I’ve been following the war in Ukraine closely for the past few years. I’ve always had an interest in the defense space and the technology that comes with it, and I spent the first half of my career involved in Navy weapons testing. At the same time, I’ve been part of the off-road community for most of my life, so when I came across this article, it immediately checked two boxes for me from very different worlds.

The article introduces a new Ukrainian prototype weapons system that began life as a Can-Am Maverick X3. The platform has been outfitted with twin Longbow launchers and a radar system capable of tracking and targeting drones or even low-flying helicopters, engaging them with Hellfire missiles.

I’ll admit, there have been more than a few moments over the years where the idea of having rockets mounted to a buggy crossed my mind. There’s something undeniably compelling about it.

Overall, this type of strike-and-move system seems well suited for the current conflict, where rapid engagement and the ability to relocate and remain concealed are critical. Hopefully, we’ll see reports of its effectiveness in the future.The original article was posted here at Militarnyi.com if you are interested in more details.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from UTVSpot 🎄

Whether you’re at home enjoying the holidays or out in the wild shredding trails and camping under the stars, we want to wish you a great season and an even better year ahead.

We’re excited about what’s coming and are looking forward to growing UTVSpot.net into a go-to place for UTV news, gear, and real-world ideas. We hope you’ll check it out and be part of what’s coming next.

Here’s to a great finish to the year and an even better 2026.

Now that winter has set in and it’s cold outside, I ran across a company that’s stepping into something a lot of UTV owners have been asking for: custom A/C systems for side-by-sides. Even better, they’re now moving into heater systems as well.

RedDot Corporation isn’t new to this game. They’ve been in the custom heating / A/C business for industrial and military equipment since the 1950s, when Harcourt G. “Harky” Runnings started a side venture building heaters out of his automotive radiator repair shop in West Seattle for mail trucks. From there, the company expanded into heavy-duty trucks and equipment, and now they’re bringing that experience into the UTV aftermarket with dedicated HVAC systems for side-by-sides.

One thing I like is that RedDot has distribution dealers all over the U.S., which makes support a lot easier when you actually need it. Their latest UTV offerings include the Hurricane Roof Fan,

along with several other industry-first products. Their A/C systems use a drive kit that bolts directly to your UTV’s engine, paired with a custom under-dash air conditioning unit designed for specific vehicles.

Since it happens to be winter while I’m writing this, it’s worth mentioning they also have a UTV heater coming soon. The A/C systems are currently available for the Polaris Ranger, General, some Bobcat UTVs, and select RZR models, with the Pro R coming next.

Throughout my off-road years, I’ve always just powered through the cold and the heat. But as I get a little older, aftermarket comfort upgrades like this are starting to look a lot more appealing. It’s exciting to see what the aftermarket is doing in the UTV world, and this is only going to keep getting better.

Check them out.

Company: RedDot Corporation
Website: https://www.reddotcorp.com/
Product Series: Offroad Arctic

Ive been reading about something cool UTV-wise in the Toyota camp. They have come up with a pretty neat SXS based on the Tacoma TRD Pro Powertrain making 300 HP! Right now they have labeled it the Scion. Now I know this may not ever come to fruition but imagine if it was true? Legendary Toyota longevity in an off-road vehicle. I dont know about you, but id be all over that if it happens. You can read more about it over at one of my favorite places.

https://www.thedrive.com/news/toyota-strongly-considering-production-utv-with-tacoma-trd-pro-powertrain?utm_source=beehiiv&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=the-drive-newsletter&_bhlid=c86ecbd6a0529577eaa682fdf0047f45a7c9ae40

Welcome to the early B2V Thanksgiving week post. I haven’t had a chance to write anything lately, so I figured I’d wrap it up with a story about one of the coolest race/rides to ever take place in North America.

