked, "When and where?"

The difference between the two was amazing, and we cannot properly express to you how much a Rhino actually needs a long-travel kit until you experience it for yourself.

With a foot more of track width, this Rhino was definitely more stable than a stock one. We were able to take some pretty harsh slides without feeling like we were going over. Again, we cannot say the same for the stock one.

The front of Fabtech's kit gives 13 inches of usable wheel travel. It puts all new chrome-moly A-arms on the front end using uniballs and rod ends. The skidplate and bumper on the front end are Fabtech options that you can add to the kit or buy separately.

Rod-end steering extensions are also supplied to control the Rhino. Behind the steering, you can see the Dirt Logic 2.0 coilovers that are utilized to absorb the nastiest blows you can deal to a Rhino.

Complaints/Praises

Our biggest beef had to be with the steering. Due to the design of the steering system, Rhinos' steering starts to suck when you throw on a long-travel kit. We have been told that there are aftermarket steering specialists making rack-and-pinions to upgrade your Rhino with, and this should address the poor steering.

Other than the steering, we loved how the long-travel Rhino drove and were amazed at how much faster we could come through rough sections. If you're using your Rhino for more than hauling in the trash cans, then you should check out one of these kits.

Tech Specs

The rear end is put together much the same as the front, save for the steering knuckle and tie rods. Fabtech again uses chrome-moly control arms and Dirt Logic coilovers. The extended axles are of course mandatory since the Fabtech kit elongates each side by 6 inches.	The Fabtech '05-'07 Yamaha Rhino long-travel kit comes with everything you see here. Four new Dirt Logic coilovers, eight new chrome-moly control arms, new axles, and all the necessary hardware to outfit your Rhino. The Fabtech kit increases the track width by 6 inches per side and increases the wheelbase 2 inches in front and 2 inches in the rear. It only raises the Rhino 2 inches, so you can imagine how much more stable this kit makes the Rhino.	With a foot more of track width, this Rhino was definitely more stable than a stock one. We were able to take some pretty harsh slides without feeling like we were going over. Again, we cannot say the same for the stock one.
One thing about super-short wheelbases, like these Rhinos, is that the rear end flies around in whoop-de-doos. The Fabtech long-travel kit cured a lot of that, but there was still some inherent bucking that could not be gotten rid of. You can see the rear is actually airborne at this point in the whoops, while the front stays on the ground.	The reservoirs of the coilovers bolt onto the Rhino's chassis via Fabtech's billet reservoir mounts. They look trick and keep the reservoir up out of harm's way.	You can obviously see how a 1-foot increase in track width changes things. Which Rhino would you rather go barreling down a rough wash in?
If you really start compressing the front end, there is a chance you might have to trim the plastics a little bit. With the increased tire size (assuming you put on bigger tires), there is a chance they'll rub if you really start jamming on it.	While we checked out the Rhino kit, Fabtech wheeled its new prototype Polaris RZR kit out for us to spot. This new RZR kit was a killer and will be available from Fabtech by the time you read this story.	One thing about super-short wheelbases, like these Rhinos, is that the rear end flies around in whoop-de-doos. The Fabtech long-travel kit cured a lot of that, but there was still some inherent bucking that could not be gotten rid of. You can see the rear is actually airborne at this point in the whoops, while the front stays on the ground.