How to choose a UTV cargo rack
Three decisions cover almost every case.
Up, back, or over. A UTV bed rack adds a platform or a second tier inside the bed. The Adjustable Aluminum Rear Rack for Polaris Ranger layers the bed so you can reach the bottom item without unloading the top, holds 220 lbs, and adjusts for height. The Heavy Duty Rear Cargo Rack for Polaris Ranger takes a different approach and raises the bed rail to 12.6 inches so a full load fits in one trip, with rope points and mounting holes for tool holders and fuel tanks. A bed extender adds length instead: the Defender extender adds 12.2 inches, and the Honda Pioneer extender adds about 105 liters with the rear seats still in use. A roof rack goes over the cab; the Aluminum Roof Rack for Polaris Ranger XP 1000 (2-Seat) turns the roof into around 220 lbs of capacity. SuperATV adds more ways to go up: Alpha cargo racks in powder-coated steel that prop open on struts for access to the cargo area, Delta and Outfitter bed racks and Bravo and Charlie hood racks for the Polaris Ranger, and rear seat cargo racks that bolt to the OEM seat base of a four seat RZR.
Open or closed. Tailgates and enclosures close off an open bed. The curved steel units for the Maverick X3, ZForce 950, and Teryx KRX 1000 add cargo room behind the bed and give coolers and tools real tie-down points; the KRX version is sized for a 32 inch spare or a full storage box. If the problem is rain rather than a sliding cooler, the camper bed covers for the Ranger and Defender put a steel frame, 600D water-resistant fabric, and roll-up windows on all four sides over the bed, no drilling. The UForce stretch cover is the simple version of the same idea.
Fixed or quick release. A bolted or clamped rack stays on the machine. Tusk's quick release bed mounted cargo box for the RZR XP 4 locks into the bed and pops out without tools, and the Tusk rear seat cargo rack kit for the X3 Max swaps the rear seats for a flat deck in seconds. If the bed needs to be clear some days and loaded others, those two are the ones to look at.
By machine
- Polaris Ranger cargo rack options. The rear racks above, the roof rack, the camper bed cover, the Flip-Out Tailgate Extender for Polaris Ranger XP 1000 in high-strength carbon steel that flips out for room and in to sort the load, and the Tusk 24L bed box with a four digit combination lock that also fits General beds. SuperATV adds the Delta Bed Rack, a powder-coated steel basket with MOLLE panels on each side; the Outfitter Bed Rack in powder-coated aluminum and steel tube, with two basket positions and an optional shelf; the Bravo and Charlie hood racks for the Ranger XP 1000 and XP Kinetic, with the Charlie also listed for the Ranger 1000; the SuperATV Headache Cargo Rack, with two positions for protection or storage; and the Elektric Offroad Headache Rack for the Ranger XD 1500. Check the Ranger bed dimensions guide before you commit, and see the Polaris Ranger hub for the rest of the machine.
- RZR cargo rack options. The Spare Tire Carrier Rack for Polaris RZR XP 1000 carries a spare, a storage box, or fuel cans and lifts up to 25 degrees on gas springs so the bed underneath stays usable, rated to 80 kg. Tusk adds the aluminum MOLLE panel for the XP 1000 rear quarter at about 5 pounds, the quick release bed box for the XP 4, the top rack that adds a second level over the Tusk Cargo Hatch on the Pro and Turbo R, and the Overland Cargo Kit for the XP 4, which bundles a full set of cargo mounts and a roof rack. SuperATV adds Alpha cargo racks for the XP 1000, XP Turbo, XP Turbo S, Pro XP, Pro R, Pro S, Turbo R, and Trail models, attached to the frame with heavy-duty clamps and brackets, and rear seat cargo racks in 1/16 inch steel plating for the RZR 4 900, XP 4 1000, XP 4 Turbo, and XP 4 Turbo S that convert between a one and two-seat cargo rack. The Polaris RZR hub has the full list.
- Can-Am Defender. The Heavy-Duty Bed Extender for Can-Am Defender and the soft camper bed cover. Measurements are in the Defender bed dimensions guide.
