The original Kawasaki Teryx helped establish the sport-utility side-by-side category, but its factory skid plates left significant portions of the chassis exposed. Because our Teryx was being prepared for rock crawling, desert riding and trails such as the Rubicon, upgrading the underbody protection was a priority.
We installed a Factory UTV UHMW skid plate designed for the first-generation 2008–2013 Kawasaki Teryx. The replacement provided considerably more coverage than the stock pieces, including protection beneath the seats.
This skid plate was part of the larger 2008 Kawasaki Teryx build that we developed for dunes, desert terrain and technical rock trails.
Why Use a UHMW Skid Plate?
UHMW stands for ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene. It is a dense, abrasion-resistant plastic commonly used for UTV skid plates, suspension guards and other components that regularly contact rocks and trail debris.
Unlike thin metal protection that can dent or develop sharp edges, UHMW has some flexibility and a relatively slick surface. That allows the vehicle to slide across rocks instead of hanging up as easily. It also does not produce the same scraping sound as an aluminum skid plate.
The Factory UTV system also uses recessed mounting locations. Keeping the bolt heads above the skid-plate surface reduces the likelihood of the hardware catching on rocks or becoming damaged.
Factory UTV Skid-Plate Coverage
The Factory UTV skid plate covered a much larger area than the original protection. It arrived predrilled for installation, oil changes and drainage, and it reused several of the Kawasaki mounting locations and factory dish washers.
Kawasaki Teryx Skid-Plate Installation
Access to a vehicle lift makes this installation considerably easier. The skid plate can be installed with the Teryx supported securely on jack stands, but a lift provides much better access to the fasteners and the underside of the chassis.
The factory bolts use 10mm heads. We reused the original dish washers where specified when installing the new skid plate.
A few of the original threaded inserts began spinning while we removed the factory protection. Carefully applying upward pressure beneath the skid plate with a screwdriver helped hold the inserts in place so the bolts could be removed. Use caution to avoid damaging the chassis, skid plate or surrounding components.
Because the underside of the engine was readily accessible, we changed the oil and filter before installing the new protection. Combining maintenance with the skid-plate installation saved us from removing access panels again shortly afterward.
One particularly useful detail was the transition between the front and main skid sections. The forward plate overlapped the main plate in the direction of travel, eliminating a forward-facing lip that could catch on a rock.
Including the oil and filter change, the complete installation took approximately an hour and a half. Installation time will vary depending on the condition of the original fasteners and whether a lift is available.
Additional Skid-Plate Details
Verdict
The Factory UTV UHMW skid plate addressed the biggest shortcomings of the original Kawasaki protection: limited coverage, thin material and exposed mounting hardware. Its broader coverage and smooth transitions made it a worthwhile upgrade for a Teryx used on rocky trails and in open desert terrain.
This review applies specifically to the first-generation 2008–2013 Kawasaki Teryx. Factory UTV also offers a separate skid-plate system for later Teryx and Teryx4 models, so verify the model and model year before ordering.
Where to Buy
The 2008–2013 Kawasaki Teryx UHMW skid plate remains available directly from Factory UTV.
- Manufacturer: Factory UTV
- Fitment: 2008–2013 Kawasaki Teryx
- Phone: (916) 383-2730
- Website: FactoryUTV.net
