Worst Maverick X3 mod EVER! "Removable" skid plate with rivnuts!

We decided it would be a good idea to make the rear skid plate on Steve's X3 removable for oil changes.... then it turned out to be a giant pain in the ass.

[@prayertool]

You guys are real. Thank you so much for honesty!!! I was minutes away from “air chiseling”. I am going to pass and move on. THANK YOU

[@dingakasteve]

This was the best Doug I’ve seen yet, him cleaning that skid plate lol.

[@SXSBlog]

hahahahaha drunk Doug is a good Doug

[@ryrummler8143]

Would have went a lot better if Sous would have showed up with some friggin hot n readies

[@CampersofChaos]

I almost lost it when doug said "take it off...and put it on differently" i think that inherently happens for any wrenchin job.... 😂😂😂😂

[@olewangler]

Saved me!!!! I was considering it. Thanks bud!! Really curious to know what’s going on on the bench..........

[@atvnvanzander]

12:10 Doug “you ever wanna know how to clean the mud off a skid plate…just move it around” hahaha awesomeness

[@prorider6997]

About time you guys get a two post lift. Life is 100 times better not having to lay on the floor..

[@SXSBlog]

That garage isn't tall enough. Our next shop will be.

[@richardblevins2807]

you guys are pumping out some good videos still looking foward to the showdown between silent Steve's machine and the project beast mode x3 also would love to see one of the x3s get a clutch upgrade with all that power to like an stm primary and secondary so Doug can give us all and education on spring and weight set ups

[@davidh1055]

10:58 Doug is drunk from here on out LOL! He looks like he would be fun to hang around when a little pissy lol

[@SXSBlog]

Man I barely remember but if Doug's holding a coke colored drink in a red cup you can damn well guarantee it's got at least 3 shots of bicardi in it ahhahaha

[@danlsmock]

The easiest way to deal with oil changes is open the hole in the skid plate so a piece of 1 inch thin wall pvc pipe just stays in with a little friction. Slide the pipe in, pull the drain plug and the oil comes down the pipe and not all over plate.

[@tatung70]

Do you have a picture on this?

[@mattevans3212]

I'm one of those people that wants no dirt left when I clean this is a good mod for someone like me that wants everything clean

[@TheCuttingtorch]

Haha i told you guys before. But hey what not to do is helpful. Good to see stevie not all hung over.

[@joshbeaty9785]

Purple locktite on the rivnuts buds.

[@jeffsites2428]

When Steve hears rattling noise, it will be those rivet pieces and metal drillings inside that frame. Hope not but it happened to me. Enjoyed the video.

[@SXSBlog]

We'll see Jeff lol

[@MrMoronification]

This would be hell on a Can Am Max! By the way, I met a guy who makes skid plates for quads, he uses a different plastic that take more abuse and won't break or split like mine did. And the best thing is he countersinks the plastic and uses a two level washer and a hex bolt. Such a better system! He needs to get a cnc machine to make UTV plates.

[@redneckswitwheels]

He doesn't need a cnc. Use a router and make a jig. Clamp the jig to the material and RIP it. Then clamp the jig to another piece of material n RIP away.

[@j-go998]

Love the videos... I continue to appreciate my YXZ and Honda P500 more and more...

[@jimp.6705]

When the rivnut spins.....ahhh...

[@kolemoore4798]

I take the skid plate off my Rzr at least once a year to shed up to 50lbs of mud weight trapped in the frame and skid plate. I have installed nut-serts my into place too because the oem mounts with screws into thin mounting tabs. I guess whether it is worth it also depends on what kind of riding you do and how well a pressure washer can clean out the crevices!!!

[@stevecharlton4235]

The pain is real. Those factory rivets are no joke. I recently installed Factory UTV UHMW rock sliders and had to drill out 18 of those suckers... most of which I had to pound through the cage. 5 hours of hell.

[@ronbowman4145]

When you change oil, put a funnel under the drain plug going down through the hole in the skid plate, all the oil will end up going through the funnel and into a catch pan and none will mess up the skid plate.

[@woodym8333]

Ahh hell... waste oh time, still an entertaining vid from you guys that I enjoyed. You guys are great!!

[@robrivera5940]

Clinch nuts is what Sous does when he sends it bud!

[@cherokeexpress]

My Maverick sport xmr skidplate is already trashed.. I don't think there's any other options than this. Thanks for the warning!

