Built around the groundbreaking 121-horsepower 2015 Can-Am Maverick X ds Turbo, “Eliminator” was created to deliver serious performance in the dunes and wide-open desert. TMW Off-Road handled the custom fabrication, while a carefully selected collection of suspension, lighting, audio, safety and appearance upgrades transformed the new Maverick into a complete high-performance build.
Can-Am’s Maverick Turbo Media Build-Off
In 2014, Can-Am challenged UTV Off-Road Magazine and four other media outlets to create custom builds using its all-new Maverick X ds Turbo. Each outlet received one of the first machines before the new model reached dealerships or became widely available to the media.
The teams had approximately one month to turn their ideas into finished vehicles. Once completed, all five Mavericks were displayed on Can-Am’s Facebook page as part of the “What Would You Do to a Maverick?” campaign, identified by the hashtag #WWYD2AM.
The timing made the competition especially significant. The 2015 Can-Am Maverick 1000R X ds Turbo introduced the industry’s first factory-installed turbocharger in a side-by-side. Its 976cc Rotax V-twin produced 121 horsepower, giving builders an entirely new level of factory performance to work with.
Building a Maverick for the Dunes
We received the build-off invitation while attending the first UTV Dune Invasion at the St. Anthony Sand Dunes in Idaho. After driving turbocharged and naturally aspirated Mavericks in the sand, the direction for the project became obvious.
Horsepower makes a major difference in the dunes, especially when climbing tall faces or accelerating through deep, power-robbing sand. The Turbo Maverick’s additional power and torque made it an ideal foundation for a machine designed primarily for dunes and fast desert terrain.
For the fabrication work, we contacted Doug Tyler at TMW Off-Road. TMW was best known at the time for its highly customized Polaris RZR builds, but its distinctive design style and attention to detail made the company a natural fit for this project.
Custom TMW Off-Road Cage
TMW retained the substantial 2-inch tubing diameter used on the factory Maverick cage, preserving the machine’s strong visual presence. The new cage followed the general shape of the original B-pillars but sat lower for a sleeker, more aggressive profile.
The rear tubes flowed into the rear bumper and tied into the frame behind the differential. This gave the cage, roof and rear protection a unified appearance instead of making them look like unrelated accessories.
TMW also constructed the cage so wiring could be routed internally through the intersecting tubes. This helped conceal wiring for the audio system, LED lighting and illuminated whips while keeping the finished installation clean.
The Maverick’s intercooler location between the driver and passenger seats created an additional fabrication challenge. A conventional straight harness bar would interfere with it, so TMW routed the bar around the intercooler while keeping the harness mounting points properly positioned behind the occupants.
Compact Front Bumper and Candy-Green Powdercoat
TMW kept the front bumper compact and positioned it as close to the Maverick’s body as possible. A bulky bumper extending ahead of the tires can reduce the approach angle and contact an obstacle before the front tires have an opportunity to climb it.
Once fabrication was complete, the cage and bumpers received a bright two-stage “Shocker” metallic candy-green powdercoat. The same green treatment was applied to selected suspension components, establishing the color theme that would eventually carry across the entire build.
Exhaust, Lighting and Audio
With the fabrication finished, TMW stripped the Maverick and began installing the performance and electrical accessories. A Trinity Racing Stage 5 dual exhaust complemented the turbocharged Rotax engine and gave the Maverick a more aggressive exhaust note.
A Rockford Fosgate audio system supplied music in the dunes, while illuminated Smart Whips improved visibility around camp and during nighttime rides. Forward lighting came from a 40-inch KC HiLiTES C-Series LED light bar and smaller KC Flex Series LEDs mounted to the front bumper. Green KC Cyclone LEDs underneath the Maverick added accent lighting that matched the rest of the build.
Assault Industries supplied a Stealth Series panoramic center mirror, side mirrors with green bezels, helmet locks, a suede steering wheel with green stitching, a fire extinguisher and mount, and heavy-duty Maverick tie rods.
