Custom Door Strut Kits For Polaris Rangers

Custom Door Strut Kits For Polaris Rangers Flatlander Offroad LLC of Kindred, N.D., manufactures and sells 4-door Strut Kits for 2019 to 2026 XP1000 Crew models and all 1000 Crew Polaris Rangers. “Our family started off-roading in 2000 with our first Toyota Land Cruiser,” says Seth Sauvageau, owner of Flatlander Offroad LLC. “Over the years, we transitioned to side-by-sides like Polaris Rangers and RZRs.” Sauvageau notes that Polaris Rangers and similar vehicles have doors that require extra caution on hills and in windy conditions. “The doors are large and heavy, and either close on your legs as you are getting in or open too far so you can’t reach them from inside to close them. Worse, if the wind catches them and blows them open too far, the hinges get bent, and the door will be misaligned and not close right.” Sauvageau developed brackets to mount using the existing holes in the door and the seat belt mounting tab on the roll cage. “I created a working prototype and used that to apply for a provisional patent in February 2023,” he says. “That allowed me to market the design to see if it would be worth the effort and expense of applying for a full non-provisional patent.”  The Flatlander door strut kits prevent doors from closing on legs when entering a vehicle. They also protect hinges from damage caused by opening too far. “It holds the door open to block the wind, so you can stand behind it or sit in the seat when ice fishing, for example,” Sauvageau says. “That’s great for kids who may not be able to control the doors well. Many owners also like that it allows them to hold on to the open door for stability as they’re getting in and out.” The brackets are powder-coated steel to match the Ranger frame. Each heavy-duty strut has steel coupler ends that connect to the ball stud. All door brackets attach using existing body clip holes in the upper door. The mounting bolts are black-coated stainless steel, ensuring they blend in like factory-installed parts. “The response was clear. There’s a large demand for our door strut kits,” Sauvageau says. “I received a patent in February 2024 and have adapted the design to work on the Can-Am Defender and earlier models of Polaris Ranger. I’ll be adding other models as time goes on.” Sauvageau notes that he’s benefited from many local manufacturing resources. “My nephew, Dave Sauvageau, uses CAD to create digital files of the brackets that I use to 3D print prototypes for testing. The steel brackets are laser-cut and CNC-bent at Metal Tech in Fargo, and then powder-coated at Weisgram Metal Fab (formerly Midwest Coating Inc.) in West Fargo. The struts are custom-made in the United States.” The team sources additional hardware from multiple locations, including New York, Indiana and Utah. “It’s important to me to use U.S. suppliers whenever possible.” Flatlander door strut kits have sold in 49 states, nine countries across three continents, and all Canadian provinces. The kits are priced at $400 each or $430 with an included Rivet Nut Tool featuring an M6 mandrel. A 23/64-in. drill bit is needed to install the rivet nuts. Each kit offers door strut systems for either two or four doors. Most customers install the kits themselves; however, the company works with a growing network of dealers worldwide. “We work hard and have been very intentional about developing our reputation for great quality, high functionality, and excellent customer service,” Sauvageau says. “Search Facebook or any Ranger Forum, and you’ll quickly find genuine customer reviews. We’ve found social media to be very effective at reaching Ranger and Defender owners looking for solutions to this widespread problem.” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Flatlander Offroad LLC, Seth Sauvageau (flatlanderoffroad@gmail.com; www.flatlanderoffroad.com).

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