2011 SEMA Show: Off-Road Vehicles and Products Highlights [Video]

The Las Vegas Convention Center again plays host to the 2011 SEMA Show, highlighting some newest and coolest new parts and vehicles in the automotive realm. Since this trade-only event isn’t something the general public can gain access to, we wanted to highlight some of the coolest off-road things we’ve come across at this year’s show.

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2011 SEMA Show Photo Gallery

2011 SEMA Truck Photo Gallery


Cool New Products


Skyjacker New Rhino Forward A-Arm Kit, Rear Winch Mount Kit
Skyjacker Suspensions has some new things cooking this year for the off-road world. The company has decided to enter the UTV market with a few parts for the Polaris Ranger. The first is its Forward A-Arm Kit for the 2010-12 Polaris Ranger Crew. This kit maintains the OEM suspension travel and retains the ball joint and bushings, but it allows the owner to run 30-inch-diamter tires without rubbing. The sturdy A-arms are constructed of heavy-wall DOM tubing that Skyjacker says is stronger than stock. The bolt-on kit includes upper shock relocations brackets.

Skyjacker also is offering for the Ranger is a rear winch mount kit. This bolt-on kit mounts to the rear frame instead of the hitch (so you don’t lose hitch capability) and requires not cutting, welding or grinding. It can accommodate up to a 4,000-pound rear winch.

Skyjacker also has a new 6-inch suspension kit for the Cherokee. The Rock Ready kit offers massive trail clearance for XJ (1984-2001) Cherokees, including 6-inch front coils, high-clearance lower link Flex control arms, link brackets, upper Flex control arms, adjustable track bar, double disconnect front sway bar links and extended rear sway bar links, drop pitman arm, rear springs and more. Also on display in Skyjacker’s booth is its forthcoming monotube shocks, which we are told will be available around February of 2012. Visit http://www.skyjacker.com/ for more information.

ReadyLift Off-Road Suspension Series 1 Coilover Kits
On display in the ReadyLift booth is its new Off-Road Series 1 Coil Over Suspension Kits. Eventually available in three stages, ReadyLift is excited to move into a new realm of the off-road aftermakret. ReadyLift's Curtis Zamora walked us through some of the differences of the three stages of kits that will soon be available.

“This is our Series 1 kit, which includes coilover, upper control arm and tie rod," Zamora explained while showing us the new kits. "This will give you a 1- to 3-inch lift. Our Series 2 will give you a little bit more. It will include a fabricated spindle. Our Series 3, which will be a full long-travel setup, with a longer shock, upper control arm, a fully fabricated lower arm and a fabricated spindle. It will widen the stance approximately two inches and also will increase travel to approximately 13 inches.

Although the Series 3 kit is not quite finalized in terms of applications and pricing, the Stage 1 kits are available for Chevy, Dodge, Ford and Toyota applications. We are told the arm kits will be about $799 retail, the coilovers about $1250 and the steering kits about $650. Visit http://www.readylift.com/ for more info.  

Kramer America
The great thing about SEMA is seeing the ingenuity in every facet of the automotive aftermarket. Florida-based Kramer America’s Maxfloormat and Maxtray are a good example of this. Although these mats may be great for protecting your floor interior from a coffee spill or a child dropping food, they are also ideal for the dirty off-road world. The polyethylene construction makes the mats flexible and durable, and the raised lip and molded edges provide protection for the interior. For more info, visit http://www.krameramerica.com/.

Burnsville OffRoad 392 HEMI Conversion
Burnsville OffRoad out of Burnsville, Minnesota (with a location now in Englewood, Colorado), have been specializing in Jeep hemi conversions since the JK was released in 2007. Owner Dan McKeag pointed us in the direction of his newest conversion, which is a 392 Hemi install in a 2012 JK Wrangler. The catch with this conversion is it’s the first McKeag has done (and, as far as we know, the first that’s been done) mating the Hemi to the new 5-speed transmission found on the 2012 JK. McKeag tells us this new transmission works very well with the 392, easily handling the near 500 horsepower the engine produces. We just want to drive one! For more information, visit http://www.burnsvilleoffroad.com/.