Can Am Maverick Sport X RC vs Polaris RZR XP 1000 Trails & Rocks
Although rock crawling has been around for years, it didn’t seem to really hit the mainstream until about the early 2000s. It’s been growing in popularity ever since! Demos, rock crawling parks and rock bouncing/rock racing events are popping up everywhere.
Jeep and pickup truck owners have been heavily modifying their rigs for rock crawling for years now. But, UTV/SxS owners weren’t just sitting on the sidelines, those with the means and money have also been hacking their rigs to build rock crawlers for years.
Unfortunately, building a rock crawler UTV is out of the range of the average user. Not only does it take a lot of money to make happen, but it also requires the knowledge to make it happen.
With more people interested in rock crawling, manufacturers took notice.
Market leaders Polaris and CanAm both saw the demand and introduced rock crawling specific models.
A few short years ago, in 2017, Polaris released the first factory spec rock crawler UTV, the RZR XP 1000 EPS. The next year, this model morphed into the Polaris Trails & Rocks model. In 2018, CanAm followed suit when they introduced their first rock crawler, the Maverick X3 X RC.
While other manufacturers make UTVs that are capable rock crawlers such as Kawasaki’s Teryx KRX 1000 Trail, currently only Polaris and CanAm are making and marketing rock crawling specific UTVs. These UTVs have all the features you need for rock crawling without requiring any after market mods.
Features Needed For Rock Crawling
- Rugged build
- Powerful engine
- Skid plates
- Low gearing
- High clearance
- Large tires
- Roll over protection (w/full doors)
- Winch
- Premium shocks
- High clearance A-arms with excellent travel
- Bumpers/Rock sliders
- Improved throttle control
- Shorter wheelbase
Rock Crawler UTV
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| Can Am Maverick Sport X RC | Polaris RZR XP 1000 Trails & Rocks |
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| Price | $22,700 | $27,400 | |
| Engine | Rotax 976 cc, V-twin, liquid-cooled | ProStar 999cc, 4-Stroke DOHC twin cylinder | |
| HP | 100 | 110 | |
| Transmission | Quick Response System CVT L/H/N/R/P with high-airflow ventilation and Electronic Drive Belt Protection | Automatic PVT P/R/N/L/H with Reduced L Gear | |
| Suspension Front | Arched double A-arm with sway bar/14.8" travel | High Clearance Lower Control Arms, Dual A-Arm and 20.5" usable travel, 16" of wheel travel | |
| Suspension Rear | Arched TTA with sway bar/14.8" travel | High Clearance Radius Rods, Trailing Arm with stabilizer bar and 20.5" usable travel, 18" of wheel travel | |
| Shocks Front | FOX 2.5 PODIUM piggyback with QS3 compression adjustment | 2" Walker Evans Needle Shocks with 16-position adjustable clickers | |
| Shocks Rear | FOX 2.5 PODIUM piggyback with QS3 compression adjustment | 2.5" Walker Evans Needle Shocks with 16-position adjustable clickers | |
| Tires | Maxxis Liberty 30"x10"x14" | Pro Armor Crawler XG 30"x10"x14" | |
| Wheelbase | 90.6" | 90" | |
| Ground Clearance | 15" | 14.5" |
Can Am Maverick Sport X RC
Starts @ 23,800
Featuring a Rotax 976 cc, V-twin, liquid-cooled engine with 110 hp.
Built with rock crawling in mind, the Can Am Maverick Sport X RC features their Smart-Loc differential. This is a fully lockable on-the-fly front differential designed to deliver maximum traction whatever the conditions. It features 4 modes: 2WD/4WD with front differential lock, 4WD ROCK and 4WD TRAIL
Both the front and rear have FOX 2.5 PODIUM QS3 (Quick Switch 3-position) piggyback shocks with compression damping that can be quickly set according to riding conditions.
Suspension has high clearance arched double A-arm with sway bar in the front with arched TTA with sway bar in the rear. Both have 14.8″ of travel.
Maxxis Liberty 30″ tires on 14″ cast-aluminum wheels jack up the ground clearance to 15″, which beats out the Polaris RZR XP 1000 Trails & Rocks by a 1/2″.
Polaris RZR XP 1000 Trails & Rocks
Starts @ $27,400
Since Polaris was first to the market with a factory spec rock crawler, it’s no surprise that they’re still setting the pace. The Trails & Rocks Edition is a beast of a machine with 999cc, 4-Stroke DOHC twin cylinder and 110 hp.
But, in addition to raw power, what a rock hopper really needs is torque and clearance. Polaris delivers on both with improved gearing as well as premium tires and high clearance suspension for optimal ground clearance.
‘Xtreme Performance AWD’ with a 55% lower low gear and low speed throttle mapping is ideal for when you need to take it low and slow while navigating challenging terrain.
Front 2″ Walker Evans Needle Shocks and rear 2.5″ Walker Evans Needle Shocks in the rear both feature 16-position adjustable clickers for maximum adjustability and comfort.
High clearance A Arms and rods suspension delivers an impressive 20.5″ of usable front and rear travel and 16″ of wheel travel in the front and 18″ in the rear.
30″ Pro Armor Crawler XG tires on 14″ beadlock wheels help riders gain an impressive 14.5″ of ground clearance.
