Abstract: A retractable tow reel assembly for an off-road vehicle, the assembly including a bracket having a pair of opposing uprights and mountable to an off-road vehicle, a reel adapted to be held by the bracket when mounted to the vehicle and effective for holding a tow rope, the reel including a shaft and a pair of opposing drum ends having a diameter greater than the diameter of the connecting shaft, and a tow rope having an eye end and a free end, where the eye end is threaded around the shaft, where the shaft has a first end and a second end, and where the first end of the shaft may be released from the first drum end and exposed to facilitate threading of the rope eye over the shaft without releasing the second end of the shaft from the second drum end.

Abstract: A portal gear box assembly for an off-road vehicle that includes a housing that defines an input gear subassembly indent, an output gear subassembly indent, and one or more idler-gear subassembly indents. The assembly includes an input gear subassembly positioned in the input gear subassembly indent with an input gear connected to an input shaft, an output gear subassembly positioned in the output gear subassembly indent with an output gear connected to an output shaft, and an idler-gear subassembly positioned within the one or more idler-gear subassembly indents to connect the input and output gears with a removable adaptor that is selectively positionable in more than one configuration to alter the transmission ratio between the input and output gears.

Abstract: A braking system for a portal lift assembly includes a shaft operably connected to a vehicle power source and effective to directly or indirectly rotate a wheel of the vehicle upon rotation of the shaft about its axis, a piston positioned along the shaft and effective for applying an axial force along the axis of the shaft, a fluid channel fillable with a non-compressible fluid and effective to apply a hydraulic force to the piston when pressure is applied to fluid in the line, a pressure plate positioned along the shaft and effective for applying an axial force along the axis of the shaft in response to the application of an axial force by the piston. A clutch pack is positioned between the pressure plate and the piston, and includes two sets of clutch plates radially surrounding the shaft. The first set of clutch plates is connected to the shaft in a manner effective to cause those clutch plates to rotate about the axis of the shaft when the shaft rotates.

Abstract: A ball joint assembly includes a stud member connectable to a first vehicle suspension component and a cup member connectable to a second vehicle suspension component. The stud member includes a shaft portion defining a longitudinal axis, and a ball portion extending longitudinally from one end of the stud. The cup member is a two-piece cup comprising a cup base and a cup cap, with the two pieces being connected to hold the stud ball therebetween. The cup base has castle teeth, and the cup cap may have holes for set screws that interlock with the castle teeth to allow adjustment of the tightness of the ball and cup and to lock the ball into position in the cup.

Abstract: A portal gear box assembly effective to lift and change the gear ratio of a wheel of an off-road vehicle includes a housing, an input gear sub-assembly, an output gear sub-assembly, and an idler gear sub-assembly effective for linking the input gear to the output gear. The input gear sub-assembly includes an input gear, the output gear sub-assembly includes an output gear, and the idler gear sub-assembly includes at least one idler gear and at least one removable adaptor effective for holding the idler gear in either a first position or a second position different from the first position. The sub-assemblies may also include bearings to facilitate movement of the gears.

Abstract: A ball joint assembly includes a stud and a two-piece cup. The stud has a shank that is connectable to a first vehicle suspension component, and a ball end. The cup is (indirectly) connectable to a second vehicle suspension component, and that holds the ball within. A locking plate prevents the two pieces of the cup from unthreading, and allows the joint to be adjusted as the friction surfaces wear.

Abstract: A mounting system for a portal lift assembly of an off-road vehicle includes a housing having a rear wall, a front wall, and a side wall. The rear wall includes an opening to receive the end of one of the vehicle's axles, and the front wall includes an opening to allow an output shaft to extend outward from the housing. The rear wall also includes an integral mounting brackets effective to mount the box to an upper A-arm to the rear wall, and a lower A-arm to the rear wall.

Abstract: A steering and suspension assembly for the rear wheels of an off-road vehicle includes: a) a first suspension component; b) a first steering component; c) a CV axle; d) a portal box assembly; e) a hydraulic steering assembly for moving the first steering component a distance effective to turn the vehicle at least 2° in either direction when the assembly is mounted to a wheel hub; f) a first suspension connection bracket for connecting the first suspension component to the rear wall of the portal box assembly; and g) a first steering connection bracket for connecting the first steering component to the rear wall of the portal box assembly.

Abstract: A modular vehicle mirror assembly includes a mirror module and an accessory module. The mirror module includes a mirror mounting plate having attachment points to allow a mirror to be removably mounted to the mirror module in a rearward-facing position. The accessory module includes an accessory mounting plate having accessory attachment points to allow an accessory to be removably mounted to the accessory module in a forward-facing position. The mirror module and the accessory module are releasably held together. The assembly allows the user to temporarily, releasably, and interchangeably mount a selected member of a group of accessories, such as headlights, fog lights, driving lights, pencil beam headlights, and cameras.

Abstract: A retractable tow reel assembly for an off-road vehicle, the assembly comprising: a) a bracket having a pair of opposing uprights and mountable to an off-road vehicle; b) a reel adapted to be held by the bracket when mounted to the vehicle and effective for holding a tow rope, the reel including a shaft and a pair of opposing drum ends having a diameter greater than the diameter of the connecting shaft, and c) a tow rope having an eye end and a free end, wherein the eye end is threaded around the shaft; wherein the shaft has a first end and a second end, and wherein the first end of the shaft may be released from the first drum end and exposed to facilitate threading of the rope eye over the shaft without releasing the second end of the shaft from the second drum end.

