Best Polaris RZR Rock Sliders

Matthew Guy
by Matthew Guy

A simple product install that can save you hundreds in body damage

Whether you want to admit it or not, a good set of Polaris RZR rock sliders are key to protecting against damage. Without ’em bending the lower edges of our side-by-side while navigating a tight or technical trail is absolutely in the cards – no matter how good your driving skills. This is when a little bit of extra armor comes in handy.

These are bolt-on accessories designed to absorb an impact if the rocker panel area of your Polaris RZR rudely comes into contact with a hard surface. Used correctly, skilled drivers can use them to ‘skate’ over a series of flat rocks, sliding their way down an off-road obstacle that would have otherwise folded up some metal like a bag of chips. It also helps prevent getting completely beached when that now-mangled metal hangs up on the very rock that destroyed it in the first place.

Table of Contents

1. Editors Choice: Ransoto Rock Sliders

Sometimes referred to as Polaris RZR nerf bars, these things are made of 1.28-inch diameter black painted steel. It'll not escape your notice the protector is tube-shaped; some off-roaders like this design thanks to its propensity to fling off dirt and mud while other dislike them because there is a tendency for them to stick out further than shields design which are closely mounted to the vehicle. These particular units have one of the highest aggregate ratings on Amazon, explaining their inclusion this high up on the list. Another bonus? According to the seller, they install using just a trio of bolts that already reside in the rocker panel area of your Polaris RZR.

2. Strongest Rock Sliders: Super ATV HD Nerf Bars

This set of protectors dispenses with any pretense, simply placing the words 'nerf bars' right there in its official name. Available in three different colors - basic black, outrageous red, and bright orange - they provide the chance to have a bit of fun with your RZR's styling and create something that's all your own. Their UV-resistant powder coat finish should keep them from fading and maintain a nice look for years. SuperATV boasts their products are field-tested on 600+ acres of prime riding land, a place your author would very much like to visit.

3. Top Alternate: Kemimoto Nerf Bars / Rock Sliders for Polaris RZR

Offered by a brand that pops up with alarming regularity during searches for off-road accessories, these RZR tree kickers have a tube-shape like the products shown above. This time around, the seller adds a bit more detail in explaining the bars stick off about 5 inches from your Polaris RZR, which can be a good or bad thing depending on the conditions in which you ride. They do note the items retain a RZR's full stock ground clearance since they don't extend below the bottom of the rig. Installation is as simple as re-using three of the factory Torx-head bolts that are already on the bottom of your RZR. All told, this accessory will add eleven pounds to your side-by-side off-roader. Amazon lists an impressive 4.3 out of 5-star rating from over 200 real-world customers.

4. Best Additional Armor Upgrade: Pro Armor Trailing Arm Guards

Yeah, ok - these aren't technically rock sliders. Except they are. Instead of protecting the rocker panel area of your Polaris RZR, these guards go over the low-hanging and expensive trailing arms, helping to protect those important (and expensive) suspension parts. The people at Pro Armor rightly point out these A-arm guards do a good job of your UTV from rocks or anything else you might encounter on the trail or track. The guards have recessed areas for the hardened bolts and do a good job of adding an extra layer of protection to any existing trailing arm armor. Reviews are all over the map, with some customers claiming damage while others praised these things for their robust construction.

5. Best 4-Seat RZR Nerf Bars: Polaris 4-Seat Kick-Out Rock Sliders

Who better to design accessories for a vehicle than the very crew who built the thing in the first place? This set isn't cheap but there's a solid chance it'll fit first time out of the box with no gymnastics or cutting tools required. Stout 3.75-inch steel tube construction is mentioned, as are several expressive colors for the extroverts amongst your group. There is a terrifying lack of reviews on Amazon, but the part number checks out over on the Polaris website. Installation is apparently handled with the brand's Lock & Ride system to factory installed mounts.

How do you install Polaris RZR Rock sliders?

Most of them are simple bolt-on affairs, hooking up to the side of your Polaris RZR UTV with ease. Look for kits that include all the mounting hardware - or reuse stock bolts - since tracking down five different bolts and three different types of nuts is sure to give you a tension headache. Enlist the help of a friend since trying to balance these long and skinny items on your own while attempting to line them up for a straight installation can be a bit irritating.

How much protection do Polaris RZR rock sliders provide?

The answer is, of course, 'it depends'. Rock sliders protect the strip of body work just under the doors, often called the rocker panel, guarding them against being hit by a hard surface like a rock. If you're trying to squeeze your way through a tight and rocky obstacle, rock sliders will take the abuse being dished out by the hard surfaces grinding against the RZR's lower body edges underneath its doors.

What is the difference between rock sliders, nerf bars and Polaris RZR tree kickers?

Technically, rock sliders will be made of metal and hug the contours of your Polaris RZR tightly. They might be flat along their bottom edge in an effort to help them slide along rocks and other hard obstacles. Nerf bars are, if common definitions are to be believed, round pieces of piping sticking just ever so slightly away from the rig. Taking this at face value, nerf bars have a bigger chance at getting snagged on rocks. Tree kickers can be one of these two but with a protruding bump at the back of a slider to 'kick' a tree away from the rig if you happen to slide up against it with the metal protector.

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Matthew Guy
Matthew Guy

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