My fix for cargo bed/muffler heat issue.
The ONLY reason I cut vents, is bed inspection revealed mild melting about 3" diameter around the mounts where muffler hangers slip into.
I HAVE NOT YET INSTALLED OR USED POLARIS LOCK & RIDE REAR CARGO BOX! Slight melting has occurred with cargo bed completely empty! NOT ALL WILL EXPERIENCE THIS!
PLEASE READ:
For those installing Polaris Lock & Ride Rear Cargo Box that will cover bed holes, FIRST try placing 3/8" thick spacer between cargo bed & storage box but DO NOT cover bed holes to allow heat to escape!
For those with melting WITHOUT Polaris Lock & Ride Rear Cargo Box and bed completely EMPTY, fix is up to you whether it's to install air ducts, fans or cut vents etc!
I chose to cut vents as slight melting has already occurred without storage box installed. Following molded edges around center of cargo bed, I marked cutout lines 3/8" from all edges & radiused the corners.
Depending on heat felt from vent, may cut an additional vent on each side of center vent. Red circles show location of melt spots on backside of plastic.
First drilled 1 1/8" test holes. I'm sure holes drilled across top of bed, within the width of bed section that steps down should be more than enough to vent the hot air.
Vent cut to final size. You can see how close the muffler hangers are to the plastic...approx. 1/8" away in my case. I'm convinced with storage box installed, mine would have melted too!
Muffler is mounted directly below bar so you can guess how hot it gets up inside that hump! Rear holes were also cut for flow through ventilation. Center vents will also be cut in between mounts from the outside plastic.
Even at idle heat now has vents to escape from. In theory, the intense heat flowing up & out through vents should also pull any surrounding heat along with it.
Cool air coming in around tires should also be forced up through vents as well. Muffler should block most mud/water from splashing up through vents & into the bed.
1 1/8" hole saw used to cut rear holes, perfect size for rear panel section where drilled.
The ONLY reason I cut vents, is bed inspection revealed mild melting about 3" diameter around the mounts where muffler hangers slip into.
I HAVE NOT YET INSTALLED OR USED POLARIS LOCK & RIDE REAR CARGO BOX! Slight melting has occurred with cargo bed completely empty! NOT ALL WILL EXPERIENCE THIS!
PLEASE READ:
For those installing Polaris Lock & Ride Rear Cargo Box that will cover bed holes, FIRST try placing 3/8" thick spacer between cargo bed & storage box but DO NOT cover bed holes to allow heat to escape!
For those with melting WITHOUT Polaris Lock & Ride Rear Cargo Box and bed completely EMPTY, fix is up to you whether it's to install air ducts, fans or cut vents etc!
I chose to cut vents as slight melting has already occurred without storage box installed. Following molded edges around center of cargo bed, I marked cutout lines 3/8" from all edges & radiused the corners.
Depending on heat felt from vent, may cut an additional vent on each side of center vent. Red circles show location of melt spots on backside of plastic.
First drilled 1 1/8" test holes. I'm sure holes drilled across top of bed, within the width of bed section that steps down should be more than enough to vent the hot air.
Vent cut to final size. You can see how close the muffler hangers are to the plastic...approx. 1/8" away in my case. I'm convinced with storage box installed, mine would have melted too!
Muffler is mounted directly below bar so you can guess how hot it gets up inside that hump! Rear holes were also cut for flow through ventilation. Center vents will also be cut in between mounts from the outside plastic.
Even at idle heat now has vents to escape from. In theory, the intense heat flowing up & out through vents should also pull any surrounding heat along with it.
Cool air coming in around tires should also be forced up through vents as well. Muffler should block most mud/water from splashing up through vents & into the bed.
1 1/8" hole saw used to cut rear holes, perfect size for rear panel section where drilled.