Portal Gear Lifts

Traditional lift kits raise your chassis by spacing components or using arched A-arms, but they're limited by CV axle angles and suspension geometry changes that create problems beyond 3-4 inches. Portal gear lifts solve this by moving the lift to your wheel hubs themselves. Gearboxes replace your stock hubs, positioning the axle output shaft higher while the wheel mounts lower, creating massive ground clearance (4-6+ inches) without changing suspension geometry at all. Side by Side Source carries portal gear lift systems from manufacturers who've engineered complete solutions for popular UTV models, providing everything needed to transform your machine's capability with ground clearance that makes technical terrain feel easy and accommodation for 35+ inch tires that would be impossible with traditional lifts.

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Buyer's Guide for UTV Portal Gear Lifts: Helping You Shop!

Understanding How UTV Portal Gears Actually Work

At first glance, portal gears kind of seem like magic. How do they create lift without affecting suspension? The concept is straightforward once explained. Traditional hub design has your axle output shaft directly connected to your wheel hub at the center of the wheel.

Portal gear hubs use gearboxes that take power from the axle (which mounts higher up), gear it through a reduction set, and output to the wheel (which mounts lower down). The gearbox creates physical separation between axle height and wheel center, effectively lifting your chassis without touching suspension components.

The catch is that unsprung weight increases significantly; you're adding maybe 40-80 pounds of gearbox weight at the wheels, which affects ride quality and suspension response. But still, thanks to the ability of these lifts to keep stock suspension geometry as it is, you don’t have to deal with CV binding issues, and handling characteristics remain relatively stock despite the massive lift.

Side-by-Side Portal Gear Lift Heights and Applications

Portal lifts come in various heights, each suited for different applications and tire sizes. 4-inch portal lifts represent the "modest" end of portal territory (which is funny since 4 inches is massive by traditional lift standards). They accommodate 32-35-inch tires comfortably, provide excellent ground clearance for technical riding, and don't require as many supporting modifications as taller portals.

6-inch portal lifts enter extreme territory, accommodating 35-38+ inch tires and creating ground clearance that fundamentally changes what terrain your machine can handle. Obstacles that would high-center stock machines become non-issues.

Application matters when choosing lift height. Rock crawlers benefit from maximum clearance since low-speed technical terrain is the goal. Desert racers might find 4-inch portals optimal. They provide enough clearance for big hits without the handling compromises taller setups create. Work machines pulling heavy loads appreciate the gear reduction, but might not need extreme lift. Match portal height to what you actually do rather than defaulting to "maximum everything."

UTV Portal Gear Installation Complexity and Professional vs. DIY

Without question, portal gear installation is involved. You're essentially rebuilding each corner of your machine. Alignment and setup after installation affect handling and component life. Improper setup causes premature wear or handling problems.

Nevertheless, DIY is still possible when it comes to portal gear lifts. You’re going to need torque wrenches, pullers, and potentially presses, and it’s definitely going to take more than a couple of hours (especially for your first installation), but it can be done.

It’s also important to note that your maintenance needs are going to go up after a portal gear lift. They need regular fluid changes, typically between fifty to a hundred miles, as well as seal inspection. Some portal designs are easier to service than others. Factor ongoing maintenance into your decision, as portals aren't install-and-forget modifications.

3 Top Selling UTV Portal Gear Lift Brands

SuperATV manufactures portal gear lifts for numerous UTV models with comprehensive systems including all necessary components and detailed installation instructions.
High Lifter produces portal gear systems designed specifically for the mud and terrain their brand is known for, with engineering focused on durability.
Portal gear lifts represent the pinnacle of UTV modification, and these manufacturers have proven their systems through years of use in demanding applications.

5 Top Selling Portal Gear Lift Products

Transform your Can-Am Commander with this 6" Portal Gear Lift by SuperATV, creating massive ground clearance and capability for extreme terrain.
Add serious lift with manageable characteristics using this 4" Portal Gear Lift by High Lifter, delivering excellent clearance without going full extreme.
Give your Kawasaki Ridge unprecedented capability with this 6" Portal Gear Lift by SuperATV, engineered specifically for Ridge applications.
Kawasaki Teryx KRX owners get competition-grade clearance with this 4" Portal Gear Lift by SuperATV, designed to handle the power KRX machines create.
Yamaha Viking riders can add massive capability with this 4" Portal Gear Lift by SuperATV, transforming Viking's utility into serious off-road performance.

Portal Gear Lift Frequently Asked Questions

Will portal gears void my warranty?

Absolutely yes—portal gears are major modifications that affect virtually every drivetrain component. Manufacturers will deny warranty coverage for axles, transmissions, differentials, brakes, suspension, steering, and anything else they can reasonably connect to your portal installation. Even unrelated failures might be scrutinized more carefully since portals indicate you're using your machine hard. If warranty is important, wait until it expires before installing portals. The capability portals provide is worth it for many riders, but accept that warranty coverage is gone once you install them.

How much horsepower do I need to run large tires with portal gears effectively?

This depends on tire size, for starters. The portal's gear reduction helps, but physics is physics—doubling rolling mass requires serious power to accelerate normally. Many portal builds include engine upgrades specifically to handle larger tires.

Do portal gears make my UTV handle worse?

They change handling characteristics in ways that can be positive or negative, depending on your priorities. You may notice decreased responsiveness in your suspension. For high-speed desert running or smooth trail riding, traditional lifts might serve you better.