Separate Dirt and Sand Tire Packages
Rather than compromising with one tire setup, Eliminator was equipped with separate packages for desert terrain and sand.
For dirt and desert use, the Maverick rode on 30-inch GMZ Kahuna tires mounted to GMZ LiteLok beadlock wheels. The larger tires increased ground clearance and provided a versatile footprint for exploring rocky and uneven desert terrain.
For trips to Glamis and the Imperial Sand Dunes, the dirt tires could be exchanged for a dedicated Fullerton Sand Sports package. That setup paired 28-14 Sand Tires Unlimited Razor Blasters in front with 28-14 STU Sand Blaster cut paddles in the rear.
The sand tires were mounted to OMF Performance NXG billet-center beadlock wheels. Combined with the Maverick’s 121-horsepower turbocharged engine, the lightweight dune-specific tires allowed the machine to put its power into the sand much more effectively.
Seats, Harnesses and Navigation
Triple X seats were installed to improve comfort and support, although the oversized suspension seats required modifications to the factory seat bases. Can-Am four-point harnesses secured the driver and passenger during aggressive dune and desert driving.
A Garmin Montana 650t GPS was installed in a factory Can-Am dash console, giving the occupants a convenient way to navigate unfamiliar riding areas and find their way back to camp.
For communication, the helmets were equipped with UClear HBC100 Plus powersports communication systems. These provided driver-to-passenger communication and the ability to communicate between properly equipped vehicles.
DragonFire Doors and Wolf Designs Wrap
DragonFire HiBoy doors replaced the Maverick’s original side restraints. The formed doors provided more coverage and featured DragonFire’s Slam-Shut latching system with locking levers.
Wolf Designs completed the exterior with a custom metallic-vinyl wrap. The graphics expanded on the Maverick’s signature green color and produced a bright candy-like finish under direct light. The wrap tied together the green powdercoated cage, bumpers and suspension components without allowing one element to overpower the rest of the vehicle.
Why the Eliminator Build Mattered
Eliminator arrived at an important point in sport UTV history. The original Maverick X ds Turbo brought factory turbocharging and 121 horsepower to the market before the modern horsepower competition had fully developed.
Instead of turning the new machine into a display-only build, the project focused on upgrades that supported how it would actually be used. The compact bumpers preserved clearance, the harness bar accommodated the intercooler, internal wiring kept the installation clean, and separate tire packages allowed the Maverick to transition between desert terrain and the dunes.
The result was a functional snapshot of the aftermarket’s response to one of the most consequential Can-Am sport side-by-sides of its era. Our subsequent Can-Am Maverick X ds Turbo dune review provided a closer look at how the groundbreaking 121-horsepower machine performed in Glamis.
Can-Am Maverick Eliminator Build List
- Base vehicle: 2015 Can-Am Maverick 1000R X ds Turbo
- Roll cage, roof and bumpers: TMW Off-Road
- Vehicle wrap: Wolf Designs
- Doors: DragonFire HiBoy doors
- Exhaust: Trinity Racing Stage 5 dual exhaust
- Illuminated whips: Smart Whips
- Audio system: Rockford Fosgate
- Mirrors, steering wheel, helmet locks, fire extinguisher mount and tie rods: Assault Industries
- Helmet communication: UClear
- Dirt tires and wheels: 30-inch GMZ Kahuna tires on GMZ LiteLok beadlock wheels
- Sand tires: STU Razor Blasters and Sand Blaster cut paddles from Fullerton Sand Sports
- Sand wheels: OMF Performance NXG billet-center beadlocks
- Seats: Triple X Seats
- Harnesses: Can-Am four-point harnesses
- Forward and accent lighting: KC HiLiTES
- Navigation: Garmin Montana 650t with Can-Am dash console
Eliminator Photo Gallery
See more noteworthy custom UTVs in the UTV of the Month Archive.
