Not all riders like to stay on flat smooth trails every time they take their quad out. If you often ride in rocky or muddy terrain, or areas with large roots and ruts. You may have noticed your machine will bottom out if it doesn’t have the ground clearance to get over these obstacles.
Not to worry, there are a few things you can do to increase your ground clearance to avoid causing any damage to your quad. The most popular option to increase ATV ground clearance is to get bigger ATV tires. Other popular options to consider are getting longer shocks, or an ATV lift kit to increase ground clearance.
You could also look into high clearance A arms and getting a full body skid plate. I will talk more about these later on, just keep in mind a strong skid plate will do a lot to keep your machine protected. And high clearance A arms will be a bit more work than changing tires out, but will help increase ground clearance.
Getting larger ATV tires is one of the most popular ways to increase ground clearance because of how easy it is. And if your ATV needs new tires anyway, it’s a no brainer right? There are some things to keep in mind when going with a larger tire size though.
When you change your stock tire size out for a larger tire, you’re messing with gearing and low end torque. The larger the tires are, the higher your gear ratio will be.
If this is going to bother you, you can offset this gearing difference you could do what’s called a gear reduction. I will explain the gearing in more detail later on in this article.
The size of the tire will determine how much ground clearance you gain. For every 2 inches of tire increase, you will gain 1 inch of ground clearance. For example, if you currently run 21″ tall tires now, and jump up to 25″ tires, you’ll gain 2 inches of ground clearance. That is ground clearance calculated at the rear sprocket and skid plate.
Your bigger tires will have a larger rotating mass as well, which will affect your low end torque. Basically, accelerating from a stand still will not be as fast when you put larger tires on. But I’m guessing if you want to increase your ground clearance it’s because your riding through rough terrain rather than racing at a track.
If you need help figuring out what size rim and type of tire you should be looking for. Check out this ATV Tires Type And Size Tips Before You Buy article. The import thing to remember is that you need to get the right tire size for your rims.
You can find that information by looking at the outer wall of your current tires.
A lot of riders that bump up their tires size will adjust the front sprocket to keep the gearing as close to the same as they can. Most of the time you can just drop the front sprocket by one tooth depending on how big of a tire difference you’re going with.
I wouldn’t go with more than 3 inches bigger tire myself, but a lot of people go more without any problems.
You should remember though, it can put more strain on the engine than it is designed to handle long term.
If you decide to get bigger tires, and leave your sprockets alone. You will be essentially gearing down your ATV. To learn more about ATV gearing and what that means, check out my Complete Gear Ratio Guide.
Now to drop a tooth off the front sprocket does not mean you can just go in and file one of the sprocket teeth away. You need to get your current sprocket, count how many teeth it has, then buy one with one or two less teeth on it to replace your current.
You can find pretty good ATV Front Sprocket Kits on Amazon for a good price. Just make sure you get the right one to fit your ATV.
If you do decide to change out your sprocket, I made a step by step guide to help, How To Change The Chain And Sprockets On An ATV.
Another popular option is to put longer suspension onto the ATV to increase the ground clearance.
Although, a good lift kit will do the same thing for cheaper and less work involved. But if it’s about time you need to change your shocks out anyway, you could just go with longer option shocks.
An example would be if your current shocks are 250mm, then try installing 280mm to give you a little over an inch more lift.
Another option would be to stiffen the suspension you currently have. You won’t gain much, but it’s free and might be enough for what you need.
I would prefer a combination of a lift kit with bigger tires myself, but swapping for a longer suspension is a very popular option to get some better ground clearance out of your quad.
ATV lift kits are a nice easy way to get a couple more inches clearance out of your suspension. A lift kit is typically cheaper than buying larger size tires too.
The kit usually comes with everything you need to get anywhere from 1.5 – 3 inches lift depending on the kit you get.
I recommend you check out this BlackPath 2″ Lift Kit For ATVs on Amazon to get an idea of what a full kit should have in it. That particular lift kit is for a Polaris Sportsman, but you’ll get an idea of what you should be looking for.
Typically you’ll want to have a spacer for the front spring and lifter brackets for the front and rear of the quad. Make sure you get one made of quality materials, and check that it will fit your machine before you buy.
The biggest benefit to getting a lift kit for increased ATV ground clearance, is that you don’t need to get such large tires to make up a couple inches lift. Say you wanted to lift the quad 3 inches total.
You could get a two inch lift kit and two inch larger tires. Without the lift kit, you would’ve needed six inch larger tires and the effect that would have on the gear ratio would’ve been too much in my opinion. Combining a lift kit with bigger tires might be your best bet.
