That stock Can-Am Outlander sitting in your garage is a seriously capable machine right off the showroom floor. But let’s be honest—it’s also a blank canvas. You look at it and see the potential for a trail-conquering beast, a workhorse that never quits, or a mud-slinging monster that turns heads.
The world of ATV accessories is vast, and it can be overwhelming to figure out where to start. Which mods give you the most bang for your buck? What do you actually need versus what just looks cool? You want to build a machine that perfectly fits your riding style, but you don’t want to waste time or money on the wrong parts.
Imagine your rig transformed, perfectly equipped for any task you throw at it. Picture yourself plowing the driveway with ease, winching a buddy out of a tough spot, or tackling that intimidating mud hole with total confidence. That’s the power of smart modifications.
In this complete guide, we’ll show you exactly how to equip your Can-Am Outlander with the right gear. We’ll cut through the noise and focus on the accessories that deliver real-world performance, utility, and protection. Let’s get wrenching.
Why Modify? The Top Benefits of Can-Am Outlander With Added Accessories
Before you start adding parts to your shopping cart, it’s crucial to understand why you’re modifying your machine. Every accessory should have a purpose. Thinking about your goals first is one of the best can am outlander with tips we can offer.
Defining your needs helps you build a cohesive, capable quad instead of a random collection of parts. Here are the primary benefits you can unlock.
Enhanced Capability & Performance
This is where the real fun begins. The right performance mods can completely change how your Outlander handles terrain. Upgraded tires provide massive gains in traction, a lift kit gives you the ground clearance to crawl over rocks and logs, and a snorkel kit allows you to tackle deep water crossings without swamping your engine.
Increased Utility & Work Efficiency
For many owners, an Outlander is a tool. Adding a winch turns your ATV into a recovery vehicle and a powerful pulling machine. A snow plow can clear your driveway in a fraction of the time it takes with a shovel, and upgraded cargo racks and boxes let you haul everything from tools to camping gear securely.
Improved Comfort & Rider Safety
Long days on the trail are much more enjoyable with a few creature comforts. A windshield can drastically reduce rider fatigue by blocking wind, dust, and rain. Handguards protect your knuckles from branches, and an upgraded seat or a passenger seat setup makes the ride better for everyone. These aren’t just luxuries; they’re practical upgrades for safety and endurance.
Personalization & Style
Let’s face it, we all want our rides to look good. Custom wheel and tire packages, LED light bars, and graphic wraps not only add function but also give your Outlander a unique look that stands out from the crowd. It’s your machine—make it reflect your personality.
Getting Started: Your Can-Am Outlander With Guide to Essential First Mods
Ready to turn some wrenches? This is our definitive list of the first modifications you should consider. This section of our can am outlander with guide focuses on the foundational parts that provide the biggest immediate improvements in performance and protection.
The Foundation: Upgrading Wheels & Tires
If you make only one modification, make it tires. Stock tires are designed to be a “one-size-fits-all” solution, which means they don’t excel at anything specific. Choosing the right tire for your typical terrain is a game-changer.
- All-Terrain Tires: A great all-around upgrade for riders who tackle a mix of hardpack, trails, and occasional mud.
- Mud Tires: Feature deep, aggressive lugs designed to paddle through the thickest muck and self-clean for continuous traction.
- Trail/Rock Tires: Often have a tougher carcass and a tread pattern designed for gripping rocks, roots, and loose dirt.
Pro Tip: When upgrading tires, consider beadlock wheels. They mechanically clamp the tire’s bead to the rim, allowing you to run very low air pressure for maximum traction without worrying about the tire popping off the wheel.
The Lifesaver: Installing a Winch
A winch is non-negotiable for anyone who rides alone or pushes their machine’s limits. It’s your get-out-of-jail-free card for getting unstuck from mud, snow, or a tricky off-camber situation. It can also be used to move fallen trees off the trail or pull heavy items around the yard.
For most Outlanders, a winch with a 3,500 lb to 4,500 lb capacity is the sweet spot. When installing it, take your time with the wiring. Mount the contactor in a high, dry place and run the wires away from hot exhaust components. Always connect directly to the battery for a reliable power source.
Protection is Paramount: Skid Plates & A-Arm Guards
The underside of your Outlander is vulnerable. The factory plastic “skid plates” offer minimal protection against sharp rocks, stumps, and other trail hazards that can puncture your engine case or differential. Upgrading to a full belly skid plate is cheap insurance.
You have two main material choices:
- Aluminum: Strong and durable, but it can get dented and tends to “grab” onto obstacles rather than slide over them.
- UHMW Plastic: (Ultra-High Molecular Weight) This is our top choice. It’s incredibly tough, lighter than aluminum, and its slick surface lets your ATV glide over obstacles effortlessly.
Don’t forget A-Arm guards to protect your vulnerable CV boots!
Tackling the Elements: Prepping Your Can-Am Outlander With All-Weather Gear
Your Outlander can be a year-round machine with the right setup. This is how to can am outlander with confidence, no matter what the weather forecast says. From winter blizzards to summer mud bogs, the right gear makes all the difference.
Winter Warrior: The Snow Plow Setup
A plow system transforms your ATV into a snow-clearing beast. A typical setup includes three main components: the plow blade itself (usually 50″ to 60″ for an Outlander), a heavy-duty push tube frame, and a model-specific mounting plate that bolts to the bottom of your ATV’s frame.
Lifting and lowering the blade is usually handled by your winch, making the whole operation quick and easy from the driver’s seat. It’s one of the most practical and satisfying mods you can make.
