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ALTERNATIVE OFFROAD’S “EL JEFE” RZR

ALTERNATIVE OFFROAD EL JEFE RZR

Words by Cody Hooper

Photos by Troy Tokarczyk and Jon Crowley

Alternative Offroad is a customs shop and online retailer based out of Chatsworth, California. The young team at Alternative certainly has a knack for attention to detail and build quality, specializing primarily in wiring. We caught up with Alternative to go over their newest RZR build, deemed “El Jefe”, followed by a quick stint in Glamis for some driving impressions!

The car started off as a brand new 2016 RZR XP 4 Turbo, and was quickly stripped down to a frame in order to start fitting all of the aftermarket componentry. Alternative performed the build in-house, sourcing parts from top-name suppliers in the aftermarket. Beginning with a cage, bumper, doors, and long-travel suspension setup from Madigan Motorsports, the build began to transform into a gorgeous play car. Not content with the stock body, Alternative Offroad enlisted Glazzkraft for their fiberglass Vortex Gen 2 body with matching doors. The 12 piece widebody kit adds about 8 inches to the RZR body’s overall width. Besides transforming the look of the car, it also adds some splash and roost protection to cover the long travel kit’s wider stance.

ALTERNATIVE OFFROAD EL JEFE RZR

Blue Sea fuse block

Using a Switch Pros 8-position Bluetooth switch module, Alternative laid out the extensive wiring for the SSV Works stereo system, Vision X lighting, Alba Racing gauges, PCI Race Radio, and Safeglo whips. All of these components were wired through a Blue Sea fuse block, allowing easy access to the fuse panel under the hood for repairs. The wiring job is incredibly clean, featuring some nice custom mounts for the audio equipment.

ALTERNATIVE OFFROAD EL JEFE RZR

Trinity Racing Stage 5 full dual exhaust system

As the build began to take shape, a Trinity Racing Stage 5 full dual exhaust system and Stage 5 Pro Tuner were installed for a little more power and more aggressive sound. An Evolution Powersports blow off valve kit was also installed to help evacuate unused air from the intake tract.

ALTERNATIVE OFFROAD EL JEFE RZR

Glazzkraft custom dash

To round out the interior, a Glazzkraft custom dash and center console were added. This gave Alternative much more space to install switches and accessories, such as the Alba Gauges, Lowrance GPS, and SSV Works MRB3 Bluetooth Audio Controller. The interior was finished off with custom Safeglo dome lighting, and a set of absolutely stunning PRP GT SE suspension seats with Bugatti-inspired stitch patterns.

The entire car was wrapped in a matte grey vinyl by One11 Ink, with silver and red metallic contrast lines. We love the clean look of the car- it’s not busy, but elegant. A color-matched set of 15” OMF Performance Type R 3 piece bead lock wheels were added as well, which are arguably the highest-quality aftermarket wheels you can currently buy for a UTV.

ALTERNATIVE OFFROAD EL JEFE RZR

32” STI Chicane RX tires mounted on 15” OMF Performance Type R 3 piece bead lock wheels

This car was made to be driven,  so two sets of matching wheels were ordered- one set for dirt, and one for sand. The dirt wheels were wrapped in 32” STI Chicane RX tires, and the sand set received a set of 30” STU Desert Trak Comp Cut paddles. With either tire set installed, the car looks downright mean.

Alternative Offroad El Jefe

Attention to detail on all 12 volt accessories is incredible

The SSV Works audio system features four 6.5” Kicker component speakers with a single 10” subwoofer, amplified by over 1000 watts of power. The stereo sounds incredible, even from across camp on a windy night in Glamis.

Vision X LED lighting

Vision X LED lighting

Vision X lighting covers the entire car, but the most noticeable pieces are the six light cannons affixed to the electronically-adjustable light bar mounted on the roof. There is a dash-mounted rocker switch that controls an electronic actuator, allowing the driver to aim the light bar up and down without unbuckling or getting out. How’s that for creature comfort?

Vision X’s headlight upgrade kit with LED halo rings was also installed, as well as a set of 5 red Pro Pod accent lights and 4 red Mini Solo Pods.  A 35” rear chase bar can display red, amber or white light, and there is also an LED white Pro Pod light in the trunk that is actuated automatically by a pressure switch. The enclosed trunk uses aircraft-grade latches, ensuring the owner’s gear doesn’t get lost on the trail. The trunk also houses a Full-Metal Fabworks custom air compressor and hose kit for airing back up in the dirt.

