S3 Powersports “Show Stopper” RZR XP 1000 Mud Build

Posted on April 9, 2014
11:18 am

When the Polaris RZR XP 1000 arrived for the 2014 model year, builders quickly began adapting the new platform for everything from dunes and desert racing to rock crawling and deep mud. Dustin Jones of S3 Powersports took the mud-build approach to an entirely different level with a custom RZR known as the “Show Stopper.”

S3 Powersports had been building custom side-by-sides since 2011, with much of its work focused on mud riding and racing. The Show Stopper was Dustin’s personal machine, giving the S3 crew an opportunity to showcase its fabrication, suspension and mud-performance capabilities without the limitations of a typical customer build.

The project began with a 2014 Polaris RZR XP 1000. Although the factory XP 1000 was already one of the most capable sport UTVs available at the time, S3 transformed it into a dramatically taller and more aggressive mud machine.

Eight-Inch S3 Powersports Lift

The foundation of the build is an eight-inch S3 Powersports suspension lift. In addition to providing the altitude needed for deep mud and oversized tires, the lift gives the Show Stopper its unmistakable stance.

The suspension components were paired with Gorilla Axles to handle the increased operating angles and additional load created by the lift and larger tires. This was particularly important for a machine intended to work through deep mud, where the drivetrain is frequently subjected to heavy resistance and sudden changes in traction.

34-Inch Mud Tires and MSA Wheels

The Show Stopper rolls on 34-inch Superior Traction mud tires mounted to MSA M22 Enduro wheels. The tall, aggressive tires provide additional ground clearance while helping the RZR maintain traction in the soft terrain for which it was built.

Combining 34-inch tires with an eight-inch lift created a much different machine from the comparatively low and agile stock XP 1000. This build prioritized deep-mud capability, clearance and visual impact.

Custom Cage, Bumper and Snorkel System

S3 Powersports fabricated a custom roll cage and a substantial front bumper to match the scale of the lifted RZR. The bumper houses a 5,000-pound Viper winch, providing an important recovery option when the mud becomes deeper or softer than expected.

A complete S3 Powersports snorkel system raises the engine intake and drivetrain venting for deep-water and mud use. The tall snorkel stacks are also among the most recognizable visual elements of the build.

As with any snorkeled vehicle, the system does not make every electrical and mechanical component waterproof. It does, however, help protect the engine and properly vented drivetrain components when the vehicle encounters water deeper than the stock intake location was designed to handle.

Custom Interior and Wet Sounds Audio

Inside, the Show Stopper received customized Pro Armor seats and a complete audio system designed and installed by Wet Sounds. The upgraded interior brings a show-quality finish to a machine built for an environment that is rarely kind to upholstery, electronics or detailed fabrication.

Muzzys Dual Exhaust

A Muzzys Performance dual-exhaust system was installed at the rear of the XP 1000. In addition to complementing the build’s aggressive appearance, the twin outlets give the Show Stopper a distinctive look from behind.

Show-Quality Finish

Despite being designed as a serious mud machine, the Show Stopper received the level of finishing normally associated with a dedicated display vehicle. Advanced Powder Coatings handled the suspension, cage and bumper, creating a consistent finish across the major fabricated components.

SJ Solutions completed the custom body paint, tying the colors of the body, suspension and fabrication together. The finished RZR combined exaggerated mud-build proportions with the detail required to live up to its name.

Featured on Destination Polaris

The S3 Powersports Show Stopper appeared on Destination Polaris in April 2014. At a time when builders were still exploring the possibilities of the newly introduced XP 1000 platform, the vehicle demonstrated how quickly the aftermarket could transform Polaris’ flagship sport machine into a highly specialized mud build.

The Show Stopper also represents an interesting chapter in the broader history of the Polaris RZR. Long before factory mud editions became a major part of the market, independent builders such as S3 Powersports were developing lifted suspension systems, snorkels and reinforced driveline packages for riders who wanted to take sport UTVs into deep mud.