Originally published April 7, 2008. This report has been rebuilt using the original full-size photographs and updated with historical context. For current fees, rules, camping information and riding-area details, see our Sand Mountain Recreation Area guide.
Our April 2008 trip to Sand Mountain, Nevada, brought together two UTVGuide.net project vehicles at very different stages of development. The first-generation Polaris RZR build was nearing completion with long-travel suspension, Fullbore bodywork and several engine-performance upgrades. Our new Kawasaki Teryx build was just beginning, with replacement Bilstein shocks, an aftermarket CDI and exhaust among its first modifications.
We spent the weekend riding the dunes, exploring the desert east of Sand Mountain and evaluating how the two early recreational UTV platforms approached the same terrain.
The trip also captured another story affecting off-road recreation in 2008: diesel cost $4.35 per gallon in Placerville, California. Despite beautiful spring weather, the Sand Mountain camping area was unusually quiet, leaving us wondering how sharply rising fuel prices would affect future dune trips.
Diesel Reaches $4.35 per Gallon
Fuel prices were impossible to ignore on the drive from Northern California. A station in Placerville was charging $4.35 per gallon for diesel, with gasoline grades ranging from $3.85 to $4.05.
Those numbers were shocking in April 2008, especially for enthusiasts towing heavy trailers or toy haulers over the Sierra Nevada. The cost of fueling the tow vehicle, UTVs and support equipment could add substantially to a weekend trip.
For such a pleasant weekend, the crowd at Sand Mountain was smaller than expected. Fuel cost may not have been the only reason, but it was clearly becoming an important consideration for off-road travelers.
Hauling the RZR and Teryx
We transported both project vehicles on a 16-foot open trailer. Fitting two UTVs onto a relatively short trailer required careful placement and left very little unused space.
Modern owners should confirm the trailer’s weight rating, tongue weight, tie-down capacity and total loaded dimensions before transporting multiple UTVs. Vehicle modifications can significantly change both width and weight.
Exploring East of Sand Mountain
Sand Mountain’s main dune is the most visible attraction, but the surrounding recreation area also provides access to varied desert terrain. We headed east from the primary dunes to explore rocky trails, small mine openings and volcanic formations.
The contrasting designs of the two project vehicles were apparent on these trails. The RZR was lighter, lower and designed around a more performance-oriented layout. The Teryx was larger and more utility-influenced, with a cargo bed and 749cc V-twin engine.
Small Mines and Volcanic Formations
We encountered several small mine openings while exploring. The examples we saw did not extend far into the rock, and we remained outside rather than attempting to enter them.
Abandoned mines can contain unstable rock, vertical shafts, poor air quality and wildlife. They should be viewed from outside, and barriers or closure signs should never be bypassed.
The nearby volcanic formations were equally interesting. Weathering had created small caves, overhangs and unusual rock textures that contrasted with the open sand.
Dixie Valley and the Back of Sand Mountain
Continuing east brought us into Dixie Valley, where we could look back toward the rear of the Sand Mountain dune system. From this perspective, the dune appeared as an isolated mountain of sand above the surrounding desert and remnants of ancient Lake Lahontan.
New Designated Trail Markers
We encountered numerous new route markers during the trip. In 2008, the Bureau of Land Management established a designated trail system around Sand Mountain to provide motorized access while protecting habitat used by the Sand Mountain blue butterfly and its host plant, Kearney buckwheat.
The designated trail system changed where vehicles could legally travel outside the open dunes. Even when old tracks appeared to continue through the desert, riders needed to follow the marked routes and avoid areas closed to motor vehicles.
Those restrictions remain important today. Riders should use current maps, observe posted signs and avoid creating new tracks through protected habitat.
Views Above the Camping Area
The higher routes east of the dune provided expansive views over Sand Mountain, the camping area and the surrounding valley. With relatively few visitors that weekend, the campground looked especially small beneath the towering dune.
Aerial Views of Sand Mountain
Charlie from Folsom Lake RV flew over the recreation area and photographed the dunes and camping area from the air. The images show how abruptly the main dune rises from the surrounding desert.
Testing the UTVGuide.net Polaris RZR Build
Our first-generation Polaris RZR build was nearing completion by April 2008. The project reflected how quickly the aftermarket embraced the original RZR after its introduction for the 2008 model year.
The most visible change was the full replacement body from Fullbore Innovations. Rather than adding small panels to the factory bodywork, the Fullbore kit gave the RZR a substantially different appearance.
We were also testing several engine-performance modifications:
- A Dynojet Power Commander III fuel controller
- A MonsterPipe dual-exhaust system
- A UMP air-intake system
These components were intended to work together. Increasing intake and exhaust flow without correcting fuel delivery could result in poor performance or an unsafe air-fuel ratio. The Power Commander allowed fuel delivery to be adjusted for the new intake and exhaust combination.
The build illustrates the importance of the original RZR to UTV development. Polaris offered a sportier factory platform, and the aftermarket immediately began pursuing more suspension travel, power and individual styling. Follow the platform’s complete development in our history of the Polaris RZR.
Beginning the UTVGuide.net Kawasaki Teryx Build
Our Kawasaki Teryx buildup was at a much earlier stage. We had started with a completely stock 2008 Teryx during our previous trip to Glamis, where we replaced its original shocks with stock-length Bilstein units.
The Bilstein shocks improved suspension control without requiring wider A-arms, longer axles or the other components associated with a complete long-travel conversion.
At Sand Mountain, we tested two additional performance modifications:
- A Velocity Devices CDI
- A MonsterPipe exhaust system
The CDI addressed ignition and factory electronic limitations, while the exhaust was intended to improve flow from the carbureted V-twin. These relatively simple modifications represented the beginning of a Teryx aftermarket that would eventually include long-travel suspension, big-bore engines, racing cages and extensive chassis upgrades.
See how the platform developed in our history of the Kawasaki Teryx.
RZR Versus Teryx in 2008
The two project vehicles approached recreational performance differently. The RZR was lower, lighter and designed from the beginning around a sportier driving position. Our modified example added long-travel suspension, performance engine components and bodywork that pushed it even farther from a traditional utility vehicle.
The Teryx was larger and retained a more substantial cargo bed, but its 749cc V-twin produced a distinctive character and gave builders significant performance potential. Its stout chassis also made it attractive for desert, dune, trail and racing builds.
Sand Mountain allowed us to experience both sides of the developing performance UTV market during the same weekend. The RZR pointed toward lightweight sport machines, while the Teryx demonstrated that a larger recreation-and-utility platform could also be transformed through suspension and engine development.
Sand Mountain in 2008
This trip captured Sand Mountain and the UTV industry at a moment of transition. Fuel prices were beginning to affect travel decisions, a new designated trail system was appearing around the dunes and two important first-generation UTV platforms were being developed almost in real time.
Modern UTVs arrive with substantially more power, suspension travel and factory equipment than either of these 2008 machines. Much of that progress, however, grew from projects like these—owners and aftermarket companies testing new ideas one component and one dune trip at a time.
For current passes, rules, camping details and trail information, visit our Sand Mountain Recreation Area ride guide. Explore more historical trips in the UTVGuide.net Trip Reports archive.