Abstract: A vibration-reducing portal box assembly for mounting a wheel of an off-road vehicle includes a housing with a receptacle adapted to receive a stock axle shaft of an off-road vehicle, an output shaft operably connectable to a stock axle received in the housing and effective to rotate upon rotation of said stock axle, and a wheel hub having a central opening adapted to receive said output shaft, and adapted to turn a wheel mounted to said wheel hub upon rotation of said output shaft. The output shaft has a tapered portion connecting its proximal end to its distal end. The wheel hub has a tapered portion adapted to matingly receive the tapered portion of the output shaft. The output shaft may be connected to the stock axle shaft by a geared linking mechanism.

Abstract: A brace plate assembly for a vehicle with a top right radius rod fastened to the chassis with a fastener, a top left radius rod fastened to the chassis, a middle right radius rod fastened to the chassis, a middle left radius rod fastened to the chassis, a bottom right radius rod fastened to the chassis and a bottom left radius rod fastened to the chassis, the brace assembly including a top plate coupled with the top right and left radius rods to the chassis, a bottom plate coupled with the bottom right and left radius rods to the chassis, and a bridge plate coupled with the middle right and left radius rods to the chassis and wherein the bridge plate is coupled to the top plate and the bottom plate.

Abstract: A windshield assembly for an off-road vehicle includes an upper piece, a lower piece, and a middle piece. The upper piece abuts the roof to prevent a noticeable gap between the windshield and the roof regardless of whether the windshield is open or closed. The lower piece spans the lowermost portion of the windshield area. The middle piece is the main viewing portion, and is hingedly attached to the upper piece to allow the main viewing portion to be moved from a closed position to one or more open positions. When the middle piece is in its closed position, it substantially spans the space between the upper piece and the lower piece. When the middle piece is in a fully open position, the space between the upper windshield piece and the lower windshield piece is substantially free of windshield protection.

Abstract: An adjustable portal box assembly for selectively mounting a wheel to an off road vehicle in either of two positions. The assembly includes a mounting plate mountable to the suspension of an off road vehicle, and a portal box is mountable to the mounting plate. The portal box includes an input shaft opening for an input shaft, and an output opening for an output shaft. The portal box is mountable to the mounting plate in a first position in which the output shaft is positioned to extend the wheelbase relative to the input shaft, or in a second position in which the output shaft is positioned in vertical alignment with the input shaft.

Abstract: An adjustable portal box assembly for selectively mounting a wheel to an off road vehicle in either of two positions. The assembly includes a mounting plate mountable to the suspension of an off road vehicle, and a portal box is mountable to the mounting plate. The portal box includes an input shaft opening for an input shaft, and an output opening for an output shaft. The portal box is mountable to the mounting plate in a first position in which the output shaft is positioned to extend the wheelbase relative to the input shaft, or in a second position in which the output shaft is positioned in vertical alignment with the input shaft.

Abstract: A rack and pinion steering assembly includes: a pinion shaft driving a pinion gear; a steering rack having a toothed, engageable portion adapted to engage with the pinion gear, and a pressure-receiving portion opposite the engageable portion to apply a force on the steering rack to engage the steering rack with the pinion gear; a rack and pinion housing and associated steering tube; a first support bushing to support the steering rack in its housing on a first side of the assembly; and a second support bushing effective to support the steering rack on a second side of the assembly, with the second side of the assembly being opposite the first side of the assembly, relative to the pinion gear.

Abstract: An accessory clamp for an off-road vehicle includes a pair of cooperating clamp members. The first clamp member has an engaging edge with a tongue adapted to be received into a groove, and the second clamp member has an engaging edge with a groove adapted to receive the tongue of the first clamp member. The tongue-in-groove connection allows the second clamp member to securely grip the first clamp member when the two members are secured together, thus providing an interlocked connection between the first- and second clamping members. A threaded connector secures the second clamp member to the first clamp member in a locked, secure connection. The engaging edge of the second clamp member may be adapted to rotate about the engaging edge of the first clamp member, thus providing a locked and secure hinged connection between the first- and second clamping members along their respective engaging sides.

Abstract: An adjustable portal box assembly for selectively mounting a wheel to an off road vehicle in either of two positions. The assembly includes a mounting plate mountable to the suspension of an off road vehicle, and a portal box is mountable to the mounting plate. The portal box includes an input shaft opening for an input shaft, and an output opening for an output shaft. The portal box is mountable to the mounting plate in a first position in which the output shaft is positioned to extend the wheelbase relative to the input shaft, or in a second position in which the output shaft is positioned in vertical alignment with the input shaft.

Abstract: A windshield assembly for an off-road vehicle includes a pair of windshield members that may be configured without tools to adopt multiple configurations, including: a) a first configuration that is a full windshield configuration in which the windshield extends substantially from the hood of the vehicle to the roof of the vehicle, thus providing full coverage for the cockpit; b) a second configuration that is a flip-down windshield configuration in which the upper portion of the windshield is flipped downward and/or forward, thus providing airflow into the cockpit; and c) a third configuration that is a half windshield configuration in which the upper portion of the windshield has been detached and removed from the lower portion, thus leaving only a half windshield to protect the cockpit.

Abstract: A vibration-reducing portal box assembly for mounting a wheel of an off-road vehicle includes a housing with a receptacle adapted to receive a stock axle shaft of an off-road vehicle, an output shaft operably connectable to a stock axle received in the housing and effective to rotate upon rotation of said stock axle, and a wheel hub having a central opening adapted to receive said output shaft, and adapted to turn a wheel mounted to said wheel hub upon rotation of said output shaft. The output shaft has a tapered portion connecting its proximal end to its distal end. The wheel hub has a tapered portion adapted to matingly receive the tapered portion of the output shaft. The output shaft may be connected to the stock axle shaft by a geared linking mechanism.