Product Description
REAR MUD GUARD KIT
Protects engine, fuel tank & battery from water & mud spray off rear tires
Makes clean-up much easier
- Vented design reduces heat build-up under seat
- Includes front & inner panels for complete coverage
- Maintains airflow through engine compartment
- Blocks mud & water from under-seat area
- Reduces clean-up time
- Protects fuel tank, battery and critical engine components
- Strong aircraft aluminum construction won't bend or deform -
superior to steel or breakable plastics - Fits:
2015 - 2021 Mid-Size 570
2015 - 2021 Mid-Size 570 Crew
2015 - 2016 Mid-Size ETX
2017 & newer Mid-Size 500 - Does NOT fit 2022 & newer Ranger SP 570
- Complete kit installs easily in less than 1 hour
- Available in bare aluminum or powdercoated black
- Made in USA
For years, Polaris has been building the Ranger with the engine exposed to the rear tires. This allows the rear tires to throw a huge amount of water, mud, rocks and other trail debris at the gas tank, battery and many critical engine components. This isn’t the best thing for these parts, and this design also makes clean-up after a ride a HUGE pain in the rear! BUT... while simply enclosing the rear wheel openings may block the mud & water, it also creates a problem where the engine heat cannot escape and you now have the dreaded “Ranger Hot-Seat”.
The engine operates at roughly 190 degrees, but the exhaust pipe generates heat exceeding 700 degrees. Polaris has carefully designed the CVT transmission air discharge duct to blow across the exhaust pipe to create air circulation and remove engine & exhaust heat. When you simply enclose the rear wheel openings, this air-circulation is stopped and the engine compartment temperatures soar. The entrapped hot air increases the temperature of all surrounding surfaces, most notably the seat-bottom and the panel directly behind your legs. Thunderhawk Performance developed this vented mud-blocker kit for the Mid-Size Ranger utilizing a combination of design features so that Thunderhawk's kit would not retain an excessive amount of engine compartment heat. This 4-piece vented mud-guard design blocks the mud & water while allowing the engine heat to escape and to maintain airflow through the engine compartment.
Before we began selling this kit, we spent considerable time testing this kit on our Mid-Size Ranger and performed extensive heat testing (at 90+ degrees, in August) with this mud-blocker kit installed. We were satisfied with our success in reducing the heat build-up that would affect rider comfort. Our testing did show that there is a slight increase in temperatures when the Thunderhawk vented mud-guards are installed, but these increases were between 0 & 10 degrees in areas that would have rider contact, and between 2 & 15 degrees in areas without rider contact. These numbers are far less than the typical 30 - 50 degree increases encountered with non-vented mud-blockers. We have posted more details from Thunderhawk's temperature testing in the "Tech" section of our website - click here for details. Unfortunately, it is not possible to accomplish zero temperature increase when enclosing the engine compartment. As such, we do not recommend the installation of any rear mud guards for people who are unhappy with the engine heat they are currently feeling. In addition, anyone with a snorkel kit should not use any mud-blockers, as their snorkel has eliminated engine compartment air circulation from the stock CVT discharge and any enclosure will increase heat felt by the passengers.
The Thunderhawk rear mud guard kit is precision CNC manufactured in the USA from aircraft aluminum for strength and durability (these parts won't bend easily or rattle, and will not break or crack like plastic). All kits include left & right side mud guard panels (4 pcs), all necessary installation hardware and illustrated instructions. Installs easily in about 1 hour. Available in bare aluminum or with optional black powdercoat finish (adds $50.00). Made in USA.
CA Warning: Cancer or Reproductive Harm Prop 65
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Product Reviews
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Installed easily and per the instructions.
I haven't been through the mud, yet, however the fit looks great and durable. I went with the black, powder-coated and it looks great and the coating appears very durable!