Alternative Offroad El Jefe

Alternative Offroad El Jefe

The Madigan Motorsports long travel kit adds 4 inches of width per side, using stock length shocks that have been revalved and resprung by Shock Therapy. The boxed arm kit offers around 20” of wheel travel, with TIG welded arms that are almost to pretty to powdercoat. The kit uses an aftermarket bulkhead up front to relocate the upper shock mounts for proper geometry. Out in the dunes, the car rides incredibly smoothly, with gobs of wheel travel to suck up big whoops and G outs with ease. Even with all of the aftermarket parts added to this car, the Polaris turbo motor pulls the weight around Glamis’ big bowls with ease.

Many other small accessories were added, including a host of Axia Alloys billet mounts, an Assault Industries steering wheel, and a Madigan spare tire mount. Keeping all of the occupants in touch while blasting through the desert is PCI Radios’ California Ultimate 4 seat package, allowing in-car communication via headset for all four seats. The car-to-car broadcasting duties are handled by a 50 watt Icom radio programmed by PCI, controllable from either front seat.  

Emily Dods

Emily Dods

We caught our first glimpse of El Jefe shortly after the build concluded at Alternative’s shop in Chatsworth. During the detail shoot, we had model Emily Dods on hand to add a little more beauty to the shoot. Check out the gallery below for more pictures.

Alternative Offroad El Jefe

El Jefe in Glamis

If you’re looking to have your RZR customized, or just need some help wiring accessories, Alternative Offroad has you covered. Their prices are fair, their word is reliable, and best of all, the work is top-notch. Check out www.AlternativeOffroad.com or call (818) 725-1020 for more information. Just make sure to tell them UTV Guide sent you!

Alternative Offroad El Jefe

El Jefe

Owner: Evan S.
Builder: Alternative Offroad
Year: 2016
Model: Polaris RZR XP4 Turbo
Cage/Chassis/Bumper/Doors: Madigan Motorsports
Body: Glazzkraft Vortex Gen 2 Body w/Doors
Suspension: Madigan Motorsports Long Travel & Shock Therapy Dual Rate Springs & Re-Valve
Sway Bar: Factory with Madigan Motorsports Sway Bar Links
Axles: Summer Brothers
ECM: Trinity Racing Stage 5 Pro Tuner
Exhaust: Trinity Racing Stage 5 Full Dual Exhaust System
Turbo: Evolution Powersports Blow-Off Valve
Wheels: 15″ OMF Performance Type-R 3-Piece Bead Locks for Dirt & Sand
Tires: 30” STU Desert Trak Comp Cut for Sand and 32” STI Chicane for Dirt
Seats: PRP Seats GT SE Suspension Seats with Bugatti Stitch
Harnesses: PRP Seats Auto Latch Harnesses
Graphics: Wrap by One11 Ink
Audio: SSV Works 5 Speaker Kicker Stereo System w/ MRB3 Bluetooth System
Lighting: (6) VisionX 4.5” Cannons on Roof, RZR Headlight Upgrade Kit w/ LED Halos, 5 Red Pro Pods for Accent Lighting with 4 Red Mini-Solo Pods. Rear 35” Chaser Bar with Red/Amber/White Lights, 1 White Pro Pod for Rear Trunk Lighting on Pressure Switch
Communications & GPS: PCI Race Radios California Ultimate 4 Seat Package & Lowrance Elite 7TI GPS
Whips: Safeglo Whips Push-Button LED Whips
Mirrors: Assault UTV Stealth Side Mirrors and Axia Alloys 17” Rearview Mirror
Dash & Center Console: Custom Glazzkraft Fiberglass Dash with Center Console
Switching & Electrical- Switch Pros 8-Position Bluetooth Switch Module & Blue Sea Fuse Block. All Wiring Done by Alternative Offroad
Gauges- Alba Racing Turbo PSI Gauge & Belt Temperature Gauge
Spare Tire Mount: Custom Trunk Lid & Spare Tire Mount for 32” Tire by Madigan Motorsports
Compressor: Full Metal Fabworks Custom Air Compressor & Hose Kit in Bed
Accessories- Axia Alloys Fire Extinguisher Kit, Safeglo Dome Lights, Assault UTV Shift Knob, Assault UTV D-Shape Steering Wheel Kit,
Powdercoating- All Custom Powdercoat by PowderCoat Industries

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