Inside DRT’s 2026 Sand Sports Show Xpedition ADV

We had a different kind of reveal this year. DRT Motorsports asked us out to the California Sand Sports Super Show to build the car sitting in their booth, and this is the result: a 2026 Polaris Xpedition ADV built to show off their full parts lineup.

This is the second show car we've built for DRT. If you haven't seen the first one, check out our 2025 DRT Xpedition build, bright, shiny, and loud. We wanted to go the opposite direction this time: matte finish, mellow colors, more of an overland look. DRT gave us full creative freedom on it, and this is what we came back with.

Wheels, Tires & Suspension

We started with the stance. This Xpedition ADV rolls on 35" Valor Offroad Tango tires, wrapped around Metal Effects wheels with the rings powder-coated to match the rest of the build. If you want a similar wheel setup on your own rig, contact us and we'll get you dialed in.

Suspension is a Cedar Suspension Co. mid-travel kit, built around SuperATV Heavy Duty Rhino 2.0 axles and SDI E-Clik electronically controlled shocks. We don't carry the Cedar Suspension Co. kit on the site, so if that's the direction you want to go, hit us up and we'll walk you through it. We even wrapped the shock reservoirs to match the color scheme instead of leaving them looking like an afterthought.

Front Bumper, Winch & Lighting

Up front we ran our DRT Motorsports front bumper with their DRT hawse fairlead, plus Factor 55 hardware to clean up the factory hook dangling off the winch. Small detail, but it matters on a show car.

For lighting, we went with the new KC HiLiTES SlimLite. We liked the size of it enough to run it in two spots: mounted to the bumper up front, and again on the A-pillar.

Grille, Hood & Front Armor

We ran the DRT grille along with their newer vented hood, which adds a bit of a cowl look and sits a little taller than stock. It gave the wrap shop a lot more surface to work with for the topo-map graphics. Steering is handled by a DRT Barrel UHD billet tie rod kit, the 72" version built for the mid-travel platform.

A couple of details that are easy to miss because they blend in so well: the DRT A/C line protection kit covers the lines up front and continues back to protect the firewall side too. Right next to it is the DRT brake fluid reservoir protector, which we powder-coated to match. Sway bar duty goes to a DRT billet adjustable sway bar link kit, and the SlimLite up front mounts to a DRT A-pillar light bracket.

Mirrors, Roof Rack & Storage

The mirrors are a set of DRT tactical convex side mirrors, powder-coated to match. We kept the housings black and added color to the raw sections.

On top, we ran a DRT roof rack with a KC HiLiTES Flex light bar up front. On one side of the rack we mounted a ROAM storage box, and on the other, a MOJAB Offroad Trax panel. Want a ROAM box on your own build? Contact us and we'll get you set up.

Rock Sliders, Flares & Recovery Mount

DRT rock sliders are on there too, show car or not, you run sliders. We widened the stance with DRT's extended fender kit front and rear, which also helps keep mud off the body.

One of the newest pieces on this build is DRT's rear fender mesh set, a two-piece mud guard that keeps debris from getting flung up into the cavities behind the flares. One side is solid, the other is mesh, and it looks as good as it works. Behind it, a B's Fab dual antenna/whip mount carries the Rugged Radios antenna and the whip flags. Want a similar setup on your rig? Hit us up and we'll get you set up.

Rear Tire Carrier & Bumper

Around back is DRT's exterior spare tire carrier, the same swing-out unit we ran on last year's build, now with a rear camera relocation kit and some wrap detail to tie it into the rest of the car. It swings out of the way without blocking access to anything stored behind it.

For anyone not running the tire carrier, DRT also makes a standalone rear bumper with a license plate bracket, and a powder-coated exhaust cover finishes off the back. Rear suspension mirrors the front, same SDI shocks, same DRT sway bar links, same SuperATV axles.

Rear Grab Handle & Cargo Access

Another new one from DRT: the exterior billet liftgate handle. Anyone who's tried to climb into a caged UTV with their hands full knows how awkward that reach can be. This gives you a real grab point and makes it a lot easier.

Inside the cargo area, DRT's aluminum bed drawer slides out for full access to a cooler, storage box, or jackets, and it locks in and out with tie-down points built around the perimeter. For rear passengers, we added DRT's rear seat harness bar, which covers three harness points, including a center seat.

Rear Lighting & Mud Protection

The back of the roof rack carries a set of KC HiLiTES Cyclones running brake, chase, and backup light functions, and we used more Cyclones as rock lights front, rear, and in the grille.

Down low, that same DRT mesh mud protector panel we mentioned earlier wraps around the back too, powder-coated to match. It looks great and it's a lot easier to hose off than a solid panel.

Interior: Seats, Switches & Electronics

Inside, we ran Triple X heated and cooled seats. We don't carry those on the site, so if you want a set for your own build, contact us and we'll get you set up. Grab handles and door handles are DRT billet passenger grab handle and DRT interior door handle kit, powder-coated green to match the interior theme.

One of DRT's newer items, the shifter boot bezel kit, keeps heat, cold, and dirt from working their way up from underneath the shifter. Electronics run through a Switchworks Alpha 12 Switch System, which controls all the lighting, plus the SDI E-Clik control module that lets you adjust the shocks on the fly, right from the dash. Comms are a Rugged Radios M1 radio, a Rugged USB charge hub, a full SSV Works stereo system, and a Rugged Radios intercom. The dash panel is universal and comes with a RAM mount built into the Switch Works setup, still room for a phone on the other side.

