Guards & Protection
About Guards & Protection
Guards protect the parts of a UTV or ATV that rocks, trees, mud and rollovers damage first: the underside, the suspension arms, the frame, the lights and the engine cases. Owners buy them after damage, before a hard trip or race, or to keep a new machine looking right. Protection is a matter of matching the guard to where you ride.
The sub-categories divide the work by area. Skid Plates, Sliders & Spools is the biggest group and covers the underside and frame, including central skid plates and tube rock sliders. Frame & Crash Protectors holds nerf bars for ATVs, and Engine Guards protects the engine. Grille Guards & Light Protectors shields lights, Handlebar Guards & Protection protects the controls and hands, and Radiator & Oil Cooler Guards covers the cooling parts. Tank Covers, Pads & Guards and Splash Guards & Mud Flaps are smaller groups, and Additional Guards & Protection collects other guards. Aluminum plates weigh less and steel resists impacts better, so pick for your terrain.
Brands here include UFO, ProX, Acerbis, Pro Armor and Maier. Guards are made for a specific model and year, so pick your machine in the Ride Finder at the top of the page, and read why a part does not fit to avoid a miss.
FAQs on UTV and ATV guards
Where should I start when protecting a UTV or ATV?
Start with the parts that cost the most to repair and are hit most often. For most riders that means a skid plate under the machine and guards for the suspension arms. Add nerf bars on an ATV and light protection if you ride in brush or woods.
What is the difference between a skid plate and a rock slider?
A skid plate covers the underside so rocks and stumps do not damage the frame and drivetrain. A rock slider is a tube along the side that lets the machine slide over an obstacle. They protect different areas, and some riders fit both.
What are nerf bars for?
Nerf bars are tubes that run along the sides of an ATV beside the footwells. They help keep your boots in place, keep your feet away from the tires and guard the lower body of the machine. They are made for a model, so check the year.
Are aluminum or steel guards better?
Aluminum plates weigh less and resist corrosion but can bend or tear under a hard hit. Steel is heavier and takes impacts better. Choose by the terrain and by how much weight you want to add. Check the listing for the material.
Will guards fit any UTV or ATV?
Most guards are made for a model and year, because mounting points differ. Listings name machines such as the Polaris Ranger XP 1000, CFMOTO CFORCE or Honda Pioneer 1000. Pick your machine in the Ride Finder to see guards made for it.