This is more something to consider if you’re not really sure you need a lift kit, you just want to protect the underside components and parts of your ATV.
Most ATVs come with some sort of skid plate from the factory. But adding a full body skid plate will protect your machine from almost anything.
They are pretty expensive, and do wear out if your constantly hitting them with large rocks. You can find a decent full body skid plate costing up to $500 in some cases. It just depends, because a lot of the time it needs to be custom made for your machine.
I haven’t used a full body skid plate before but I have installed and used a full chassis skid plate.
These are usually better for sport quads and are a lot cheaper too, usually under a 100 bucks. Here’s an example of a Full Chassis Aluminum Frame Skid Plate for a Honda TRX400EX.
Getting your quad some high clearance A arms is a popular add-on for people who lifted their ATVs. The stock A arms usually stick out of the wheel assembly in a way that they are the only part of the quad exposed to rocks after you add a lift kit.
The high clearance A arms are shaped so that they give you the most effective ground clearance under the ATV. Notice in the picture how the A arms immediately swing upwards after clearing the side of the wheel.
In my opinion, the high clearance A arms are a pretty cool add-on but finding a set for your machine can be tough, and sometimes they can be too expensive for my taste.
A good rule of thumb to follow, if you go higher, go wider too. The more you lift your ATV, either through tires, lift kits, or suspension, the more you increase your chance of a roll-over.
You could either buy a new, longer, axle or get some wheel spacers.
Going wider may even be necessary depending on how big you go with the tires, you may need the space to keep your tires from rubbing on the shocks, struts, or exhaust.
I would recommend going with the new longer axle if you plan on racing or you really need the performance use of the quad. But generally, the new axle will cost you around 400 bucks. I’d say most people will be ok using wheel spacers and they’re usually found between 50 – 100 bucks.
They make wheel spacers anywhere from 1/2 inch out to 3 inches. The important thing with wheels spacers is that you make sure you get one that will fit your bolt pattern, some models even require you check that your threads will match the spacer.
Here’s a link to a decent option to check out, the Freedom Country ATV Wheel Spacer on Amazon. Have a look around though, this one is a one inch spacer, you might notice as you go up in spacing the price goes up too.
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Off-road driving is becoming increasingly popular in many areas of Australia, and lots of motorists love nothing more than riding around a track in a UTV or ATV. Though ATVs are perfect for those who like to race vehicles such as bikes, UTVs can be equally as fun to race on a muddy, off-road trail. However, if you want to unleash the full force of your vehicle, you ought to think about making modifications. If you want to improve your off-roader’s handling significantly, you can purchase ATV or UTV suspension lift kits online.
ATV suspension lift kits increase the distance between the ground and your vehicle, making it less susceptible to damage from debris, rocks and mud. Plus, you’ll have the option of fitting your ATV with larger tyres for more grip. Aftermarket manufacturers design and build UTV suspension lift kits to help you glide around the most challenging tracks and trails, allowing you to practice the hobby you love in an upgraded vehicle.
Plus, if you purchase parts made by trusted brands, you can feel confident they’ll be a valuable asset.
At Aussie Powersports, we only source parts from the very best manufacturers in the business because we’ve built our reputation based on our extensive industry knowledge. We’re just as passionate about motorcycles, UTVs, and ATVs as our customers, and that passion has allowed us to become the provider with the broadest selection of accessories in Australia. Plus, we can ship Australia wide if you order online, and we’ll post your products as soon as we receive payment. Although some motorists like to head to the shops to purchase ATV parts, there are many compelling reasons why you should buy online instead.
You’ll love driving your off-road vehicle after installing a new suspension lift kit because you’ll glide over rocky surfaces and challenging terrain like never before. However, before you spend hours going to the shops to purchase this kit, you may consider browsing at our online store for the following reasons:
If you shop with us online, you can feel confident you’ll receive the highest-grade parts available.The Widest Selection of UTV Accessories in Australia
At Aussie Powersports, our mission is to source the very best parts, including suspension lift kits, for our off-road loving customers, and we’ve helped countless customers improve their vehicle’s performance over the past six years. Browse our selection of suspension lift kits online, or contact us today with any queries or for professional advice.
In order to prepare the SUV well for it to confidently drive off the road into the mud and successfully drive out of there, it is necessary to install a winch, or even two. Often, when you realize that there is no way forward, you can always pull the car back. Power bumpers, because regular plastic ones will fly off on the very first bushes, and you can’t attach a winch to such a bumper. A spare tire on the rear power bumper, along with a metal gate, is more difficult to come up with a suitable place for it, and there is no way without it. An iron power trunk to which you can attach a jack, sand trucks and a bunch of other things that do not fit in the trunk. And now the main question, the car has become much heavier, will the wheels start rubbing against the fender liner with such a weight, of course they will, and the standard shock absorbers will fail very quickly. And here, just the same, it is necessary to evaluate all this additional body kit and select a lift kit for this load, which will not only prevent the car from sinking, but also raise the body additionally above the road, and the ability to put the car on the “belly” will significantly decrease.