The Barstow to Vegas desert race kicked off in 1967 and officially ran through 1975. The BLM and Sierra Club eventually managed to get it shut down for a handful of reasons, mainly citing endangered species concerns—which I’ve always thought was garbage considering the Barstow area is also home to the Fort Irwin Army Training Center. Heavy equipment and tanks tore up the same terrain where the original racecourse started, and trust me, they do far more damage than any dirt bike ever could.

I was lucky enough to  do the Barstow to Vegas run with my dad and uncle in 1982 at the ripe old age of 14. Back then it was basically a “protest ride,” not sanctioned or organized. Our family camped out in the middle of nowhere outside of Barstow, and in the morning we took off on our dirt adventure toward Vegas at our own pace. I still have vivid memories of my mom cooking up a full Thanksgiving turkey dinner, fixings and all and brought it to camp. That was pretty awesome.

The Barstow to Vegas ride could be challenging, but we mostly stayed along the power line roads near the I-15, which also made it easier to find the turnoffs to the pits where my mom would meet us to fuel up. The trail was rocky and dusty. I took a few good-sized rocks to the knee from my dad’s YZ-465 with that monster Teraflex rear tire. I was also riding a YZ-465 at 14 (yes, I’m a big kid), and my uncle had come out from back East just to do this historic ride with us. He could be unpredictable on a bike and ended up taking off ahead of us on my Husky 250 OR that I had just put brand-new bars, fenders, and tires on and promptly endoed it over a cactus, tearing all that new stuff right off it. He wasn’t hurt too bad, but it took a while to get the bike patched up enough to keep going.

One of the biggest lessons in desert riding: it may look flat and straight, but if you ride over your head, you can earn yourself a quick trip to the hospital.

The rest of the ride wasn’t too eventful for me since I was already desert racing in SoCal and had the endurance for long runs. Then we hit Clark Mountain. It was winter, already cold, and when we started climbing, it began to snow. None of us were prepared for that. But what were we going to do? We didn’t have cell phones back then to call my mom for a rescue. The terrain was rocky, it was freezing, I couldn’t feel my hands anymore, and by the time we rolled into Primm, we had decided to call it quits for the day.

Overall, it was an experience I’ll never forget, and considering the historical significance of the B2V in the desert racing community, I was proud to say I made it almost all the way at 14.

From 1983 to 1989 the race was revived again, but eventually it was shut down once more by the Sierra Club and BLM after claims of discovering some “endangered blunt-nosed lizard muffin,” tortoises, or whatever else they could come up with at the time. The race in its original format was never run again.

It’s a shame that we’re continuously losing land to camp and ride on. Kids today will never know the thrill of a big off-road event like this, and that’s sad. If you want to keep what little land we have left, get involved with the organizations fighting to protect it. That’s the only way we survive.

If you’re interested in some history on the Barstow to Vegas race, here are a few cool links:

https://www.cyclenews.com/2021/01/article/archives-column-barstow-to-vegas-hare-hound/
https://www.bobrohrer.com/pdf_files/barstow-to-vegas.pdf
Here’s a particularly cool story from way back in 1971:
https://www.vitalmx.com/forums/Moto-Related,20/BARSTOW-TO-VEGAS-NOV-21-1971,1396612

I want to take a moment to thank everyone who has served in the Armed Forces, and especially those who have fought in war. Today is a day of remembrance for those who made the ultimate sacrifice to keep America safe.

My son served in the military and fought in the war in Afghanistan. The things he experienced and witnessed are beyond what I can truly comprehend. It’s been a difficult day for him, as he lost friends there in ways no one should ever have to endure. I felt compelled to reach out and remind him that today is about remembrance — to honor his fallen friends not with grief, but with gratitude and memory. They wouldn’t want him, or any of us, to live in sorrow.

I share this message here in hopes that it reaches other Veterans who may be struggling today. Please know that you are loved, respected, and deeply appreciated. If you see a Veteran, take a moment to shake their hand and offer a sincere thank you. Without them, we wouldn’t live in a world of freedom and choice.