Interior: Visors, Steering Wheel & Lighting

Rounding out the front cabin: DRT visors, DRT A-pillar grab handles on both sides, and a Rugged Radios overhead speaker so you can run the M1 without a headset.

Three KC HiLiTES dome lights mount on a dedicated plate, positioned to cover the front seats and reach back into the cargo area too. The steering wheel itself is DRT's 330mm leather-wrapped unit, powder-coated to match and built around an SSV Works turn signal kit for horn and flasher control right on the wheel. Up front, an XTC Power Products headlight kit integrates amber turn signals directly into the housing.

Door Panels, Floor Mats & Final Details

The door panels and floor mats are a gray-on-black kit with the DRT logo worked into the mats. We kept the color subtle instead of going with something loud. We don't carry that specific kit on the site, so contact us and we'll get you pointed in the right direction. Underneath, B's Fab dustproof floor plugs keep dust from working its way up through the floor.

Since this car got trailered out from California, we ran a Pro Fab Outdoors padded windshield cover along with a covered rear seat to protect everything on the trip. Axia Alloys mounts hold the Rugged Radios hardware, and our own Jagged X jump lug and kill switch kit lets DRT cut power completely when the car's parked at a show for days at a time, and jump it right there if the battery ever drains. Front and rear door pockets round things out too, a spot for a phone, gloves, or a flashlight on both rows.

Ready to Build Your Own Expedition ADV?

This one's up there with our favorite builds. DRT trusted us with a second show car and gave us full creative freedom to take it somewhere completely different from the first, matte instead of loud, mellow instead of bold, but every part on it is still built to be run hard, not just looked at.

Browse our full Polaris Xpedition ADV parts lineup, or contact us if you want help building something like this for yourself.

PARTS LIST

Wheels, Tires & Suspension
- Valor Offroad Tango 35" UTV Tires
- Metal Effects Wheels - Hit Us Up, We'll Get You Set Up
- Cedar Suspension Co. Mid-Travel Kit - Hit Us Up, We'll Get You Set Up
- SuperATV Heavy Duty Axle Rhino 2.0
- SDI E-Clik Switch Shock System

Front End
- DRT Motorsports Front Bumper
- DRT Motorsports Universal 6" Hawse Fairlead
- Factor 55 Winch Hardware
- KC HiLiTES SlimLite Lights (bumper + A-pillar)
- DRT Motorsports Front Grille Insert
- DRT Motorsports Vented Hood Scoop
- DRT Motorsports Barrel UHD Billet Aluminum Tie Rod Kit (72")
- DRT Motorsports Front A/C Line Protection Kit
- DRT Motorsports Brake Fluid Reservoir Protector
- DRT Motorsports Billet Aluminum Barrel Adjustable Sway Bar Link Kit
- DRT Motorsports A-Pillar Light Bracket Kit

Exterior Armor & Storage
- DRT Motorsports Billet Aluminum Tactical Convex Side Mirror Set
- DRT Motorsports Polaris Xpedition ADV-5 Roof Rack Kit
- KC HiLiTES Flex Light Bar
- ROAM Storage Box - Hit Us Up, We'll Get You Set Up
- MOJAB Offroad Trax Panel
- DRT Motorsports ADV5/XP5 Rock Sliders
- DRT Motorsports Aluminum Fender Kit (Extended Flares)
- DRT Motorsports Rear Fender Mesh Set (Mud Guard)
- B's Fab Dual Antenna/Whip Mount
- Rugged Radios Antenna
- Buggy Whip Flags - Hit Us Up, We'll Get You Set Up

Rear End
- DRT Motorsports Exterior Tire Carrier
- DRT Motorsports Adjustable Rear Camera Relocation Kit
- DRT Motorsports Rear Bumper
- DRT Motorsports Rear Bumper License Plate Bracket
- DRT Motorsports Exhaust Cover
- DRT Motorsports Exterior Billet Liftgate Handle
- DRT Motorsports Aluminum Bed Drawer
- DRT Motorsports ADV5 Rear Seat Harness Bar
- KC HiLiTES Cyclone Lights (brake/chase/backup + rock lights)

Interior
- Triple X Heated & Cooled Seats - Hit Us Up, We'll Get You Set Up
- DRT Motorsports Billet Passenger Grab Handle
- DRT Motorsports Interior Door Handle Kit
- DRT Motorsports Shifter Boot Bezel Kit
- Switchworks Alpha 12 Switch System - Hit Us Up, We'll Get You Set Up
- SDI E-Clik Control Module
- Rugged Radios Rugged M1 Race Series Radio
- Rugged Radios USB Rocker Switch Hub Kit
- SSV Works Full Stereo System
- Rugged Radios Intercom
- DRT Motorsports Sun Visor Kit
- DRT Motorsports A-Pillar Interior Grab Handle Kit
- Rugged Radios Overhead Speaker
- KC HiLiTES Dome Lights (x3) with Mounting Plate
- DRT Motorsports 330mm Leather Steering Wheel
- SSV Works Turn Signal Kit
- XTC Power Products Headlights with Amber Turn Signals
- Door Panel & Floor Mat Kit - Contact Us, We'll Get It For You
- B's Fab Dustproof Floor Plugs
- DRT Motorsports Front Door Pocket Kit
- DRT Motorsports Rear Door Pocket Kit

Travel & Safety
- Pro Fab Outdoors Padded Windshield Cover
- Covered Rear Seat - Hit Us Up, We'll Get You Set Up
- Axia Alloys Radio Mounts
- Jagged X Offroad Jump Lug & Kill Switch Kit