Originally published February 19, 2016. This trip report has been updated and reformatted with full-size photography while preserving our firsthand impressions of the Arctic Cat Wildcat Sport.
Our Arctic Cat Wildcat Sport had already spent time in the dunes, rocks and conventional trails, where the compact 60-inch sport UTV proved to be an impressively versatile little machine. The next step was to add a carefully selected group of protective and functional upgrades—and then take it to California’s legendary Rubicon Trail.
Rather than turning the Wildcat Sport into an extreme rock-crawling build, we concentrated on practical bolt-on improvements: underbody protection, additional ground clearance, better seating and restraints, improved visibility and a few appearance upgrades.
For more background on the stock machine, read our Arctic Cat Wildcat Sport review. You can also see the complete progression of this project in our Wildcat Sport buildup.
Where the Wildcat Sport Fit in the Arctic Cat Lineup
The Arctic Cat Wildcat Sport measured 110.5 inches long and 60 inches wide. That placed it between the 50-inch-wide Wildcat Trail and the larger 64-inch-wide Wildcat 1000.
Its 60-inch stance positioned the Wildcat Sport as a performance-oriented trail machine and a direct alternative to vehicles such as the Polaris RZR S. The relatively short wheelbase and low weight also gave it characteristics that looked promising for technical rock crawling.
Factory UTV UHMW Skid Protection
Protecting the underside was our first priority before putting the Wildcat Sport onto the Rubicon’s granite. Factory UTV supplied a 3/8-inch UHMW skid plate, A-arm guards and rock sliders.
UHMW is extremely tough, slides across rocks better than many conventional materials and can flex before returning to its original shape. We had used Factory UTV protection on several previous projects, and it was an easy choice for this build.
28-Inch STI Roctane XS Tires and Beadlock Wheels
The next objective was to increase ground clearance. The Wildcat Sport came with 26-inch Carlisle Trail Pro tires and approximately 10 inches of ground clearance.
We replaced the stock setup with 28x10R14 STI Roctane XS tires mounted on STI HD5 beadlock wheels with red beadlock rings. The eight-ply Roctane XS was a slightly lighter-duty alternative to the Roctane XD, but it still provided more tire than we expected the lightweight Wildcat Sport to need.
The Roctane XS measured close to its advertised 28-inch height, while the stock Carlisle tires measured closer to 25 inches. The change produced approximately 1.5 inches of additional ground clearance—an important gain for the ledges and uneven granite found on the Rubicon.
Simple Wildcat Sport Graphics
To complement the red beadlock rings and break up the factory-black bodywork without paying for a complete wrap, Diamond Wrap Factory in Placerville, California, added red accents and carbon-fiber-pattern material to the fenders.
It was a relatively simple and inexpensive change, but it gave the Wildcat Sport a much more distinctive appearance.
Lazerstar LED Trail Lights
We also wanted more lighting for night rides without adding unnecessary cost, weight or electrical complexity. Lazerstar supplied two compact four-inch, 5-watt Endeavour LED lights with flood-beam patterns.
Despite their small size, the lights produced a useful spread of illumination directly in front of the vehicle and along both sides of the trail.
DragonFire Seats, Harnesses and Cockpit Upgrades
Hart’s UTV in Sacramento handled the next phase of the project. The shop installed a collection of DragonFire components intended to improve comfort, occupant security, visibility and cockpit function:
- DragonFire HighBack GT seats
- DragonFire EVO harnesses
- Defender SS side mirrors
- RockSolid Head Ache Bars
- RockSolid dash bar
- RockSolid harness bar
- Quick-release steering-wheel kit
Testing the Wildcat Sport on the Rubicon Trail
With the quick build completed, it was time to put the upgrades to work. Northern California was experiencing temperatures around 70 degrees, giving us an opportunity for one final late-season run on the Rubicon.
The trail reaches elevations above 6,000 feet, however, and several winter storms had already moved through the Sierra Nevada. Snow, standing water and ice added another layer of difficulty to the granite terrain.
For a complete overview of the route, major obstacles, trailheads and camping areas, see our Rubicon Trail ride-spot guide.
Ground Clearance and Four-Wheel Drive
The benefits of the taller tires appeared almost immediately. We encountered rocks that contacted the skid plate and came close to high-centering the Wildcat Sport. The tires were still able to find enough traction to pull us across, but the result likely would have been different without the additional clearance.
The stock selectable front differential lock was also essential whenever uneven terrain lifted a tire and reduced the available traction.
Stock Clutch With 28-Inch Tires
We left the factory TEAM Rapid Response clutch completely stock. Despite the increase in tire diameter and weight, the clutch handled the 28-inch Roctane XS tires without noticeable belt slippage. Low-speed engagement also remained controllable in the rocks.
Clutch calibration could potentially recover some of the performance affected by the larger and heavier tires, but the stock setup worked well enough that we did not consider an immediate change necessary.
Wildcat Sport Rubicon Trail Impressions
The completed build delivered exactly what we wanted. We did not dramatically alter the Wildcat Sport or bury it under a long list of complicated modifications. Most of the upgrades were straightforward bolt-on parts, allowing us to finish the project quickly and get the vehicle back onto the trail.
The Wildcat Sport felt light and nimble in technical terrain. Its compact dimensions made it easy to position between rocks, while the relatively low vehicle weight helped when climbing ledges and working through uneven sections.
The 28-inch tires and UHMW protection were the two most important changes for this particular terrain. The taller tires improved breakover clearance, while the skid plate and sliders provided valuable protection when our line was less than perfect.
A Successful Lightweight Trail Build
This trip demonstrated that the Arctic Cat Wildcat Sport did not need an extreme transformation to become a more capable trail and rock-crawling machine. Protection, tires and a few well-chosen cockpit upgrades addressed its most important needs without sacrificing the nimble character that made it enjoyable to drive.
The snowy run also left us ready for summer and a longer trip across more of the Rubicon. Explore our Rubicon Trail guide for additional UTV trip reports, trail information, obstacles and camping destinations.
