UPFIT DESERT RACING RZR PRO R BUILD

UPFIT RZR PRO R BUILD

By the staff of Dirt Wheels

As we reported this past spring, Upfit UTV Incorporated was formed to bring Fox Factory Performance Vehicle Development’s extensive experience in upfitting trucks to the UTV world. Upfit specializes in creating turn-key luxury UTVs customized to meet every driver’s unique desires and preferences. With decades of Shock Therapy’s suspension-tuning experience, Upfit has offerings in desert, dune, trail, mud and even drifting UTV markets.

Their UTVs boast innovations, including Live Valve, iQS upgrades, clean airdrop, frame-less doors, Turbo/Pro R shock forks, limit straps, bump-steer delete, Maverick X3 magnetic clutch ducts and more. Upfit also redefines UTV ownership with lender retail financing, a nationwide service network and proprietary products with a 30-day Upfit turnaround.

To showcase Upfit’s patented technologies and components, Upfit CEO and president Justin Smith competes in SCORE and BITD desert races in the Geiser-built Upfit Polaris RZR Pro R (#1872), and he pre-runs in the Upfit Pro R 4 that was featured in the original Upfit announcement press release.

INSIDE THE GEISER/UPFIT PRO R

Smith called on Geiser Performance to do the Upfit build, and he wanted the Pro R to be lower than a Maverick X3. Geiser lowered the frame 12 inches in front and 18 inches in back, and the build was created around a 43-gallon aluminum fuel cell. The TIG-welded chromoly race cage extends rearward to carry a spare 35-inch Tensor Regulator on a Method beadlock rim. Geiser’s A-arms and trailing arms are extensively gusseted for more strength, and they’re mated with Geiser knuckles, tie-rods and radius rods with Shock Therapy Heims. 

The Fox Factory X2 Live Valve shocks have Shock Therapy valving, shock springs, reservoir extenders, and limit straps, and the front shocks have Shock Therapy fork lowers for strength. Geiser front and rear torsion bars fight body roll, and the front knuckles have aluminum CV guards for the stock Pro R axles. Brake calipers are OEM Pro R, while the rotors are TPR, and the build has two master cylinders with a dash-mounted front/rear bias adjuster.

The heavy-duty Geiser front bumper protects four Baja Designs LP4 LEDs, and the headlights were replaced with Baja Designs LED pods mounted in Geiser aluminum brackets. The hood and dash are carbon fiber and aluminum, and the dash face houses a Lowrance HDS12 GPS, ECUMaster digital data screens and gauges, and custom switch panels. The telescoping steering column is fitted with a Sparco steering wheel with radio PTT, siren and Live Valve buttons. Foot controls are Geiser, with the throttle pedal having a built-in heel pocket and floor-mounted pivot.

The console also has an ECUMaster custom switch panel, and the Sparco seats have electronic quick-adjust mounts and Impact harnesses for faster driver changes and luxury. Both seats also have Fluid Logic hydration systems hooked into the PCI Race Radios pumper hoses with Maglock couplers. A huge CVT duct and air filter ride behind the navigator, and the Upfit cabin also has a Safecraft fire extinguisher, carbon fiber mount for the roof-mounted PCI radio, and Pelican case for the satellite phone.

The rear radiator is by Triton with two cooling fans, and it’s protected by a trick Geiser CNC’d screen. Behind that is a AMG M18 XC5.0 L-1 electric jack, and the suspension arms have mounts for the jack. The Pro R engine has an EVP tune for more power with the EVP header and custom (quiet) Pro R exhaust. The rear-cage pillars also mount an aluminum coolant reservoir and Safecraft fire-suppression system for the engine. For safety, the dry-brake filler for the fuel cell is located on the hood.

JOIN THE UPFIT RIDERS’ CLUB

With the latest technologies and products, like computerized Fluid Logic hydration, Maglock hose couplers, SATCOM communications, ECUMaster instruments and electric seats, Justin’s Upfit Pro R brings luxury to desert racing. Upfit is also partnered with Polaris, Fox, Tensor, HCR Racing, Thumper Fab, PRP Seats and PCI Race Radios. While Smith and the Upfit/Shock Therapy crew are hard-core desert racers, they also have a testing facility in North Carolina to develop mud suspension settings. As for drifting, they lower UTVs with internal shock spacers. They also build luxury Polaris XPEDITIONS/Rangers with fully enclosed cabins.

CONTACT:

Upfit UTV Inc.

2335 W. Corporate Center Dr.

Phoenix, AZ 85085

(877) TO-UPFIT

www.upfitutv.com