After following around two KRX's on 34" and 35" tires a couple weeks ago at Windrock I'm researching more suspension upgrades. Not sure I want to go down the rabbit hole with dropping more money on the trusty Teryx, but also can't justify dropping $30k on a new machine! Just trying to spark some conversation on this topic so let me know what you think.
Current setup is front and rear high clearance and offset arms, Bandit shocks (extended length/travel w/ about 2" lift), 30" tires on 4+3 offset wheels and 2" spacers. Here are my thoughts:
- Still get beat up following the other machines around on the trail. These are the "easier" sections in between the really technical obstacles....not difficult to get through but just littered with bowling ball size rocks and roots that shake you up. Yes, the Bandits made a big difference but the machines with double the wheel travel just float right through this stuff like nothing.
- A little more clearance would be nice. Currently I can get through all the ruts and over the rocks but do a lot of bottoming out/hitting the skids. Thinking an additional inch of lift and going up to 32" tires, which would net about 2" extra clearance.
- More width would be nice. A lot of trails on this side of the country (Windrock, Brimstone, etc...) are off camber or rutted and puts the side of the machine up against the rocks or banks of earth, plus a little added stability. If you look at the KRX, RZR, and most other sport machines the tires stick out from the body quite a bit and even the cages angle in. On the Teryx I rub the rollcage and body even with the offset wheels, spacers, and customer rock sliders/tree kickers.
- More articulation.....spent a lot of time rocking sideways and lifting tires where the other machines keep them planted.
Looking at options:
- HCR or LT long travel kits - add 5" to each side and cost $5k+.......
These would be great but price is up there and not sure I really want 5" extra width on both sides
- SuperATV 6" lift kit minus brackets and longer shocks
Probably the most interesting to me right now. Big question is if I could get just the 6" lift kit and install minus the lift brackets with my existing Bandit shocks. Currently trying to find out the length and stroke of the shocks they make specific for this kit (Bandit, 814, Hester Elka all make specifc shocks for this). I'm sure they are longer but don't have any issues maybe modifying brackets to deal with an intermediate length shocks to save money. This would give me at least 3" width on each side and could dial in a little more ground clearance (thinking 3" of lift). Might take a little work but could dial in some custom shock mounting brackets.
- SuperATV +3" long travel kit
Initially this looks really interesting because it's designed to use stock shocks and provides not lift (only offset to allow larger tires), so thinking you could bolt in my current Bandits for some lift and even better travel. Interested in how much extra travel the kit actually provides. However they don't offer a kit that kits the 2015-older models, and at least part of that has to be because of the different rear axle shafts. I did verify with SuperATV that the rear axleshafts between this kit and the 6" lift are different lengths. Even though both advertise +3" width the lift kit axles are almost 2" longer, presumably because if you have it lifted they actually have to be longer to keep the width because of how they angle down. This kit is also a lot more expensive than the 6" lift kit.
- Custom modify existing arms and buy parts
Seriously thought about cutting and extending my current offset arms and building brackets for the shocks, etc.... To be honest that part of it doesn't sound too bad as I have fabricated a lot of stuff in the past. The issues are needing longer axles, tierods, brakelines, etc.... that would have to be sourced. You could get over $1k in those parts alone.
