Boondocker Long Car RZR
What happens when you add 12 inches to a two-seat Polaris RZR’s wheelbase? At the 2016 UTV Invasion in St. Anthony, Idaho, we drove Boondocker’s prototype Long Car RZRs to find out. The bolt-in stretch took the RZR’s original 90-inch wheelbase to 102 inches, giving the car a noticeably calmer feel in rough terrain while retaining the two-seat cab.
This is a look back at the prototype and the kit Boondocker described in 2016. The original price, specifications and planned accessories below reflect that period; confirm present-day availability and fitment with Boondocker before planning a build.
Wheelbase Versus Track Width
Wheelbase is the distance between the centers of the front and rear axles. Track width measures the distance across the vehicle between the wheels. A wider suspension can increase track width, but it does not, by itself, lengthen the wheelbase.
A longer wheelbase can reduce the fore-and-aft pitching that makes a short vehicle buck through successive bumps and whoops. It can also make the vehicle feel more settled under power. The tradeoff is a reduced breakover angle: the middle of a longer vehicle may contact an obstacle sooner. Wheelbase also affects how easily a vehicle turns through tight terrain.
Boondocker stretched the two-seat RZR’s wheelbase from 90 to 102 inches.
Boondocker developed its Long Car package for the two-seat Polaris RZR XP 1000 and RZR XP Turbo platforms of the period. Its 102-inch target also matched the wheelbase Boondocker cited for the then-new Can-Am Maverick X3.
Driving the Prototype in Idaho
We met Boondocker at the 2016 UTV Invasion and spent time with two prototype Long Cars in the St. Anthony dunes. Both had other performance upgrades, so our drive was an impression of the complete vehicles rather than an isolated test of the stretch kit.
Alongside a stock-wheelbase RZR, the longer cars felt more composed in rough sections. They pitched less and delivered power more predictably over uneven ground. The additional length also changed the proportions without requiring a four-seat cab. In terrain where breakover clearance or a tight turning path matters most, the shorter chassis could still have an advantage.
How the 12-Inch Stretch Worked
“The kit is entirely bolt-in, but we do offer weld-on options for the cage mounts and some brackets for customers who want a seamless connection,” Boondocker’s Rocky Young Jr. told us during the 2016 visit.
Rocky Young and Rocky Young Jr. at the UTV Invasion.
Boondocker designed sectional frame extensions that fit into the RZR chassis. Six steel brackets spanned the lower frame area. The company said its bracket material was stronger than chromoly; that was Boondocker’s claim, not a strength result we independently verified.
The package addressed the systems affected by moving the rear of the vehicle farther back. It included an extended front driveline, a bolt-in brake-line extension, wiring and coolant-line extensions, a longer shift cable, cage mounts, and filler pieces for the body and underside. The lower plastic rocker panels required cutting and drilling during installation.
Boondocker said the kit could retain the stock doors and work with the original suspension or a long-travel setup. Its stated aftermarket-cage fitment applied to two-seat cages using the stock mounting points and without a built-in wraparound rear bumper. The company also said the original three-point belts or compatible harnesses could be retained because the seat base moved with the cab arrangement. Any present-day build should have its cage, restraints, driveline and brake system checked against the actual vehicle and parts being used.
What the Original Kit Included
Boondocker announced a $1,995 starting price in 2016. That historical price should not be treated as a current quote. The kit described at the time included:
- Six steel chassis-extension brackets and two aluminum lower-chassis filler panels
- An extended front driveline and bolt-in brake-line extension
- A pre-cut wiring-harness extension, coolant-line extensions and longer shift cable
- Rear body filler panels, brackets and new rear cage mounts
- Rocker-panel extensions, installation instructions and necessary hardware
Boondocker also discussed optional rocker panels, cage pairings and skid plates during the original launch period. Their present-day availability has not been established here.
The Blue Long Car Showcase Build
The blue vehicle we photographed was a heavily modified 2015 RZR XP 1000 built to show more than the wheelbase kit. Boondocker described a built exchange engine with forged internals, a high-pressure turbo package with a Garrett 60 mm compressor wheel, and a liquid-cooled intercooler. During our dune drive, it had enough power to lift its front tires despite the longer wheelbase.
- 2015 Polaris RZR XP 1000 with Boondocker’s 102-inch Long Car package
- Boondocker built turbo engine and high-pressure turbo system
- Plus-six-inch long-travel suspension with FOX 2.5 Podium RC2 shocks
- Chromoly cage and doors
- ZRP six-lug hubs and 15-inch American Racing Outlaw wheels
- GMZ Sand Stripper front tires and staggered-paddle rear tires
The drive showed why a modest wheelbase stretch appealed to dune and desert RZR owners: the vehicle felt steadier through rough ground while preserving a compact two-seat cabin. The right length still depends on where the RZR will be driven, particularly if tight turns and breakover clearance are priorities.
For details on any currently offered Boondocker products or vehicle-specific fitment, visit Boondocker.
