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Rugged Radios
Rugged Radios is the name most side-by-side owners land on when they get tired of losing the group at the first fork or shouting over the engine to the passenger next to them. It is the comms brand you see bolted into race trucks and trail rigs alike, and Side By Side Source stocks the full line: GMRS and business-band radios, in-cab intercoms, the all-in-one 696 systems, helmet kits, headsets, antennas and the machine-specific mounts that hold it all. Two things are worth knowing before you shop. The radios, intercoms and headsets fit any UTV, while the mounts are cut per model, so you pick your machine to filter to the right bracket. And most Rugged two-way radios need an FCC license, which is simpler and cheaper than people expect. We have been the go-to online shop for UTV parts since 2010 and have served more than a million powersports customers, so we can sort the gear that talks to what you already run.
The right Rugged setup depends on how you ride. A solo trail rider who wants to reach the group runs a handheld or a mounted GMRS radio. A couple riding together wants an intercom so they can actually talk over the noise. A four-seat family or a race team wants the full 696 system, intercom and radio and headsets in one kit. This page carries all of it across every make we cover, from a $15 ground strap to a $3,024 four-person system. Not sure what talks to your buddy's setup or bolts into your dash? We are the fitment experts. Text (920) 644-5280, call (414) 219-0509, or use the live chat and we will spec the radio, the mount and the headsets for your exact machine before you spend a dollar.
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BUYER'S GUIDE: How to Choose a Rugged Radios Setup for Your UTV
Communication gear sorts into a few clear levels, and the right one comes down to who you need to hear: the people in your own cab, the riders in your group, or both. The table lays out the setups from a grab-and-go handheld to a full race system, then the section below covers the one thing nobody tells you at checkout, the license.
Rugged Radios Setups Compared
| Setup | What it does | Range / use | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Handheld radio | Grab-and-go 2-way, no install | Short-range group and spotter talk, throw it in any machine | $193–$246 |
| GMRS mobile radio + antenna | Dash-mounted 25-watt radio wired to an external antenna | Up to 10 to 12 miles line-of-sight, less in trees and canyons | $326–$340 |
| In-cab intercom | Wires headsets together so riders hear each other over engine and wind | One cab, driver to passengers. Add a radio for outside comms | Part of the 696, or standalone |
| Complete 696 system | Intercom, 2-way radio and AlphaBass headsets in one machine-specific kit | In-cab plus group, for 2 to 4 people | $998–$3,024 |
| Race mobile radio (M1) | Business-band, digital and analog, fully waterproof | Organized racing and events on business frequencies | ~$523 |
Do You Need a License? The Honest Answer
This is the question that stops most first-time buyers, and the straight answer is usually yes, but it is easier than it sounds. A GMRS radio like the Rugged GMR25 needs an FCC GMRS license, which is a short online application and a fee, currently about $35 for 10 years, with no test, and one license covers your whole immediate family. You can read the rules and start the application right on that FCC GMRS page. Business-band radios like the RDH16 handheld and the M1 race radio run on frequencies that call for an FCC business license, which is why they show up on race teams and organized events rather than casual family rides. If you just want to talk to your group on the trail without paperwork headaches, the GMRS route is the one to take, and we will point you to it. Intercoms and headsets on their own transmit nothing over the air, so they need no license at all. When fitment or legality is genuinely uncertain for your use, ask us or check the current FCC rules, because the frequency you are allowed to use can vary by where and how you ride.
What a Rugged Radios Setup Costs
The entry point is accessories and handhelds. Mounts, cables, antennas and audio filters run $15 to $80, a suction-cup antenna mount is $50, and a grab-and-go RDH16 handheld is $193. Enough to get two machines talking without a permanent install.
The middle is where most buyers land: a mounted GMRS radio kit. The Radio Kit Lite with the GMR25 and a stealth antenna is $338, and the Ranger-specific GMR25 kit is $326. That is 25 watts of real range and the setup most trail groups settle on.
The top end is a complete system or a race radio. The M1 Race Series waterproof mobile radio is $523, and a full 696 system with intercom, radio and AlphaBass headsets runs from around $1,000 for a two-person setup up to $3,024 for the four-person kit. Financing through Affirm is available at checkout on the full systems.
Every order carries our risk-free 90-day return and a best-price guarantee, shipping is free over $250, and most items ship within 24 hours. Questions on what works with your existing gear? That is what our team is here for.
Complete Rugged Radios Kits, Cut for Your Machine
The all-in-one kits pair a Bluetooth intercom and a 2-way radio with the mount made for your dash, so everything bolts in without guesswork. We stock them for the popular machines, including the RZR XP 1000, the Polaris General, the Honda Talon and the Kawasaki Teryx KRX. Pick your machine in the vehicle selector and the page filters to the kit and mounts that fit it.
Best-Selling Rugged Radios Gear
The volume sellers here are the small stuff every build needs, mounts, antennas and cables, but these are the pieces that anchor a real setup.
- Radio Kit Lite — GMR25 GMRS Mobile Radio with Stealth Antenna ($338.00). A 25-watt waterproof GMRS radio and a low-profile antenna, the do-it-all mounted upgrade and the setup most trail groups choose. Fits any machine, needs a GMRS license.
- RDH16 Business Band Handheld Radio ($193.00). Digital and analog, grab-and-go, no install. The simplest way to add a second radio or hand one to a spotter.
- M1 Race Series Waterproof Mobile Radio ($523.00). Business-band, digital and analog, sealed against water and dust. The radio race teams run, sold in machine-specific versions.
- H42 2-Way Radio Headset with PTT ($159.00). A behind-the-head headset with a push-to-talk, the no-helmet way to run comms in an open cab.
- Suction Cup Antenna Mount ($50.00). The best-selling accessory on the page, a no-drill way to add or move an antenna. The kind of small part that makes a setup work.
Rugged Radios FAQ
Do I need a license to run a Rugged Radios radio?
For most two-way radios, yes, but it is simple. A GMRS radio like the GMR25 needs an FCC GMRS license, which is a short online form and a fee, currently around $35 for 10 years, no test, covering your whole immediate family. Business-band radios like the RDH16 and M1 need an FCC business license instead, which is why they suit racing and organized events. Intercoms and headsets on their own need no license because they do not transmit over the air.
What is the difference between a radio and an intercom?
An intercom connects the people inside one cab so they can talk over engine and wind noise, driver to passengers. A two-way radio reaches other machines and your group down the trail. Many owners want both, which is exactly what a complete 696 system delivers in one kit: the intercom, the radio and the headsets together.
Will Rugged Radios gear fit my UTV?
The radios, intercoms, headsets and antennas are universal and work on any machine. The mounts are the part cut per model, so a dash mount for an RZR XP 1000 differs from one for a Teryx KRX or a Ranger. Pick your make and model in the selector and the page filters to the brackets and complete kits that bolt into your machine. If you are unsure, send us your machine and we will confirm it.
Handheld or a mounted radio, which should I get?
A handheld like the RDH16 is cheapest, needs no install and moves between machines, but it has less range and no external antenna. A mounted GMRS radio like the GMR25 puts 25 watts behind a roof or hood antenna for real range, up to 10 to 12 miles line-of-sight, and it is always there and wired in. Casual or second-machine use points to a handheld. A regular group rider wants the mounted radio.
What is the real range of a UTV radio?
Rugged rates the 25-watt GMR25 at up to 10 to 12 miles, but that number is line-of-sight, ridge to ridge. In timber, canyons and rolling terrain, expect less, often a few miles, which is still far more than a handheld and plenty to keep a trail group together. A roof-mounted antenna and a clean ground make the biggest difference in what you actually get.