What to Upgrade First on Your Side-by-Side

The must-have UTV upgrades depend on your side-by-side, where you ride and how far you travel. Start with protection for the parts you regularly expose to rocks or brush. If you ride far from camp, prioritize a spare tire, tools and secure storage. Add mirrors or other cockpit upgrades where they solve a problem you notice on the trail.

Use the model sections and riding-style table below to decide what to upgrade first and what can wait.

What Should You Upgrade First on a UTV?

Before ordering parts, spend some time driving your UTV.

Pay attention to where the machine contacts rocks, brush and other obstacles. Think about how much gear you carry, how far you travel from camp and what would happen if you damaged a tire miles from the truck.

Those observations will usually point toward a few major upgrade categories.

Protect Vulnerable Areas

Rocks, ledges, trees and trail debris can reach areas of a UTV that are relatively exposed in stock form.

Depending on the machine and terrain, bumpers, rock sliders, skid plates, CV boot guards and other targeted protection can help protect vulnerable components and bodywork.

That doesn't mean every UTV needs every available piece of armor.

A machine that spends most of its time in open dunes has very different protection requirements from one regularly navigating rocky trails.

Carry a Spare Tire, Tools and Riding Gear

Sport UTVs don't always provide much room for everything you may want to carry on a long ride.

A spare tire carrier or adventure rack can solve more than a storage problem. When you travel farther from camp, carrying a spare tire can become part of being self-sufficient on the trail.

But the spare isn't much help without the tools required to change it.

Think about the complete system: spare tire, jack, lug wrench, basic tools, recovery equipment, water and whatever riding gear your trip requires.

For machines used on longer trips, choosing between UTV tire carriers, adventure racks and enclosed storage will ultimately depend on how much equipment you need to carry and how you use the cargo area.

Improve Visibility and Driver Usability

Not every useful upgrade needs to be large.

Mirrors can improve awareness around other vehicles, while steering wheels, grab handles, shift controls and other cockpit accessories can change how you interact with the machine during a long day of riding.

These upgrades may not provide the same obvious protection as a bumper or slider, but small improvements in everyday usability can make a noticeable difference over time.

Customize the Machine

There is nothing wrong with changing a machine simply because you want it to look better.

Grilles, vents, fenders, billet components and other interior and exterior accessories let you personalize a UTV after the functional priorities are addressed.

The important part is building with some direction instead of adding unrelated parts until the vehicle looks overdone. DRT's guide to easy RZR styling upgrades offers several examples of smaller changes that can personalize a vehicle.

Material choice can matter as well. Steel and aluminum UTV upgrades each have advantages depending on the component, its purpose and the amount of protection required.

Polaris RZR Pro R: Start With Protection and Carrying Capacity

For rocky desert rides, start with exposed parts such as the oil filter and rear inner CV boots. If you cover long distances, add a spare-tire carrier and secure storage for your tools and recovery gear. For ledges and tight trails, front protection and rock sliders can move up the list.

See our guide to the best first upgrades for the Polaris RZR Pro R for terrain-specific priorities and model-year fitment considerations.

Can-Am Maverick R: Build for the Terrain

For long desert rides, plan the spare-tire carrier and trunk enclosure together. Check that they work as a pair and leave room for any rear audio or other accessories. If you ride ledges and tight trails, prioritize a front bumper and rock sliders. In open dunes, visibility and cockpit usability may come first.

Polaris RZR XP: First Upgrades for the 2024+ Chassis

Start with front protection and recovery gear for trail riding. As your trips get longer, add a spare tire and secure storage. Then choose additional protection based on what contacts rocks or obstacles on your rides. Confirm fitment for the redesigned chassis, your exact model year and trim, and your two-seat or four-seat configuration.

Polaris RZR Pro XP and Turbo R: Protection Before Decoration

The RZR Pro XP and Turbo R share many basic upgrade priorities, although accessory fitment varies between platforms and model years.

For technical trail use, bumpers, rock protection and guards are logical areas to evaluate first.

For desert riding and longer recreational trips, storage and spare-tire capacity can move higher on the list.

Once those functional needs are addressed, mirrors, grilles, vents, steering components and other interior or exterior pieces provide opportunities to personalize the vehicle.

Always verify exact model and model-year fitment before assuming a component designed for a Pro R, Pro XP or Turbo R is interchangeable.

Can-Am Maverick X3: Upgrade the UTV You Have

The Maverick X3 has been on the trail long enough that many examples already have aftermarket equipment installed.

If you purchased a used X3, start by evaluating what's already there.

Look at the condition and quality of existing bumpers, guards, suspension components and storage accessories. Determine what the previous owner changed and what was left stock before creating another parts list.

For a relatively stock Maverick X3, front protection, spare-tire capacity and rock protection remain practical areas to consider depending on terrain.

The age of the platform doesn't mean it needs more modifications. It needs the right modifications for how it is being used today.

Polaris XPEDITION: Storage and Protection Become Bigger Priorities

The Polaris XPEDITION deserves a different upgrade approach because owners frequently use it differently than a traditional sport UTV.

Longer rides, overnight trips and backcountry travel put more emphasis on carrying gear. Roof racks, bed storage, drawers and spare-tire systems can provide substantial real-world value when the vehicle is being used for adventure travel.

Protection is important too, but it doesn't always mean adding a large bumper.

Rock sliders can help protect the sides and lower body in technical terrain, while smaller guards can protect specific vulnerable components such as A/C lines and brake-system components.

That targeted approach is worth remembering. Sometimes protecting one exposed component is more useful than simply adding more weight to the vehicle.

The XPEDITION is also well suited to everyday usability upgrades such as mirrors, interior storage, grab handles and lighting mounts.

See the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office XPEDITION build for an example of choosing protection and recovery gear around a specific job.

The Jagged X Polaris XPEDITION at Sand Hollow.

Upgrades for Other Popular UTV Platforms

DRT also supports several other side-by-side platforms where the same basic strategy applies: identify how the vehicle is used, then upgrade accordingly.

Polaris Ranger 

Utility moves higher on the list with a Polaris Ranger. Bumpers and recovery capability can help prepare a work or recreational Ranger for difficult terrain, while racks and cargo accessories expand what the vehicle can carry. The priorities also vary between platforms such as the Ranger XP 1000 and newer Ranger XD 1500. Start with what you expect the vehicle to do rather than treating it like a sport-UTV build.

Segway Villain and Super Villain

As aftermarket support for Segway UTVs expands, owners have more options for protection, spare-tire capacity, chassis components and personalization. The same rules still apply. For trail and desert use, functional upgrades such as protection and the ability to carry a spare generally deserve consideration before smaller cosmetic changes.

CFMOTO UFORCE U10 and U10 XL Pro

The CFMOTO UFORCE U10 family is another newer platform receiving increased aftermarket support. Because the U10 is utility focused, protection, cargo management and everyday usability make logical starting points. From there, the vehicle can be built around work, hunting, trail riding or general recreation.

Kawasaki Teryx KRX 1000 and KRX4 1000

For KRX and KRX4 owners who regularly drive rocky and technical terrain, bumpers and side protection may be useful early additions. For less technical trail use, mirrors and other everyday accessories may provide more immediate benefit.

Match Your UTV Upgrades to Your Riding Style

The machine matters, but where you drive it matters just as much.