The suspension lift is convenient in that it is designed specifically for each SUV model, i.e. the installation does not imply any additional digestion or other mechanical actions, everything is very simple, I removed the old regular suspension kit, installed a new one and drove on a lifted car, the suspension of which was already designed for additional loads. Lift kits can be selected according to your budget, there are expensive lift kits, there are cheaper ones, but at the same time not much inferior in quality to expensive ones, it all depends on the manufacturer. Also, the price of a suspension lift depends on what is included in the suspension kit, if reinforced springs and reinforced shock absorbers, then this is one price, if the design of the machine implies the presence of springs, then the price of such a lift kit will be higher. In general, it’s worth saying that SUV suspension tuning can also be done on an ordinary car without winches and bumpers, especially if the car looks slightly sagging with a standard suspension, a lift kit with a minimum load will simply lift it a couple of centimeters. nine0003
So, to the question of how to make a suspension lift, I personally would start in this sequence. The first is an approximate calculation of the load that will be on the suspension of the car. The second is a rough estimate of the budget and, accordingly, based on this, the selection of a suitable manufacturer. From my personal experience, what can be said about reviews on the Internet, someone likes it, someone doesn’t, as they say there are no comrades for taste and color, so I’m skeptical about this, although of course lift kits from different manufacturers have different nuances, their worth studying and considering when choosing a suspension lift. With the statement that the most reliable SUV suspension is the most expensive suspension, I partially agree. nine0003
In any case, the selection of a lift kit that suits you, taking into account various nuances, is not an easy task, so if you have any doubts, it is better to consult with a specialist of our company, and he will answer all your questions. You can buy suspension kits, lift kits, lift kits, suspension parts with delivery throughout Russia in our online store.
How to improve the off-road qualities of your car, every owner of an SUV thinks. Everything seems to be simple, for heavy off-road you need big wheels. How difficult are they to install? What modifications will be needed? What are the consequences of such modifications? Let's try to figure it out.
Probably everyone has heard about the body lift or SUV suspension. However, only a few clearly understand what is at stake.
First, let's understand what a lift is. The term itself comes from the English word "Lift" - to raise. There are two types of car lifts. The first is to raise the body above the frame, and the second is to raise the entire car on the road, due to the suspension. The first option is called a body lift (body lift), the second option is a suspension lift. nine0003
Which option to choose? Here everything is individual and this is a question of each specific case. In addition, sometimes both are used at the same time. In this case, you can put huge wheels without disturbing the performance of the car as a whole.
The body lift will increase the space in the wheel arches, which will allow you to put more factory wheels. The suspension lift not only gives a similar increase, but also raises the entire car off the road.
The off-road vehicle's geometric cross-country ability is improved even on standard wheels. The exit and exit angles and the longitudinal patency are increased. nine0003
Why big wheels? Larger wheels increase the vehicle's clearance under the bridge and improve the ability to overcome vertical obstacles. It's simple, the larger the wheel, the easier it is for it to roll over a large stone, log, pit or rut. In addition, the contact patch with the surface increases.
Body lift
The easiest way to install large wheels on an SUV is with a body lift using a set of spacers that fit between the body and the vehicle frame.
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Spacers under the body are made of metal, PTFE, caprolon or other similar materials. Most often, the height of the body lift is 2-3 inches.
Before carrying out work, it is imperative to assess the condition of the body. If the car body is heavily corroded, then the body lift can damage it. Spacers can push through tired metal.
One of the main advantages of a body lift is the preservation of the geometry of the suspension, and if the suspension is independent, then the preservation of the angles of the drives. nine0003
If you are going to make a large body lift, then the following alterations will be required: lengthening the steering shaft, carburetor rods (if any), hoses, cables, wiring, bumper brackets, moving the radiator, as it will no longer fall under the fan. Also, the shift knobs (manual transmission, automatic transmission, handouts) will be lower.
One of the advantages of a body lift is its low cost and the fact that the engine, gearbox, transfer case and units will remain in their places on the frame, and the center of gravity will practically not change.
The high position of the body is useful when storming especially deep fords. nine0003
If the body lift was made by non-professionals and low-quality materials were used, with a strong load (for example, a jerk or impact), there is a chance of tearing the body off the frame.