Mud Monster: Snorkel Kits & Radiator Relocates
If you love deep mud and water crossings, these two mods are essential. A snorkel kit raises the engine’s air intake and all critical vent lines up to the highest point on the ATV, usually around the gauge pod. This prevents your engine from ingesting water, which can cause catastrophic failure.
A radiator relocate kit moves your radiator from its low, forward position up onto the front cargo rack. This keeps it out of the mud and water where it can get clogged, overheat, and leave you stranded. A clean radiator is a happy radiator.
Trail Comfort: Windshields & Roofs
Don’t underestimate comfort. A half or full windshield provides excellent protection from wind, rain, bugs, and trail debris. Polycarbonate is the most common material as it’s incredibly shatter-resistant. A hard roof offers even more protection from sun and rain, making long rides far more pleasant.
Common Problems With Can-Am Outlander With Aftermarket Parts (And How to Fix Them)
Modifying your machine is rewarding, but it’s not always a simple bolt-on affair. Knowing the common problems with can am outlander with aftermarket gear can save you a lot of headaches. Here’s what to watch out for.
Electrical Gremlins: Drained Batteries & Blown Fuses
The Problem: You’ve added a big LED light bar, a sound system, and heated grips, and now your battery is always dead or you keep blowing the main fuse. This happens when you overload the stock electrical system.
The Solution: Don’t just tap into random wires. Install a dedicated fuse block or power distribution module. This device connects directly to your battery and provides individually fused circuits for all your accessories. It’s the clean, safe, and reliable way to add electronics.
Fitment Frustration: When Parts Don’t Line Up
The Problem: The bumper or skid plate you ordered online doesn’t seem to fit. The bolt holes are just slightly off, or a bracket is hitting the frame.
The Solution: First, always double-check the part number for your exact year and model Outlander before ordering. If it still doesn’t fit, don’t be afraid of minor persuasion. Sometimes you may need to slightly elongate a hole with a drill or file, or gently bend a bracket into place. This is common, especially with cheaper parts.
Suspension Sag & Handling Issues
The Problem: After adding a heavy winch, a plow mount, and a loaded rear cargo box, your Outlander’s suspension is sagging and the steering feels heavy and unresponsive.
The Solution: You’ve added significant weight, and the stock springs may not be up to the task. The easiest fix is to increase the preload on your shock absorbers. Most Outlander shocks have adjustable collars for this purpose. For heavier loads, you may need to invest in a set of heavy-duty aftermarket springs.
The Can-Am Outlander With Care Guide: Best Practices for Maintenance
A modified ATV requires a more diligent maintenance routine. Following a good can am outlander with care guide ensures your investment lasts. Adopting some eco-friendly can am outlander with practices also helps protect the trails we love.
Post-Ride Inspection Checklist
After every hard ride, take 15 minutes to do a thorough walk-around. This is one of the most important can am outlander with best practices.
- Check Torque: Check the tightness of bolts on all your new accessories, especially wheels, suspension parts, and plow mounts. Vibrations can loosen hardware.
- Clean & Inspect: Power wash mud and debris away from your radiator, winch cable, and suspension components. A clean machine is easier to inspect for damage.
- Inspect Boots & Hoses: Look for any tears in your CV boots or snorkel connections. A small tear can lead to a very expensive failure.
- Check Fluids: A quick check of your engine oil and coolant levels can catch a small leak before it becomes a big problem.
Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Best Practices
Being a responsible off-roader means leaving the trail better than you found it. A sustainable can am outlander with mindset is key.
When washing your machine, do it on a gravel or grass surface away from storm drains or waterways to prevent oil, grease, and mud from polluting local water sources. Use biodegradable soaps and cleaners whenever possible. And when you remove old parts, dispose of them responsibly—recycle old metal and take used oil and coolant to a proper disposal facility.
Frequently Asked Questions About Your Can-Am Outlander With ModsWhat’s the very first mod I should do to my new Outlander?
For 90% of riders, the answer is a tie between tires and a winch. Tires provide the single biggest performance boost, giving you more traction and control everywhere. A winch provides the peace of mind to explore further, knowing you have a self-recovery tool if you get stuck.
Will adding aftermarket parts void my Can-Am warranty?
This is a common concern. In the United States, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act protects you. A manufacturer cannot void your entire vehicle warranty just because you installed an aftermarket part. They must prove that your specific modification directly caused the specific failure you are trying to claim under warranty.
How big of a tire can I fit on a stock Can-Am Outlander without a lift?
This varies slightly by model and year, but a general rule of thumb is that you can usually go up one or two sizes over stock without rubbing issues. For example, if your machine came with 26-inch tires, you can often fit 27-inch or sometimes 28-inch tires. For anything larger, you will likely need a lift kit and possibly clutch work to compensate for the larger diameter.
Do I need to re-tune my ECU after adding a snorkel or an exhaust?
Yes, it is highly recommended. Changing the way air enters (snorkel) or exits (exhaust) the engine alters the air-fuel ratio. To get the full performance benefit and to ensure your engine runs safely without being too lean (hot) or too rich (inefficient), an ECU tuner is the proper way to adjust the fueling to match your new modifications.
Building out your Can-Am Outlander is one of the most rewarding parts of ownership. It’s a journey of transforming a capable machine into one that is uniquely yours, perfectly tailored to your adventures. By starting with a clear plan, focusing on quality parts, and performing regular maintenance, you’ll create a reliable and unstoppable rig.
Now get out there, turn some wrenches, and build the Outlander of your dreams. Ride safe, and have a blast!
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