[@Mudcon]

I would locktite the nut zerts in or they will likely spin getting them back out. Been there done that.

[@MACKROV]

Interesting idea. Thanks for giving me one more step in this already laborious process. 🤣

[@haden419]

You guys are too much,lol. It's about time we see some videos of some electrical accessories. Light bar, dome light ....

[@rsswga]

the skid plates that some cutting boards are made of. about half inch thick real durable

[@David500EXC]

For removing the rivets an air hammer works great then use a step drill to open up the holes for the rivnuts. I did this mod to install the AGM fuel tank and love it for changing oil and servicing anything on the underside plus I have an additional 9 gallons of fuel giving me a 180+ mile range at race pace.

[@leemcginnis738]

I think in the long run it will be worth it to do this, but it did look like a pain in the ass! Doug what was that liquid you were drinking?

[@ericlaplante2291]

i drilled mine out and just went with selfdriller screws with big washer and lock washer took me 1 hour to do the job and i love the fact that i can now remove the skid plate for oil change, and cleaning in less the 2 minutes

[@CaptainXSmitty]

How noticeable is the vibrating remainder of the rivets in the frame?

[@darcy1437]

Thanks for the heads up I was thinking about doing that same thing and you just change my mind I’ll leave my skid plate on thank you Darcy

[@nowlucki930]

Great work! Should do a video on how he cleans that thing so well! Lol

[@gregoryeddowes2275]

Soooo wish I saw this before i did mine (still not done). If I had a lift it would have been way easier but probably still not worth it. The tool is cool tho, glad I bought it. I also worry about the riv nut spinning. Classic "too late I drilled out the rivots"

[@goaskgrandpa3368]

I myself added spacers between the frame and skid plate to let the dirt and water escape

[@ChevroletTough]

Nothing holds like a crossthread! Driver in 110 bud!

[@URBANAMERICANTAC]

Ha. Almost made it to the first spot. SON IF A BITCH. That was definitely a drunk ass Doug using that squeegee on that muddy skid plate lol

[@steeleexpressllc990]

Thanks guys, saved me a weekend on my back.

[@shawnstubblefield1902]

Ol Nick Sous knew better than to get involved with those didgeridoos

[@richardkrug8563]

You guys are great.. lmao.. I am one of the guys u saved from this debacle! Thx

[@ehTV1000]

fucking hilarious, good on ya's for posting it.

[@Tanks-Link]

Doug you guys need to put a light duty auto lift in there

[@drron946]

You guy's rock !!!!!!!!!!!!! If i could ask what size riv nuts and type of bolt did you use ,I only have about 500 miles on my maverick and the stock plate is toast, we grow great rocks IN THE GREAT WHITE NORTH LOL

[@SXSBlog]

I believe M10

[@zeroboy711]

love the videos guys! keep it up! more sled vids would be cool!

[@AdvBrewery]

Gosh, I dig the performance of the can am unit. But I feel like they're becoming the Ferrari of the SxS world. Maintenance is an absolute bear compared to a RZR and Yammie. Now learning about the skidplate being secured with rivets? I'd be pissed off lol.

[@kong3]

I agree overall. My Mav Trail 1000 dps is my 5th sxs. WC Trail, Rzr, 2 Rhinos. It is the worst to mod, wire, etc.

[@moparnoother]

It's ezr to just put a bag under the engine as far around the drain plug & pull about 4" of it out of the hole like a cone shape cut the tip & do your oil change

[@cajunmudderfukerz8324]

Good idea

[@sxstrails6968]

😂, sometimes you just have to put your hands up and just go WHY

[@mattbrown3400]

"SON OF BITCH"...IM ROLLING.......hey buds, at least we know what other terms are used for rivnuts...clinch nuts..sounds like what my wife does to keep me from spending $$ on a new x3.... The astro tool is a good unit, bought one because of your recommendation. Saving the SxS modification world 1 bullet at a time, someone had to do this for us. thanks boys!

[@SXSBlog]

hahahahah she sounds savage.

[@biden.thinks.kids.are.cocaine]

Sweet unit there fellas.

[@M_L_N_W]

"Just move the mud around?" " yup just move it around" hahahaha

[@jpyka4x4]

Half my skidplate bolts stripped out on my 2013 mav. Probably end up going this route.