As promised, here’s my follow-up on the ROGTZ 3-Ton Electric Scissor Car Jack Kit — a compact 12V portable auto lift that I picked up recently. I still haven’t had to use it out on the trail yet (which is a good thing), but I did get the chance to try it out on my son’s Toyota Tacoma when he stopped by to change a tire.

I’m happy to say the jack lifted the rear of the truck with no hesitation. It worked smoothly and didn’t struggle under load, which gives me confidence that it’ll easily handle lifting my Polaris RZR Pro R when the time comes. I wish I had recorded it in action, but I was already tied up working on another vehicle project at the time.

When stored in its case, it didn’t fit perfectly in my RZR’s rear cargo compartment, but after rearranging a few things, I made it work. That’s a small trade-off for the peace of mind this tool provides.

Bottom line: if you do a lot of off-roading or trail riding, this electric scissor car jack is an awesome piece of gear to keep with you. It’s compact, reliable, and powerful enough to lift a full-size truck — so you know it’ll handle your side-by-side with no problem. Getting stuck with a flat tire miles from camp is never fun, and having a tool like this can save your trip.

You can read my previous article about this product, and if you’re interested in getting one yourself, you can purchase the ROGTZ Electric Car Jack Kit here.

A while back, I wrote about the importance of carrying tools on your ride in case something goes sideways. Along with my tool kit, I keep a few other must-haves in the rear cargo box of my RZR—things like a spare belt, a little Slime flat kit, a regular tire patch kit, and the single most important item known to mankind: zip ties. Seriously, you wouldn’t believe how many problems those things can solve.

Anyway, about ten years ago, I bought a toy hauler that turned out to be too narrow for my machine to fit inside. Brilliant move, right? So, I picked up some used wheels, mounted smaller car tires on them, and when it came time to load up, I’d swap out the rears for the little ones and roll it in. That worked great—when I was at home with all my tools. But doing that at camp or trying to change a flat out in the wild? Not so much.

My solution was I picked up one of those electric jacks with a built-in air compressor that runs off the RZR’s power port. Total game-changer. It saved my back, cut down on time, and even worked out on the trail (learned that one the hard way). Just leave the ride running, plug it in, slide the jack under a hard point, flip the switch, and you’re in the air in seconds.

NthPOWER Electric Car Jack 5Ton 12V Car Jack Hydraulic (Lifting Range: 6.1~17.7 inch) with Inflator Portable Jack for Car SUV Sedan MPV Tire Changing Repair Emergency Kit

When I got my Pro R, I started carrying that jack everywhere. The Pro R’s a beast—too heavy for a manual scissor jack to handle without a workout. Now that my trusty electric jack is on its last leg (the plug’s finicky and needs “convincing” to work), I just picked up a new one. This time I went with a scissor-style jack—lighter and easier to stash since I’m already hauling around what feels like a hundred pounds of gear. The Slime kit’s got an air pump, so I’m covered there.

ROGTZ Electric Scissor Car Jack Kit 3 Ton 12V Portable Auto Car Lift with 17.7 Inch Range for SUV Sedan Floor Jack for Tire Change Roadside Emergency

I’m hoping this new setup works just as well, though I’m not exactly in a hurry to test it out! When I do, I’ll definitely share how it performs. Both jacks are available on Amazon if you want to check them out.

It was bound to happen. Once cars started going electric, it was only a matter of time before everything else on wheels followed. The real question is — is it actually a good thing to have UTVs powered by batteries instead of internal combustion engines (ICE)?

In some cases, sure, it’s not a terrible idea. But let’s be honest — practicality is still a big issue. The biggest problems? Range, recharging, and, believe it or not, noise.

Here’s an example: I used to archery hunt. You’ve got to be at least 60 yards from your target to be accurate. When you’re out there with a gas-powered quad or side-by-side, the animal’s attention is usually on the sound of the engine — not you. Sometimes, if you’re hunting with a buddy, one can drive ahead to keep the animal distracted while you line up your shot. If those machines were dead silent? I’m not so sure that trick would work as well. It doesn’t mean you couldn’t still score, but it definitely changes the game.