- Can-Am Maverick. The molded HDPE rear luggage rack contoured to the X3 frame, the curved rear cargo tailgate for the X3 and X3 MAX, the Tusk rear seat cargo rack kit for the X3 Max, and the Tusk aluminum cargo barricade with MOLLE-style mounting for the Maverick R, R X, and R Max. SuperATV adds Alpha cargo racks for the Maverick X3 and Maverick R that double as a spare tire carrier and fit up to a 35 inch tire.
- CFMOTO, Kawasaki, Honda, and Polaris Xpedition. The UForce 1000 gets a height-adjustable aluminum rear rack rated around 100 kg, a bed extender, and the stretch bed cover. The ZForce 950 gets a rear enclosure tailgate. The KRX 1000 gets a rear enclosure tailgate and a Tusk steel bed rack that leaves room below for a spare. The Pioneer 700-4 and 1000-5 get a bed extender rated to 60 kg that folds flat against the tailgate. The Polaris Xpedition gets a Tusk powder coated bed rack. And SuperATV adds Alpha cargo racks for the Teryx KRX 1000 and the Honda Talon 1000.
What to know before you order
Load ratings are listed the way each maker gives them, so you will see both pounds and kilograms on this page, and SuperATV lists its Outfitter bed racks at 600 lb static load and 200 lb dynamic load; compare the numbers, not the categories. Rack height matters on a dump bed, and the Ranger heavy duty rack specifically clears the dump bed and tailgate. Tusk's roof top racks for the RZR and KRX are filed under roofs, not here; the Ranger XP 1000 roof rack above is the exception. Standalone spare tire carriers are under spare tire mounts, boxes and bags that sit in the bed are in cargo storage, and the parent cargo racks category holds the Can-Am Defender rack under headache racks, while the Polaris Ranger headache racks are filed here. On the SuperATV hood racks, the Charlie is only compatible with the OEM front bumper, and the Bravo is not compatible with SuperATV's Flip Windshield or Flip Down Windshield. One more: the Tusk top rack only works on top of the Tusk Cargo Hatch, and the Tusk MOLLE CV axle mount needs a standard MOLLE panel, so both are add-ons to something you already have.
From MaxtOffroad
The Spare Tire Carrier Rack for Polaris RZR XP 1000 is the rack we would show a RZR owner first. The gas springs are the feature: the whole rack lifts up to 25 degrees, so you can get into the bed underneath without unstrapping the spare, the box, or the fuel cans riding on top. It is rated to 80 kg and the ratchet straps come in the box, which means the listing is the whole setup, not the start of one.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a UTV cargo rack and a bed extender?
A cargo rack goes up, adding a platform or tier so gear stacks. A bed extender goes back, adding length past the tailgate: 12.2 inches on the Defender extender, about 105 liters on the Pioneer extender. The Ranger XP 1000 flip-out extender does a bit of both, flipping out for room and in to divide the load.
Which cargo rack fits a Polaris Ranger?
The Adjustable Aluminum Rear Rack and the Heavy Duty Rear Cargo Rack, both rated to 220 lbs, plus the roof rack for the two seat XP 1000, the flip-out tailgate extender for the XP 1000, the camper bed cover, and the Tusk 24L bed box. SuperATV adds Delta and Outfitter bed racks, Bravo and Charlie hood racks, and a headache cargo rack, and Elektric Offroad a headache rack for the Ranger XD 1500. Match the title to your machine.
Do these racks require drilling?
The Ranger adjustable rack and the UForce rear rack install in factory holes, the camper bed covers and the UForce stretch cover say no drilling, and the tailgates and enclosures are bolt-in with hardware included. The SuperATV Alpha and Outfitter racks attach to the frame with clamps and brackets, the hood racks use OEM mounting points, and the rear seat cargo racks bolt to the OEM seat base. Where a listing does not state it either way, check the install notes on the product page before you order.
How much weight can a UTV bed rack hold?
It depends on the rack, and the makers quote it in different units. The Adjustable Aluminum and Heavy Duty rear racks for the Ranger are rated to 220 lbs, the RZR XP 1000 spare tire carrier rack to 80 kg, the UForce rear rack to around 100 kg, and the Pioneer bed extender to 60 kg. SuperATV lists a 150 lb weight limit on the Delta bed racks and Bravo hood racks, a 500 lb weight limit on the Charlie hood racks, a 600 lb static load and 200 lb dynamic load on the Outfitter bed racks, and a cargo load capacity of 75 or 100 lbs on the Alpha racks, depending on the model.