[@michiganmotorsports]

Seemed like a good idea at the time... 🍺🍺

[@danielroller3337]

She’s a nice unit

[@joseflores-sx4qw]

harbor freight has that tool for a good price with the inserts

[@showtimespeedshop]

Make sure the “pinch nuts” are”Dougtite” lol

[@skippymcgenkins6808]

I was just messing around I know you obviously cant get to everything, but his machine always looks like it is right off the show room floor!

[@SXSBlog]

He keeps her clean

[@baddazzriderturner3321]

I think it would be a pain but in the Long run its a good idea, for when you pull the motor for a V8 🤔

[@grumpyg9350]

I’m almost 70, and I did my 2022 xrs max SSS 3/8 full skid plate in 2 days. Drilled out the old rivets, removed the old skid,install all the 1/4-20 rivnuts, and installed the entire skid plate assembly by myself. You guys are soy.

[@civilizeddelinquent563]

Steve bud....some serious lack of LSR equipment on the unit!!!!!

[@Bumpertrash1]

No shreddy life for steve

[@txultra2005]

Guys, if you had the crappy stock skid plate off you really should have put a good one on, like trail armor. I know you don’t do much rock stuff, but if you ever do you will wish you had changed it.

[@SXSBlog]

Haha, wasn't long ago guys killed for a 3/8" think UHMW skid plate, but now that they come stock...

[@txultra2005]

SXSBlog.com yep, isn’t it crazy how fast the sxs stuff has advanced

[@docapproved4hire272]

First.... Love your vids. You guys are awesome, keep it up.

[@robertkillinger9031]

I know I'm a year late to the party but what I've found as a tech is if you drill out all the rivets(or remove them with a grinder is best) then you just take a crap load of the t40 screws that hold polaris' together and run em in and your good to go.

[@SXSBlog]

Oh the self tapper style T40s?

[@robertkillinger9031]

@@SXSBlog yeah, they drill there way right into the rivets hole

[@stacyreid5077]

I know my Commander is bolted on but I took and used a 2" hole saw to my skid plate in a lot of places especially around the front end and rear end so that the mud and dirt could But washed easier. Plus before I changed to a HighLifter belt I was dropping my skid plate a lot to change the belt, which by dropping it is a lot easier also on the Commander

[@ShaneBurrell1]

I have the exact craftsman combo screwdriver/crowbar!!!!

[@mountainturbosports1]

Great video 👍🌮🍺

[@62Chevynova]

Be warned brothers! Dont let that slippery drain plug drop in your oil filter when using the skidplate hole. Dammit! What a mess! Just when you think its going great!

[@skippymcgenkins6808]

Cant believe there was that much dirt under Steves machine. I thought he cleaned it with a tooth brush!

[@ROTAXD]

Ryan Jones can am is notorious for having lots of hidey holes that're almost impossible to clean without tearing 1/2 the machine apart.

[@McDoobles]

To be fair my Rzr is a dirt magnet as well. It’s just inevitable with all that real estate

[@jonathanwharton5837]

Resurrecting this video comment thread, due to a mishap I had to do the middle skid plate on my xrs max, it's absolutely horrible and is not worth the headache.

[@boorerbj]

Ol steve the mute shop dog on the tools👍

[@TheOffRoadAdventureChannel]

Emailed you guys. May be too soon but just in case it got buried in spam!

[@jdub229r]

Sounds like I'm going to use a 2" hole saw under my drain plug.

[@mmmcquoid]

THOSE YXZ LOOK LIKE A STINK BUG

[@davidream136]

Classic! Doug "What video is this for"?

[@SXSBlog]

hahahah

[@shawnstubblefield1902]

Riv Nuts FTW buds 110P

[@victorllamas4252]

Thanks was thinking of doing this not any more. LOL

[@richardlambert1544]

I would use the winch and lift the machine vertical or close so you don't have to crawl under neath and also to grease them

[@SXSBlog]

That would be a great idea if we had winches, haha

[@christopher9097]

Ratchet strap or come along to the little hook thing in the ceiling where doug hung the cage from lol.

[@underourrock]

Nurserts are usually heat set inserted. They are great for embedding in plastic. Rivnuts = rivet nuts which speaks to how they are installed much like installing a rivet manually. Clinch Nuts is certainly another good name for them. Getting the clamping force on them is a bit tricky without stripping the threads. For the rivnuts you don't want a lot of space in the hole. When they are sandwiched down they need to fill that hole to keep from spinning. The difference between a too loose and too tight hole isn't very much. Having a good quality drill bit index is good for fitting this kind of thing. Sorry this didn't end up being great. Thanks for sharing!

