High Lifter Products introduced its first Gear Lift for UTVs in March 2014. The bolt-on portal system provided four inches of lift at the wheel hubs while incorporating approximately 30% gear reduction.
The combination addressed two challenges commonly created by substantially larger tires: reduced ground clearance beneath the drivetrain and taller effective gearing. Rather than changing suspension mounting points to raise the vehicle, the Gear Lift relocated the wheel hub below the axle centerline.
Editor’s note: This article documents the original 2014 High Lifter Gear Lift introduction. The listed applications, availability and $3,295 retail price are historical and should not be treated as current product information.
How the High Lifter Gear Lift Worked
Each portal housing used three one-inch-wide, heat-treated steel gears. The geared hub increased the distance between the axle centerline and the wheel centerline, producing four inches of additional ground clearance beneath the axles.
The system retained the factory suspension mounting points and avoided the increased CV-joint angles commonly associated with suspension lift kits. This helped preserve the original suspension geometry, although the additional portal and wheel offset changed the vehicle’s overall width and added unsprung weight.
For a detailed explanation of this type of system, see our guide to how UTV portal gear lifts work.
Approximately 30% Gear Reduction
High Lifter described the original system as having a 1:1.4 ratio, resulting in approximately 30% gear reduction at the wheel. That reduction multiplied wheel torque and helped compensate for the taller effective gearing and additional rotating mass created by oversized tires.
Because the reduction occurred at the hubs, the portal system also reduced the torque load passing through the CV axles, differentials and other upstream drivetrain components. That made the Gear Lift particularly useful for mud machines running tires substantially larger than their original equipment.
“In the past, larger lifts and tires have required axles, gear reductions, and more to achieve that ‘stock-like’ feel. The High Lifter Gear Lift has taken lift kits to the next level by providing a single, bolt-on large lift solution so riders can hit the mud, rocks, and everything in between,” High Lifter President Scott Smith said when the product was introduced.
Original High Lifter Gear Lift Applications
High Lifter announced or planned Gear Lift applications for the following machines in 2014:
- Polaris RZR S 800
- Polaris RZR 800 4
- Polaris RZR XP 900
- Polaris RZR XP 4 900
- Polaris RZR XP 1000
- Polaris RANGER 800
- Polaris RANGER XP 900
- Polaris RANGER CREW 900
- Can-Am Commander 1000
- Can-Am Maverick 1000
- John Deere Gator RSX850i
The first kits carried a suggested retail price of $3,295. Fitment and pricing have changed substantially since this original announcement, so owners should confirm current applications directly with High Lifter.
Why the 2014 Gear Lift Was Important
Portal axles had already been used in military, agricultural and specialty off-road vehicles, but High Lifter’s Gear Lift helped bring the concept to a broader UTV audience. The ability to combine added ground clearance and lower gearing in one bolt-on system made portals particularly attractive to mud riders using oversized tires.
Portal systems subsequently became a major segment of the UTV aftermarket, with manufacturers offering different lift heights, gear reductions, housing materials and internal gear configurations. High Lifter continued building its reputation around mud-focused suspension and drivetrain products before becoming part of SuperATV in 2026. Read more about the addition of High Lifter to SuperATV.
About High Lifter Products
High Lifter was founded in Louisiana in 1996 after its founder developed a homemade ATV lift kit. The company grew into one of the most recognizable brands in ATV and UTV mud riding, producing lift kits, portal gear lifts, axles, suspension components, snorkels, tires, wheels and other mud-focused accessories.
