UTV Source Copperhead Kawasaki RIDGE Crew Hunting Build

Posted on September 23, 2026
5:48 pm

By Jon Crowley

UTV Source transformed a 2026 Kawasaki RIDGE Crew into a purpose-built hunting and backcountry rig for the 2026 Sand Sports Super Show. Named the CopperHead RIDGE Crew, the build combines the comfort of Kawasaki’s enclosed HVAC cab with 35-inch tires, portal gear reduction, new DRT Motorsports protection and cargo products, solar-supported auxiliary power and organized storage for extended trips away from camp.

Founded in 2018, UTV Source is an aftermarket parts retailer and project builder that works with many of the UTV industry’s leading manufacturers. The CopperHead brings those relationships together in one coordinated build, with DRT Motorsports, SuperATV and MRT Tires supplying several of its most important upgrades.

The result is more than a camouflage-wrapped show vehicle. Nearly every component supports the same goal: carrying people and equipment deeper into the backcountry while keeping the cab comfortable and the cargo area organized.

Kawasaki RIDGE Crew Built for Hunting

The 2026 Kawasaki RIDGE Crew provides a strong foundation for a hunting build. Its smooth inline-four engine, full-size cargo bed and available enclosed HVAC cab make it suitable for long days in changing weather.

UTV Source retained those comfort advantages while modifying the machine for larger tires, additional ground clearance and more equipment. The finished RIDGE carries recovery gear, a powered cooler, protected storage, an awning, exterior area lighting and an auxiliary electrical system supported by solar charging.

DRT Kawasaki RIDGE Front Bumper

New DRT Motorsports Kawasaki RIDGE Products

DRT Motorsports supplied the core protection, rack and cargo-management components. All were new Kawasaki RIDGE products when the CopperHead appeared at the show.

At the front, a DRT winch bumper adds protection and recovery capability. DRT’s roof rack and ProFit cage overhead light-bar mounts support the large KC HiLiTES lighting package without compromising the enclosed cab.

DRT Kawasaki RIDGE Rear Bumper

The rear of the build received a DRT bumper with integrated flood lights, a heavy-duty bed rack and a bed slide system. The slide improves access to equipment stored toward the front of the cargo bed, while the rack creates mounting space above the bed for lighting, storage and camp equipment.

DRT Kawaski RIDGE Bed Rack

DRT also fabricated the interior rack and storage system for the ICECO powered cooler. Together, the DRT components turn the stock cargo bed into a more organized system rather than simply filling it with loose accessories.

SuperATV Portals, Atlas Pro A-Arms and Rhino 2.0 Axles

The CopperHead’s stance and tire clearance come from a coordinated SuperATV suspension and driveline package:

Four-inch GDP portal gear lift with 30% gear reduction
Atlas Pro 1.5-inch forward-offset front A-arms
Rhino 2.0 front and rear axles

SuperATV Atlas Pro Arms, 4-inch portals and Rhino 2.0 Axles

SuperATV Atlas Pro Arms, 4-inch GDP portals and Rhino 2.0 Axles

The portals raise the RIDGE at the wheel hubs, increasing clearance beneath the suspension and chassis. Their 30% gear reduction also increases torque at the wheels and helps offset the taller effective gearing created by the 35-inch tires.

SuperATV’s Atlas Pro A-arms move the front wheels 1.5 inches forward to create additional tire clearance. Rhino 2.0 axles complete the package with upgraded components designed for modified suspension and larger tires.

35-Inch MRT Whiskey Runner Tires

The CopperHead rides on 35x10R15 MRT Whiskey Runner tires. This all-terrain mud tire uses an eight-ply construction and 28mm-deep tread designed to dig through mud and clear debris as the tire rotates.

35x10R15 MRT Whiskey Runner tires mounted on Valor Offroad V08 beadlock wheels

The Whiskey Runner’s narrow 35-inch sizing adds clearance without making the tire excessively wide. Its aggressive tread and shoulder design also match the hunting build’s focus on loose soil, ruts, mud and backcountry trails.

The tires are mounted on 15-inch Valor Offroad V08 beadlock wheels fitted with V09 rings. Orange accents on the beadlock rings coordinate with the KC lighting covers, Kawasaki graphics and CopperHead branding.