[@amerikanmade760]

Pretty sure I thought the riveted on brake lines were ridiculous, but can am seriously rivets the plastic skid plates to the bottom?! WTF? Designers must have been drinking too

[@mrbwh]

Holy shit he's off the stool.

[@danpmatz]

If you have something to winch it up in the air it would make it a lot easier.

[@SXSBlog]

Eventually

[@haveawaffle6206]

not sure if anyone is still following this video.. but, would this mod be useful for replacing an oil pan?

[@dannywilliams2989]

Couldn't you tack weld those rivnuts so you never have to worry about them spinning?

[@SXSBlog]

Probably!

[@MACKROV]

Already too late! I'm working on the Def XMR and getting the rivets out is ridiculous. Drilled out 5, punched out one, spun one too long and bored through the plate, got three others I can't punch through... yet. Stopped to check out some videos and this one isn't building my confidence. Lol. How can someone make such an amazing machine and also think these rivets are a good idea??

[@KnownSender1]

Just don't do it no don't do it 😂😂😂😂😂🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯😭😭

[@chadh6759]

Yupp just saved me from doing this until mine breaks LOL

[@DkittrellGaming]

i did the full skid plate on a 2 seater and 4 seater. it was a fairly easy project, not sure why you're saying its not worth it. 2 seater was cake.

[@SXSBlog]

I mean, in hindsight, what are you really gaining?

[@DkittrellGaming]

ease of maintenance. The 4 seater took us about 4 hrs as it has 3 plates. 2 seater took about 2 hrs, its just went a lot smoother, skid plate was less damaged. So its not like it was a long project. To each their own but i would recommend it to anyone who hates the mess the oil changes make, not to mention gear box changes are easy now too.

[@McDoobles]

Nick doesn’t clean his machines so any time spent on cleaning and cleaning accessories is pointless lol.

[@stephenmeche8418]

Why does Can Am not install rivnuts from the factory? Do they not have rivnuts in Canada? It's the one major complaint I have with my commander. I have even found a wrench someone at the factory dropped on top of the skid plate. This is my next project.

[@texasmade2684]

Sounds like a good idea though

[@mountainturbosports1]

Time for a lift

[@SXSBlog]

YESSSSSSS

[@AtvRacer]

Doug looks "cooked"

[@SXSBlog]

Eyes get red easily, it's a ginger thing

[@tony2246]

What size bit do you recommend? Even drilling these out of the doors is a pain. I have also broken three quality bits in the process. Any recommendations?

[@KnownSender1]

110 was to much 🤯

[@ChevroletTough]

110 was waaaaay too much!

[@kevinenger8623]

Dude,,,, why go threw the work just to put plastic back in place???? Kudos for the blog though!!!

[@SXSBlog]

Aluminum skid plates are super loud and annoying ripping gravel roads / trails. UHMW is a pretty awesome material for these actually.

[@robertraabe]

why doesnt doug butterfield have a creeper?

[@SXSBlog]

Haha, it sat leaning against the bench the whole time

[@robertraabe]

Poor steve

[@wood2hoz4]

👍🏼

[@jasonbrown8284]

What size of hole is required to be drilled to fit the riv nuts? And is this the warranty killer brand kit?

[@bradyoung252]

Could you use clinch nuts in UTV body work? Or is the plastic not strong enough. Thx

[@SXSBlog]

hmmm maybe? It would be worth trying.

[@alloutdoors5358]

It reaaallllyyyy won’t be worth it if those pinch nuts start spinning from over torque/ rust

[@rev600hods]

I drive my S&S on 4 car ramps to make it easyer to crawl under.

[@SXSBlog]

Unfortuntely the machine had no shocks holding it up, lol, so jacks and stands it is!

[@jboy9724]

Why not just use some self tappers?

[@SXSBlog]

These are cleaner

[@ROY1234AS]

Im not doing this because I want to. Need to do a repair would be nice to know the size of rivnut used. Maybe I missed it?

[@SXSBlog]

I think they were M6, but you can pretty much use whatever you prefer since the frame needs to be drilled anyways

[@gregc9220]

why not install the dome washers with self tappers like Polaris does? way easier and it works.

[@SXSBlog]

Self tappers are in the strap wrench category around here, lol