Ground clearance means everything when you’re off-roading. And while there’s no golden rule for how much clearance is optimal, ATV owner knows that the more clearance they have, the better.
ATVs, UTVs, and other types of light utility vehicles (LUVs) lack both the natural height and array of adjustable suspension options that mid- and full-sized ute off-roaders have. Likewise, their narrow tracks and high centres of gravity also mean that homemade lift and ground clearance solutions, especially when used with larger tyres, can have unexpected, and potentially catastrophic rollover or failure consequences.
Fortunately, there’s no shortage of affordable, high-quality aftermarket lift kits on the market made especially for LUVs and other types of four-wheelers. They’re designed to give you the maximum possible amount of ground clearance; and versus homemade lift kits, they’re built to be pushed safely to the max.
Trust Professional ATV Lift Kits for ADR-Compliant Ground Clearance
Let’s be honest: at some point, every LUV owner finds themselves despairing over the amount of ground clearance they have. Larger tyres are only part of the solution, though; that’s why you also need to look at today’s high-quality selection of premium ATV lifts for sale for the latest in ground clearance hardware.
From their heavy-duty bracing and chassis stiffening to their hardened and correct length CVs, companies like High Lifter and SuperATV specialize in professionally engineered ATV lift kits that allow you to safely lift your ATV or UTV as much as 6“ without compromising its driveability or stability. These kits are VSB (Vehicle Service Bulletin) 14, and where necessary, Australian Design Rule (ADR) compliant for light vehicle modifications, and consist of a complete range of power-tested, off-road performance parts that include:
- Chromoly A-arms, trailing arms, and radius arms;
- Billet aluminium shock brackets and suspension spacers;
- Heavy-duty sway bar links, tie rods, and tie rod ends;
- Extended steel braided brake lines; and,
- Premium Rhino Brand axles.
With their 6“additional chassis lift, some ATV suspension lift kits can give you up to 18“ of valuable ground clearance while also adding as much as 7“ to your wheel track. That makes it possible for you to safely take on a wide range of wet and dry off-road obstacles that would be impossible otherwise. And even though these components are engineered to be stronger and lighter than OE or homebuilt hardware, their reworked angles and geometry still preserve the soft ride, control, and light-turning radiuses that ATV suspensions are synonymous with.
Lift Kits and Accessories for Australia’s Most Popular ATVs and UTVs
You can buy high-performance four-wheeler lift kits for a full range of the most popular ATVs and UTVs sold in Australia. And make no mistake: not only are they more durable, more reliable, and ultimately more affordable than anything that you and your mates could weld together over a weekend, but they also won’t void your LUV’s warranty.
These are just a few of the ATV and UTV models that High Lifter and SuperATV make lift kits for:
- Yamaha Wolverines and Vikings;
- Polaris Ranger Trail Bosses, Sportsmen, and XPs;
- CanAm Mavericks and Defenders;
- Honda Pioneers;
- Kubota RTVs;
- CFMoto CForces’ and UForces’; and,
- Kawasaki Mules and Teryxs’.
While High Lifter and SuperATV engineered their lift kits to eliminate the need for suspension overhauls, the added off-road confidence they bring invariably means that their modified shock and tie rod angles can still lead to increased wear and damage to other suspension components. That’s why they also manufacture a complete range of heavy-duty parts to reinforce their four-wheeler lift setups even further, including:
- Heavy-duty upper and lower ball joints. 4130 chromoly steel ball joints are tougher than OE, and are built to resist the stresses that are common with hard-driven lift kits.
- Portal Gear Lifts. These alloy-housed, steel-geared assemblies permit larger tyres to be used with the lift kit’s increased ground clearance by offsetting the axle tube above the centrepoint of the wheel.
- Frame stiffeners. The added stresses of a lift kit, a portal gear, and larger wheels and tyres can be punishing for any ATV or UTV, but stiffeners provide the added support their frames need to avoid bending or flexing.
With such an effectively balanced selection of ADR-conforming 4-wheeler lift kit parts and accessories to choose from, you don’t have to be burdened by the headache or risk of calculating and fabricating your own suspension lift pieces. Once they’re installed, these quad lift kits leave you with only one remaining area where you still need to be mindful of your choices: your wheel and tyre combinations.
Choosing the Right Tyres Lets You Get the Most From Your Lift Kit
Although it takes a high-quality lift kit to solve the question of ground clearance, it still takes the right tyres to make the most of the extra clearance. The size of your tyres, the amount of air in them, and the geometry of your lift kit are all going to have an effect on your ability to clear frame-crushing rocks and savage tree roots, and even to navigate through vice-like sand and mud; this is where the type of tread that your tyres have is going to a difference in how well you’re able to utilize your added clearance.
Manufacturers like Armor, BF Goodrich, and Dirt Commander produce some of the most capable ATV and UTV tyres on the market, and the best of their off-road lineups include:
- Mud tyres. These self-cleaning tyres provide the best performance on muddy terrain and are perfect with lift kits that offer 10“ – 12“ of ground clearance.
- Sand tyres. These tyres feature paddle treads that are ideal for LUVs with 11“ – 12“ of ground clearance, especially for sandy substrates that don’t compact very well.
- Rock tyres. Heavy-duty rock crawling tyres offer maximum traction and puncture resistance for the roughest and ruggedest terrain, and are best for ATVs and UTVs with >15“ of lift.
With the right tyre combination, a lift kit lets you tackle terrain that you wouldn’t consider otherwise. It takes a professionally fabricated lift kit, however, to do it safely.
The Final Word
At the end of the day, as exciting as the thought of fabricating your own lift kit may be, the sheer variety of certified aftermarket lift kits on the market means that it’s almost guaranteed to cost you more to do so on your own than to buy one that’s already proven to work. And what you might be sacrificing in reliability by building your own could easily end up costing you more than just the purchase price.
Today’s high-quality selection of premium ATV lifts for sale gives you the ability to raise your quad to the height you want. They’re more than just an affordable alternative to crafting your own lifts: they’re the safest way to get the ground clearance you need to go precisely where you want to go.