DRT Roof Rack with KC Gravity Titan LED light bar

DRT Roof Rack and KC Gravity Titan LED light bar

KC HiLiTES Lighting and Solar Power

KC HiLiTES supplied both the primary off-road lighting and the solar-supported auxiliary power system.

The overhead KC Gravity Titan LED light bar provides long-range forward illumination. FLEX ERA 4 LED lights supplement the main bar, while Profile 3-inch area flood lights illuminate the rear cargo and camp area.

KC Solar Charge Hub 5000 And Lithium Battery

KC Solar Charge Hub 5000 And KC Lithium Deep Cycle Battery

The electrical system centers on the KC Solar Charge Hub 5000 and a KC BLOX 50-watt solar panel. The system supports a KC 100Ah lithium deep-cycle battery that powers accessories independently of the RIDGE Crew’s starting battery.

The 100Ah battery displayed on the CopperHead was a future-release KC product and was not yet commercially available when the build was shown. Even so, its role demonstrates the objective of the system: allowing the powered cooler, lighting and camp accessories to operate while the engine is off without relying entirely on the starting battery.

XTC PCS-81 Power Control and X-Lite Lighting

XTC Power Products supplied the accessory-control system and additional visibility lighting.

The XTC PCS-81 8-Switch Power Control System centralizes control of the build’s electrical accessories. Its compact eight-button switch pad occupies the dash space of one conventional rocker switch while controlling eight fused and relayed circuits.

XTC Power Products XTC X-Lite Chase Light Bar

At the rear, the XTC X-Lite Chase Light Bar combines running, brake, turn-signal, reverse and amber chase-light functions. The amber chase light makes the RIDGE Crew easier to see when another vehicle is following in dust.

XTC X-Lite marker lights are mounted to the DRT bed rack and used as ambient lighting for the cargo area. That placement makes it easier to load equipment, reach the cooler or organize camp after dark.

ICECO APL20 Powered Cooler and DRT Storage

An ICECO APL20 black aluminum powered cooler fits inside DRT’s dedicated cooler rack and storage system. ICECO markets the single-zone APL20 as a 20-liter/21-quart model, a compact size that preserves more of the RIDGE Crew’s cargo capacity for hunting and camping equipment.

ICECO APL20 Powered Cooler

The aluminum cooler weighs approximately 22.9 pounds before it is loaded. Its ability to run from the auxiliary electrical system eliminates the need for ice and avoids the meltwater and lost interior space associated with a conventional cooler.

The DRT bed slide makes the cooler and adjacent storage easier to access, particularly when additional equipment is secured to the bed rack.

ROAM Storage and Rooftop Awning

A ROAM Adventure Co. 83-liter Rugged Case provides weather-resistant storage for recovery equipment, tools and other supplies. Its low-profile shape works well on a UTV rack without adding the height of a deeper cargo box.

The four-foot ROAM rooftop awning deploys from the side of the cab to create shade or weather protection at camp. Combined with the powered cooler, solar system and area lighting, it allows the RIDGE Crew to function as a compact base camp rather than simply transportation to one.

CopperHead Hunting Camo and Interior Protection

Refex Wraps created the CopperHead hunting camouflage wrap, giving the build its tan backcountry appearance and tying together the orange accent details.

Terick Solutions supplied EVA foam door-panel inserts and floor mats. The foam surfaces add interior protection while giving the cab a more finished appearance. PGR Window Tinting tinted the side and rear windows to reduce glare and solar heat entering the enclosed cab.

A Complete Kawasaki RIDGE Crew Hunting Rig

The CopperHead succeeds because its modifications serve one consistent purpose. DRT Motorsports supplied the protection, racks and cargo systems that organize the build. SuperATV provided the clearance, gearing and driveline upgrades required for its larger tires, while MRT Whiskey Runners give it the footprint and tread needed for muddy backcountry travel.

KC HiLiTES, XTC Power Products, ICECO and ROAM extend the machine’s usefulness after it reaches its destination. Their lighting, electrical, cooling, storage and shelter components turn the RIDGE Crew into a self-contained hunting and adventure platform.

It is still recognizable as a comfortable Kawasaki RIDGE Crew, but UTV Source has expanded its capability for riders who need to travel farther, carry more equipment and remain in the field from before sunrise until well after dark.