And then there’s the big one — range. Last I checked, there aren’t any charging stations out in the middle of nowhere. I sure don’t want to be back at camp listening to a generator humming all night just so I can ride again in the morning. What happens if you go on a long haul and run out of juice? You can’t exactly toss a battery in the back of your buddy’s ride like a gas can and call it good.

Same goes for camping. I love heading out to the wilderness with my UTV, but how am I supposed to recharge for the next day’s adventure? If you’re just cruising around your property, fine — it makes sense, and your neighbors will probably appreciate the quiet.

Now, to be fair, some of these new electric machines are pretty impressive. Tons of horsepower and torque — they flat-out rip. But still, no engine noise? That’s a deal breaker for me. The silence might be great for some people, but to me, that engine rumble is part of the fun — it’s the soundtrack of the ride. Without it, it just feels... dull.

Anyway, battery-powered UTVs are here, and they’re not going anywhere. If you’re into the idea, go for it. As for me, I’ll probably wait a few years — when I’m old and worn out and the battery tech has caught up.

Here are a few that have caught my eye:

RANGER XP Kinetic: Looks to be a great workhorse for small duties: Link to Polaris site.

Landmaster AMP: An up and coming American made company light duty UTV’s: Link to Landmaster site.

Greenworks: Another up and coming company offering battery operated utility vehicles: Link to Greenworks.

HuntV Switchback: The Switchback HYBRID-ELECTRIC CREW 4X4: Another UTV that is not only electric but also has a back up gas motor: Link to Switchback:

Vanderhall: Falling into the Sport category the Brawley GTS looks like it would be a ton of fun until the battery runs out. Hopefully they will be available soon: Link to Vanderhall:

Segway Super Villain SX20T Hybrid: Segway has gotten serious about its releases of UTV’s and this one is no exception. Should be a hot ticket and I like the hybrid part about it as well. The only issue is weight, its a 3196 pounder! Link to SuperVillian here.

Just saw some interesting information about the latest MRZR. For those of you not in the know Polaris makes machines for the military. Latest info can be read below.

The MRZR vehicle can power lightweight electronics, eliminating the need for external generators.

Polaris Government and Defense just rolled out a new variant of its MRZR Alpha tactical vehicle — this time packing one kilowatt of exportable power to back agile and adaptable military missions. Unveiled at the Modern Day Marine defense expo, the latest addition to the MRZR family is designed to move personnel, equipment, and supplies through challenging terrain with ease. It fits four people, hauls up to 2,000 pounds (907 kilograms), and clears a solid 12 inches (30 centimeters) off the ground to handle rough terrain.

The headline feature? That one kilowatt of exportable power. It’s enough juice to run lightweight electronics, communication systems, and sensor kits without relying on a separate generator. “More than just a troop carrier, a single MRZR Alpha can be transformed into multiple configurations for different environments and unique missions,” company vice president Nick Francis said last year.

“Having a single vehicle that can do more than one or two roles is critically important,” he added.

For Bigger Jobs: The 5kW Version

For heavier jobs, Polaris also offers a five-kilowatt MRZR Alpha XP variant.

It is built to handle power-hungry tools such as electronic warfare systems, radars, or drone command nodes.

The MRZR XP can also handle the demands of larger operations where power-intensive equipment needs to run for extended periods.

Like the smaller 1kW variant, the 5kW features a three-port fused connector that allows simultaneous use of onboard power, whether the vehicle is stationary or moving.

Both MRZR models are meant to provide a capability that soldiers “would have had to carry, like a secondary generator.”

As Polaris engineer John LaFata told Shephard Media: “Charging radios now becomes a part of the vehicle.”

Full article can be seen here https://nextgendefense.com/mrzr-polaris-1kw-variant/