Dash Customs truly custom 1/2 windshield

I've debated what kind of windshield I wanted to put on my 450 for quite a while, because of the need/desire to retain the UTV Customs Spare Tire mount. Originally I thought about using a Seizmik windshield which has a vinyl bottom, but then I found out that the windshield itself was acrylic instead of Lexan. Then, I contemplated making one myself. Finally, seeing Dash Customs ad on eBay where he says that he'd modify or custom cut his windshields for free, I contacted Donald and we chatted a couple of times. I took some measurements, marked them up on a couple photos, and sent them to him. He cut two 1.5" slots 5" long in the windshield, right above where his "Z braces" normally mount. It fit around the spare tire mount very nicely, leaving about 1/4" gap around the 1" tubing.

Then, I cut pieces from the old plastic front skidplate that I'd removed, and trimmed them to fit. The holes around the 1" tubing are actually the angled holes on the front of the skidplate. I had to enlarge them slightly, in addition to cutting the piece in half across that hole, so I could put one piece in from the top and one from the bottom. Finally, I bolted these trim pieces on using six 1/8" x 3/4" stainless steel bolts on each side. I cut a couple 1.5" strips of weatherstripping and put them on the bottom of these added trim pieces, where it would contact and seal against the dash. Overall, I'm pretty pleased with the result. If you look close, you can tell my "shade-tree engineering" but overall, it looks pretty good to me...

I tested it on a 16 mile ride last weekend and am quite pleased with the results. No rattling and no vibration around the spare tire mount. In fact, it is more solid than the top of the windshield where the bent piece is... Here's a few pics from today where I was doing a bit more cleaning from last Sunday's ride... OBTW, you can also see the Ram mount for my new Garmin Nuvi 500 GPS -- my cradle for it should arrive Monday.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kentthomas/sets/72157623638291249/show/with/4487130933/

Very nice job Kent

Killer !! And, your machine is looking very worthy, all the way around !!

Thanks guys! As you can tell, I kind of went for the "rugged, utilitarian" look...

You can also tell from all the trail rash and banged up skids that I don't baby this thing. Most of the trails here are VERY tight, and many are VERY rocky. I tell all the quad riders that I ride with, "If it'll fit, I can follow you... " So far, I haven't found anywhere that they've gone that I've not been able to take it. Have had to saw a tree limb off once (I carry a small chainsaw). Combine narrow trails and off-camber situations, and it gets very tight sometimes.

Our club only has two UTVs, my Rhino and a RZR. The RZR doesn't have a lift kit or anything, and he has some real problems on the rocky trails... he can go faster, but I can usually go farther than he can, whether in water/mud or in rocks.

Plus, I usually haul all the beer, so I don't have to worry about them totally leaving me...

Very nice!!!

Nice Kent!!!!

KentT wrote:

Plus, I usually haul all the beer, so I don't have to worry about them totally leaving me...

Us 450 guys got to have something to slow them down!!!!!!


Glad they got you fixed up bro..

Nice work man. That looks really nice.

AIRBORNE wrote:

Nice work man. That looks really nice.

Yeah, for something that's normally a 15-20 minute install for most people turned into a real shade-tree engineering exercise for me... all because of that spare tire mount.

I do like the idea of having a spare, though, mounted down low and out of the way. It actually serves as a pretty good brush guard too. The only other mount I'd really be interested in would be one of those "swing-away" mounts for the rear tailgate. But, those suckers are expensive, and could be a hassle when using the Rhino to haul and dump stuff...

Overall, I'm pleased with the direction this thing is going. The next two major mods on my list are:

1. Shocks

2. Turn signals, to get ready to register it in Tennessee as a "medium speed vehicle"...

Meanwhile, as long as I'm spending my money enhancing it, rather than repairing it, I'm a happy camper!

KentT wrote:

Meanwhile, as long as I'm spending my money enhancing it, rather than repairing it, I'm a happy camper!

X2

on that bro.

"shade-tree engineering"

Good stuff!!!!

Kent and Neil.........in the running for nicest 450 Rhinos on the planet.....

AIRBORNE wrote:

Kent and Neil.........in the running for nicest 450 Rhinos on the planet.....

KentT wrote:

Overall, I'm pleased with the direction this thing is going. The next two major mods on my list are:

1. Shocks

2. Turn signals, to get ready to register it in Tennessee as a "medium speed vehicle"...

Meanwhile, as long as I'm spending my money enhancing it, rather than repairing it, I'm a happy camper!

Shocks now upgraded to Bilstein stainless steel with Einbach springs, thanks to Yank! Now, it's time to start researching the turn signals I want.

I've already added a horn -- the chrome push button is visible just left of the instrument cluster in this pic, on that "bump-out" that looks like it shoulda had a switch or something there... Now it does!

Nice looking ride Kent. I am with you on the shocks, I borrowed an 06 Rhino for a ride and fell in love with the SXS. I bought an 09 Sport Edition Rhino and could not believe the ride difference with the better shocks. Love the look of your Rhino.

bigbore wrote:

Love the look of your Rhino.

Thanks! I've been trying for something a little different -- without spending a fortune -- because there's a gazillion blue Special Editions out there...

looks good, i am just now starting to do somethings to mine. i think the wheels look good on there, i havent seen many people run the delta wheels on a rhino. sets it apart! anyway the windshield looks great.

jasonch wrote:

i think the wheels look good on there, i havent seen many people run the delta wheels on a rhino. sets it apart! anyway the windshield looks great.

The wheels do look good. I had a set of ITP steel simulated beadlocks on a ATV. I always thought they would look good on a Rhino.

jasonch wrote:

looks good, i am just now starting to do somethings to mine. i think the wheels look good on there, i havent seen many people run the delta wheels on a rhino. sets it apart! anyway the windshield looks great.

Thanks. It's so rocky here that I knew that I'd really thrash them, so I went with inexpensive wheels...

BTW, for those looking for inexpensive HIDs, check this selection out:

http://50caliberracing.com/sidexside/HID-lights.htm