Polaris RZR XP Turbo Show N Shine

Polaris RZR XP Turbo Show N Shine
2016 Polaris RZR XP Turbo – Our Plan

We are duners. We are rock crawlers. We are desert hounds. Occasionally, we like to play in the mud and snow.  We certainly don’t build trailer queens.

The great thing about a well-engineered UTV is that it excels in each of those terrain types, not having to stick to one particular trick. In building our 2016 Polaris RZR XP Turbo with TMW Offroad, we have learned that the new XPT is quite the adaptable platform.

Usually, turbocharging is associated with big power, spotty low-end engine performance, and decreased reliability. However, with the new OEM-supplied turbocharged engines, we are finding quite the opposite. Polaris built this engine from the crank case up to withstand the added pressures and forces that turbocharging puts on its internals. From our experience so far, they did a fantastic job.

Barrett Lake Jeep Trail –RZR XP Turbo Rock Crawling Review

While most people took their new XP Turbos to the dunes or desert, our first outing involved a trek up to the Sierra Nevada mountains for some rock crawling. We knew the new XP Turbo would do well in high speed terrain, but we weren’t so sure how it would be able to handle slow speed rock crawling. To our delight, the XP Turbo did even better than the XP 1000. The turbo did not affect the throttle control whatsoever. In fact we found that we had better control off-idle in the XP Turbo which made it not just OK, but a serious contender for anyone wanting to race King of the Hammers.

Sand Mountain, Nevada

For our second trip we hits the dunes, and the machine was bone-stock save for a set of GMZ Sand Stripper XL tires on GMZ Casino beadlock wheels and a respring/revalve of our FOX Internal Bypass shocks from Shock Therapy. The added power was instantly felt; from the first stab of the throttle, it’s in a different league than an XP1000. Smooth torque, huge midrange power, and an exhaust note nearly befitting of a V-twin let you know you’re in something a little more special than your standard high-performance UTV.

Idaho Dune Invasion – RZR XP Turbo Sand Dune Review

After another long dune trip to St. Anthony in Idaho, we stuffed the XPT in TMW’s trailer and it was off to Arizona for a few upgrades. Starting with a Venom V1 shorty cage and a matching set of doors, TMW transformed the look of our XPT while adding in more environmental protection for its occupants. The cage and doors were color-matched to the Polaris Spectra Orange metallic paint, and Wolf Designs threw some color magic on the car in the form of a spectacular full vinyl wrap.

TMW offers quite a few options when it comes to their roll cages- they have four styles of roll cage, denoted by V1, V2, V3, and V4. Each offers a different, unique style. You can choose MIG or TIG welding, Mild Steel, DOM, or Chromoly tubing, raw or powdercoated your choice of color. Each option has a small bump in price, but it’s not substantial. For instance, to have the entire cage made of super-strong chromoly and hand TIG-welded, it’s only $350 more than the standard MIG welded mild steel cage.

TMW’s Sidewinder door set retails for $649, and can bolt up to the stock cage or any of TMW’s. They use the factory door latches and come powdercoated semi-gloss black, with optional factory-matched graphics in 9 styles. Each door is set out 2.5” wider than the factory door for increased interior room, a much-welcomed modification to the tight RZR cockpit.  Finishing off the interior and enabling us to communicate with our friends is a radio and intercom from Rugged Radios.

Our formula lately has been to keep our cars light weight and simple, and this build was no different. Triple X stitched up a beautiful set of Venom seats in black and orange to match, and TWM bolted in a set of Simpson D3 harnesses to keep us in place. Factory UTV skid plates and trailing arm guards are helping to keep the underside of our XPT damage-free in the rocky sections.

Accessories from Assault Industries include side mirrors, radius rods, tie rods, and a billet fire extinguisher mount. Billet Equipped provided a grab bar and shifter. We also bolted up a Polaris Lowrance GPS, 4500 lb winch, and a sealed storage box. Adding a bit of bark to the RZR’s bite is a twin set of stellar Muzzys pipes.

Glamis – Camp RZR 2015

The ability of the XPT to go from needle-threading rock crawler to wide-open dune thrasher is quite incredible, especially when you realize we never had to change clutching to get it done. Low-speed engine response in the turbo is as smooth and controllable as any naturally-aspirated UTV, albeit with much more thrust. The low gear in the trans is truly low, allowing for easy crawling with no noticeable belt slip or strain on the new, beefed-up driveline.

The stock XP Turbo offers up 144 horsepower and 105 lb-ft of torque, as compared to the XP1000’s 110 horsepower and 70 lb-ft. While it may not seem like a huge jump, it’s the power spread that really makes the difference. Absolutely everywhere in the RPM range, the XPT makes considerably more power than the naturally aspirated XP1K.

Sand Hollow – SxS Adventure Rally

In the rocks, the swaybars do hinder wheel articulation quite a bit, but if you’re going to be doing a lot of riding in the rocky stuff, they unbolt fairly easily. We also added a host of Rigid Industries LED lights to brighten up our night rides, as well as a set of Quick-Light whips for easy identification in the sea of UTVS on night time dune rides.

To add some traction to our dirt and rock-based adventures, we turned to ITP for a set of massive 32” Ultracross tires on 15” SD beadlock wheels. While 32” tires sound massive for a UTV (they are), the XP Turbo turns them without issue, even on stock clutching. Blame it on the torque.

Sierra Nevada Mountains – Snow Day

Regardless of the type of terrain you like to ride in, TMW and Polaris both make products that will increase the fun factor exponentially. The top-notch craftsmanship TMW Offroad puts into their products made our 2016 Polaris XP Turbo feel even more like the do-it-all race car it truly is. As a final thought, if you’re thinking that turbocharging is only for high-speed, wide-open terrain, think again- this XP Turbo is the new Swiss Army Knife in our garage.

RZR XP Turbo on our Truck Rack with driving through Zion NP

Snow Day with our Tracks in the Sierras

Sand Mountain, NV at Night with Rigid Industries LEDs

Sand Mountain, Nevada

Build Specifications:

• TMW Offroad – Cage, Doors, Assembly
• Wolf Designs – Custom Wrap
• Triple X Seats – Seats
• Simpson – D3 Harnesses
• Factory UTV – UHMW Skid Plate
• FOX – Internal Bypass Shocks
• Shock Therapy – Dual Rate Spring Kit and Shock Revalve
• XTC Powersports – Wire harness and switches
• Billet Equipped – Grab Bar, Shifter
• Assault Industries UTV – Side Mirrors, Radius Links, Fire Extinguisher, Tie Rods
• Polaris – GPS, 4500 lbs. Winch, Storage box
• Muzzys Performance – Dual Exhaust
• Rigid Industries – LED Lights, LED Accent Lights
• Rugged Radios – Radio and Intercom
• Quick-Light – Whips
• GMZ Race Products – Sand Stripper XL tires on Casino Beadlock Wheels (Sand)
• ITP Tires – 32″ Ultracross tires on 15″ SD Beadlock wheels (Dirt)

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