SuperATV’s Depth Finder is an extreme Polaris RZR XP 4 1000 mud build featuring a massive lift, GDP portal gear lifts, Rhino axles and 36-inch Intimidator tires. Created for Destination Polaris’ Project X, the one-off machine showcased what SuperATV could accomplish when its engineers and fabricators were given permission to go big.
Built to Go Deep
The Depth Finder began with a Polaris RZR XP 4 1000, but little of the original machine’s appearance remained after SuperATV completed the transformation. Its military-inspired bodywork, custom roll cage and oversized tires made the build look more like an amphibious assault vehicle than a conventional recreational side-by-side.
SuperATV based the suspension around a custom version of its signature 10-inch lift. Reinforced trailing arms and high-clearance boxed front A-arms were designed to create the strength and clearance needed to support the build’s enormous tire package.
“Depth Finder embodies the creativity and craftsmanship at SuperATV,” said SuperATV Vice President Lindsay Hunt when the machine debuted. “We challenged our team to go big, and I’m blown away with what they delivered.”
Portal Gear Lifts and 36-Inch Tires
A 4-inch Gear Driven Performance portal gear lift added even more ground clearance while moving the gear reduction to the wheel hubs. That reduction helped the RZR turn its 36-inch Intimidator mud tires without relying solely on clutch tuning to compensate for the much larger tire diameter.
The portals were paired with SuperATV Rhino Brand axles to handle the increased operating angles and added drivetrain loads. Together, the suspension lift and portal system gave the Depth Finder the stance, clearance and gearing needed for deep mud and water crossings.
Portal gear lifts were still a relatively new concept in the UTV aftermarket when the Depth Finder appeared in 2015. The build helped demonstrate why portals could be valuable on machines running oversized tires: they increased clearance beneath the suspension and introduced gear reduction near the wheels.
SuperATV later expanded its GDP portal lineup considerably. For a closer look at the company and the early development of its portal systems, read our SuperATV company profile.
Custom Fabrication from End to End
The Depth Finder was more than a collection of suspension parts. SuperATV fabricated a one-of-a-kind roll cage along with custom front and rear bumpers, grilles and body details that gave the machine its distinctive appearance.
The tall cage incorporated an enclosed upper structure and roof platform, while the front bumper and grille reinforced the build’s aggressive military theme. Matching fabrication at the rear helped make the entire RZR look like one cohesive project rather than a stock machine fitted with individual accessories.
“Depth Finder is spectacular down to the one-of-a-kind cage, custom front and rear bumpers and all the other details that bring this build to life,” Hunt said. “And the best part is it’s a blast to drive.”
A Preview of Future SuperATV Products
Although the Depth Finder was a one-off show build, it also served as a rolling test bed for products SuperATV planned to offer to customers. At the time of its debut, the company indicated that production versions of several components were under development, including a 7-to-10-inch lift kit, front and rear bumpers, front and hood grilles and GDP portal gear lifts.
The company continued developing those ideas in later builds. SuperATV’s After Shock recovery RZR combined portal gear lifts, Rhino axles and oversized tires with an onboard welder, air compressor and retractable recovery boom.
About SuperATV
Harold Hunt founded SuperATV in 2003 after designing a 2-inch EZ Install lift kit for the Polaris Sportsman. The first kits were packaged and shipped from his home garage, but the business quickly expanded into wheel spacers, bumpers, axles, suspension systems and other ATV and UTV accessories.
By the time the Depth Finder was built, SuperATV had grown into a major aftermarket manufacturer with engineering, fabrication and product-development capabilities at its Madison, Indiana, headquarters. The company’s product line continued to expand around suspension components, portal gear lifts, axles, protection and accessories for a wide variety of side-by-sides.
A Memorable Extreme-Mud Build
The SuperATV Depth Finder captured a period when builders were rapidly exploring how far the Polaris RZR platform could be pushed. Its towering stance immediately attracted attention, but the portal gear reduction, reinforced suspension and heavy-duty axles gave the build a functional foundation beneath its dramatic appearance.
More than a decade later, portals and oversized tires have become familiar equipment on extreme mud machines. The Depth Finder remains a notable early example of how those components could be combined into a complete, purpose-built UTV.
Explore more custom machines in the UTV of the Month archive.
