| UTV Accessories
Review
Megan Vickers
Assistant Editor
Utility vehicles are more popular than ever. With their ability to seat two and be used for work or play, many offroad enthusiasts are choosing to stock these vehicles with the types of accessories they want and are willing to spend top dollar for them. From bumpers, to lights, to replacement doors, we’ve got the latest news from some of the industry’s leading companies in this month’s Market Report.
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“ATVenture Components has developed a line of UTV bumpers and accessories,” stated Marketing Director Skipp Fowler, who added, “Our newest models are for the Kawasaki Mule, Yamaha Rhino 660 and the Polaris Ranger.” He told us the company offers a product that will enhance the style and give greater protection to the UTV. “Ease of installation, design and protection have always been top priority for ATVenture Components,” Fowler explained. Style is playing a larger role in a rider’s purchase of accessories, he noted. “Accessories cannot only be functional, there must be a WOW factor,” Fowler added. More dealers are registering their stores with ATVenture Components, he divulged, because their customers are demanding the company’s products and because there are no set up fees to register with ATVenture. “ATVenture Components makes it easy to offer your clients bolt-on accessories through great profit margins and free drop shipping,” Fowler concluded.
UTV ACCESSORIES CONTACT LIST
ATVenture Components
23 Boom Lane, Unit E
Atholville, NB E3N 4E8
Phone: 888-212-1411
Fax: 888-789-0987
www.atv-bumpers.com |
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Baja Designs CEO Deanne Moore told us the company’s latest UTV lighting accessories include new mounting options for its popular UTV Dual Fuego lighting kit. “Baja Designs now offers billet aluminum Fuego Mounting Clamps for 1 1/2 inch and 1 3/4 inch tube, as well as a trick Fuego A-pillar Mounting Bracket,” explained Moore, who added, “The A-pillar bracket combines with the billet mounting clamps and allows for installation of our 4 inch Fuego on the A-pillar area.” Moore told us she has noticed an increase in the demand for high performance lighting options by UTV owners. “Anyone who has driven a UTV at night knows the factory lighting on all UTVs is far from adequate for speeds over 15 mph. Here at Baja Designs, we don’t let sundown put an end to our ride and UTV owners don’t want to either,” stated Moore. Sales are up compared to this time last year, she divulged, which she believes is due to the company’s continuing efforts to develop innovative new lighting accessories and mounting options for
UTVs. “Dealers need to understand that UTVs are being used in a variety of ways and serve many different purposes,” she said. In order to best provide customers with the best product advice, you first need to understand their needs, Moore advised.
Baja Designs
185 Bosstick Blvd.
San Marcos, CA 92069
Phone: 760-560-2252
Fax: 760-560-0383
www.bajadesigns.com |
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“Our newest UTV products are the Mule 610 front bumper and top rack,” noted McDonald ATV General Manager Tony
Runions. The BP361 bumper protects the front plastic and provides a mounting point for a roller fairlead, he explained, adding, “This is a great looking all-steel bumper, powder-coated in a texture satin black for lasting protection.” The mesh center section reportedly allows airflow and is said to give the bumper a completed look. “Snip a small section of the mesh and the two center supports give a perfect mounting point for a fairlead, all this plus quick and easy installation,” Runions said. The WR361 basket style top rack can attach to the top of the roll cage to increase storage capacity and protect from falling debris, he continued. UTV buyers make easy add-on candidates, noted
Runions, because they can recognize the value and the added ‘utility’ of these accessories. “UTV accessory sales continue to be on the rise. We have more products to offer and more units to sell them for,” he told us. Runions concluded by saying, “In a highly competitive market where dealers are selling their hold back for volume sales, UTV accessories can give the profit back. Dealers tell us the 600 plus bucks they profit on a cab is the make or break for their profit margin.”
McDonald ATV
7700 Counts Massie
North Little Rock, AR 72113
Phone: 501-791-9100
Fax: 501-791-9105
www.armor-tech.com |
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“QuadBoss’ newest accessory for UTVs is an arched, folding ramp, which is rated at 2,000 lbs.,” explained Glen
Urquhart, director of the ATV segment. He added, “UTVs weigh much more than ATVs and require a ramp of at least a 2,000 lb. capacity.” These ramps are sold as a pair and fold in the center for easy storage, Urquhart told us, adding, “As with all QuadBoss ramps, it also comes with a 10 year warranty against defects and security straps.” Accessorize the units on the sales floor, he advised. “Two or three units dressed in themes should do the trick, he said.
QuadBoss’ accessory sales are way ahead of last year, Urquhart divulged, and he recommended dealerships should write accessories into the sale of the unit and let their customers know they can be included in the financing.
QuadBoss – Tucker Rocky
4900 Alliance Gateway Frwy.
Fort Worth, TX 76177
Phone: 800-347-1010
Fax: 800-304-1020
www.quadboss.com |
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The Seizmik aluminum modular door system for the Yamaha Rhino can be configured as a full door, half door, or just a cool looking lower door frame, stated company President Steve
Shankin. “Our doors aren’t just simple ‘leg minders’ or ‘half doors’, they’re both these things, plus a full door,” he explained, adding, the main structure of the door system is made of aircraft grade 6061 heat treated aluminum and it is incredibly light and strong. “Changing the configuration from full door, to half door, to lower door frame can be done in seconds without using tools,” Shankin told us. Seizmik’s UTV accessory sales are up this year, he divulged, adding, “We’ve developed more new products and more dealers have found out about us. Our accessories allow a dealer to make a pretty substantial additional profit when selling a vehicle and make their customers a lot happier with the vehicle they’ve bought.” He recommends dealers should get their customers to think of their UTV purchase like a car: “You gotta put some cool stuff on it – you don’t want the stripped down base model,” or “I can get you a roof, windshield, gun rack and center console all for only $19 more per month.”
Seizmik
1412 Stewart St.
Fuquay Varina, NC 27526
Phone: 919-349-5323
Fax: 919-957-4433
www.seizmik.com |
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The Trail Armor CoolFlo Windshield has a unique two piece design that breaks the low pressure zone to relieve back draft dust and heat, stated spokesperson Allison Turner. “Made of 1/4 inch polycarbonate with mar-resistant coating on the interior and exterior, the CoolFlo Windshield mounts with brackets for added rigidity while towing and on the trail,” she told us. The CoolFlo Windshield offers superior eye and face protection, is easy to install and the rider can remove or replace the lower panel quickly, Turner said, adding, “It is available now for the Rhino ($339) and Prowler ($349), Polaris RZR ($299) and Polaris Ranger ($425).” Performance parts, safety improvements and dust control are some important trends she said she has noticed in regard to the
ATV/UTV accessory markets. Sales are about the same as the previous year’s, despite the added competition, Turner explained. She concluded by saying, “Benefits of product, installation tips and troubleshooting tips during installation” are all things a dealer needs to know about the accessories they stock.
Trail Armor
268 CR 409
Rienzi, MS 38865
Phone: 662-462-8054
Fax: 662-462-8054
www.trailarmor.com |
Keeping a fully accessorized UTV on the sales floor is a great way to show your customers the different products available. Tying in the sale of the accessories a consumer wants with the vehicle they are buying is another way to make a sale. We hope this month’s segment was beneficial to you and don’t forget to read our segment on the new UTV models, elsewhere in this issue. |