Body lifts are not possible on monocoque SUVs. However, if you really want to put big wheels without tuning the suspension, you can cut out the arches so that the wheels fit in them and do not rub inside when turning.
The only possible lifting option for an off-road vehicle with a monocoque body is a suspension lift. You can use ready-made factory lift kits. nine0003
Branded lift kit with extended reinforced springs (or springs, torsion bars), extended shock absorbers, a castor correction kit, and if the lift is large (more than 5 cm), then extended brake hoses, rods and stabilizer struts.
In addition to such kits, many lifting methods have been invented: special spacers for springs, spacers for bumpers are made, shock absorber fasteners are transferred lower to the height of the lift, long springs are selected and adjusted, levers are lengthened, etc.
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The lift kits make it easier to lift off-road vehicles with spring suspension. Some cars even have kits that raise them by 15 cm!
If the suspension is spring rather than spring, there are several options - springs from below and springs from above.
If the springs are on top, lifting is like lifting spring suspensions: reinforced springs or spacers between the springs and the bridge. It is worth noting that the spacers for the bumpers are made in the same way as on the spring suspension. The situation is the same with shock absorbers. If the springs are located at the bottom of the bridges, it is possible to transfer them from under the bridge on top of it. This procedure is called Spring Over Axle. nine0003
At first glance, everything is simple. New platforms for attaching the springs are welded on top of the bridges and you're done. The car is raised, the ground clearance allows you to move even on difficult terrain. However, in reality, everything is much more complicated.
The height of the lift will be gigantic - the width of the spring package (it can reach 14-18 cm). Next, you will have to balance the front and rear of the car, if the front is not spring, but for example with an independent suspension or bridge spring. To top it off, we need to figure out how to make sure that the SUV, which is also “shod” in large wheels, after all the improvements, does not roll over on its side on any more or less decent slope. nine0003
In addition, shock absorbers, steering bipods, brake hoses and universal joints will have to be redone. Let's take a closer look at cardans. It is necessary to think about maintaining the permissible angle of their inclination, otherwise the crosses will be torn.
This can be solved by turning the bridge around the axis. With the rear axle, everything is simple, but, at the front axle, if you turn it, the angle of inclination of the kingpin will change, which will lead to a deterioration in the handling and directional stability of the SUV.
This can be fixed, but much more difficult. nine0003
There are several other options for lifting the machine without moving the springs, but they are less effective. For example, new extended, reinforced earrings or new springs with a large bend (parabolic). It is worth noting that such springs are not cheap, and there are few for which SUVs they are generally produced.
Now consider the option if the car is a frame, but the front has an independent suspension, and not a continuous axle. You can raise the front of the car if there are torsion bars in front by twisting them a little, but there are a huge number of nuances. First, a twisted torsion bar can simply burst. Secondly, every pothole on the road will be transmitted through the bumpers, and then the question is who will give up first - the fifth point of the driver or the torsion bar. nine0003
Also, with strong winding, the range of the ball and tip stroke will change, depreciation disappears or the torsion bar tensioners break and the car nods off the road on the move.
It should be remembered that rational adjustment of torsion bars is possible and even welcomed, however, changing their elasticity is not exactly a lift. In addition, the torsion bar will still sag back over time.
Reinforced springs can be used on a spring suspension, they will raise the car by 4-5 cm. Everything here is almost the same as with torsion bars and the consequences are the same. nine0003
A good option for an independent suspension lift is a branded kit. The torsion bars and springs in them are selected in such a way as to raise the SUV by the same 4-5 cm, but at the same time maintaining the permissible angles of work of all suspension parts and its moves.
A great thing - sets with a subframe, which is installed between the entire suspension and the frame (body) of the car. In this case, the suspension remains unchanged, and the rise can reach up to 10 cm. There is only one problem, such kits are most common in the USA, therefore, they are made mainly for cars on the American market, and we have very few such cars.
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Some models are technically similar to those supplied in our country. For example, Nissan Frontier and Nissan Navara. The Americans also produce other simpler kits - with one modified lever, or steering knuckles, which compensate for the change in suspension geometry after installing long springs, or strengthening torsion bars, but this is also not very applicable to our common cars.
We often use spacers for the ball joint to compensate for the consequences of installing self-made lift kits. They often use a spacer under the spring instead of replacing the spring itself. nine0003
To summarize. When altering a car for off-road, the factory compromise, which was laid down by the designers, is violated. It should be borne in mind that where cross-country ability is increased, comfort on the track may decrease, or controllability will deteriorate, or the service life of transmission parts will decrease.
At the same time, if you approach tuning wisely, you can make the minimum necessary optimal alterations.
