Everything Can-Am Commander - Blog

The roll cages on Can-Am’s lineup of side-by-sides play a variety of roles. Can-Am roll cages are first and foremost a safety feature. Commonly referred to as rollover protection structures (ROPS), the primary function of a roll cage is to protect the vehicle’s occupants in the event of a rollover. That being said, ROPS are also used as a place on which to mount a variety of UTV accessories, ranging from roofs and windshields to racks and sound bars. For this reason, it is important to know the size and style of your machine’s roll cage before ordering any cage-mounted aftermarket accessory.

Can-Am Maverick Roll Cages

As Can-Am’s flagship sport UTVs, the roll cages on the Can-Am Maverick X3, Maverick Trail, and Maverick Sport are made to withstand the toughest of potential impacts. The diameter of both the two-seater and four-seater Maverick X3 roll bars are 1.85 inches, with some top crossbars being 1.5 inches and the rear harness bars being 2.5 inches in diameter.  

Can-Am Roll Cage Sizes

• Maverick and Maverick 4 seat - 2.0”
• Maverick X3 - 1.85"
• Commander - 2.0”

The Maverick Sport X XRC and the Maverick Trail have two cage options -- tubular roll cages and non-round profile cages. Regarding the former, the round tube cages on both the Maverick Trail and Sport are 1.85 inches, with bumpers that are 1.5 inches. Standard c-clamps and mounts will work with these cages. However, with the profile cages, you’re going to need a specialty-made clamp to mount accessories like side-mirrors on the vertical a-pillar supports.

Because Mavericks are commonly used for racing applications, many are equipped with aftermarket roll cages that might not adhere to the above specifications. For these, you’ll have to measure the dimensions yourself using a vernier caliper, a string, or even a printed paper cutout like the one found here.

Can-Am Commander Roll Cages

The factory roll cages on Can-Am Commanders have a diameter of 2 inches throughout. This makes installing things like light bars and cage-mounted speakers rather easy, as the clamps that come with any Commander-specific accessory kit will fit any edition of the Can-Am Commander.  

Most light bar kits for the Can-Am Commander bolt right onto the flat plates on the upper corners of the cage, but some use clamp-style mounts. And for those looking to attach a roof to their Commander cage, using rubber spacers between the roof and the cage will ensure that it won’t rattle when you're riding on bumpy terrain. 

Can-Am Defender Roll Cages

Unlike the Maverick and the Commander, most riders don’t use their Can-Am Defenders for racing or extreme off-road applications. Nevertheless, the roll cage on the Defender isn’t lacking in terms of strength. Like the Commander, the Can-Am Defender roll cage has a diameter of 2 inches. Some 2-inch roll bar mounts might seem like they’re too small to fit, but all you have to do is spread them apart and slide them over the appropriate roll bar.    

A few Defender owners have contacted us about squeaky noises coming from their cage. If you’re in the same boat, you can try popping the side panels off where the roll cage goes behind the seats -- using a flat-head screwdriver to pry up the center and pull out the plastic rivets -- then tighten the two bolts on each side where the roll cage fastens to the body. 

Final Thoughts

No matter if you have a stock roll cage, an aftermarket roll cage, or a bolt-on factory cage replacement, knowing the size and style of the cage on your Can-Am Maverick, Commander, or Defender is quite useful. Regardless of whether you want to chop your cage, or add aftermarket accessories to it, knowing the dimensions of the roll bars, support pillars, and other elements of your vehicle’s frame will save you from a great deal of future hassle and frustration.  

At Everything Can-Am Offroad, we pride ourselves on offering the best in aftermarket parts and accessories to our fellow Can-Am enthusiasts. Providing the highest quality products from top-tier brands helps us to give customers the ultimate experience during their off-roading ventures. 

Of course, that goal couldn’t be met without the partnerships we have forged with several brands that are currently offered through our website.

Agency Power hit the scene in 2003 as a manufacturer of racing products for cars ranging from Porsche, BMW, Ferrari, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Nissan and more. Starting with the manufacturing of sway bar endlinks for the Subaru WRX, Agency Power has risen rapidly through the ranks of aftermarket companies and has managed to secure a position as a reputable aftermarket parts company. Though still young, Agency Power has continued to make leaps and bounds throughout the last 17 years in the auto industry.

In 2016, Agency Power expanded its offerings to include UTV products to its ever-growing lineup, and thus entered the powersports realm. In 2018, the company launched a line of its own off-road products to further service its ever-growing presence in the powersports market.

Since beginning a partnership with Everything Can-Am Offroad, the brand has continued to make a name for itself within the powersports market as a recognized and reputable brand to Can-Am fans everywhere. Currently, the brand offers a slew of products to Can-Am fans, 49 of which can be found on everythingcanamoffroad.com.

The American-based brand has continued its reach by extending beyond US borders. With a home base in Gilbert, Arizona, Agency Power’s reach has extended far beyond the market within the United States to Polaris RZR fans across the globe, including those who reside in Singapore, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Russia, the United Kingdom, and various parts of the EU. 

Still don’t believe us? Take a look at one of the products offered on Everything Can-Am Offroad so you as a customer can have a glimpse at what makes Agency Power such a reputable brand for Can-Am users everywhere.

Take, for example, the Can-Am Maverick X3 Turbo DS RS/Dual Pod Modular Gauge Pod. This set of gauges allows users to closely monitor the inner workings of their Can-Am unit. Agency Power’s modular gauge pod design allows users to run up to four gauges in different positions around the stock gauge cluster at any given time. The gauge pod system mounts easily and utilizes existing hardware holes. The laser-cut aluminum bracket has been optimized to fit around the rear of the stock cluster for a snug fit. The versatile design of the gauge pods will allow you to use them on either side of the mounting bracket. Monitoring your unit’s vitals will never be easier!

Though still a young company across the board, especially in the powersports segment, Agency Power’s relationship with Everything Can-Am Offroad has proven its worth both to us and our customer base. From side vent covers to passenger grab bars, Agency Power offers a wide variety of aftermarket parts and accessories that are built to enhance and optimize the performance of any Can-Am product to provide customers with the ultimate off-road experience.

At Everything Can-Am Offroad, we are proud to work with such a distinguished up-and-coming brand that has earned a stellar reputation among the racing and UTV communities, along with a renowned standing with our Can-Am customers and users in general. Don’t just take our word for it; head over to Everything Can-Am Offroad right now and check out all-things Agency Power, and you’ll see for yourself what the hype is all about!

Some Can-Am UTV owners decide against insurance on their side-by-sides. A combination of careful driving, having the ability to fix one’s own machine, and only riding a few times a year makes some Can-Am owners second guess the need for insurance. For most UTV owners, however, the monthly cost of insurance is well worth it — if only for the sense of safety that it brings during a ride. After all, what’s the point of buying a Can-Am (or any side-by-side for that matter) if you aren’t going to use it and abuse it to the fullest extend of the machine’s capabilities.  

You should never go with an insurance carrier just because they have the cheapest rate, but this doesn’t mean that you should be paying out the ass for UTV insurance either. Everyone’s driver profile will be a little different, and there are many factors that will affect how much you pay for side-by-side insurance. But regardless of your driving record, the state where you live, your age, or other demographic differences that could alter your insurance premium, if your rig gets totaled and you don’t have coverage, you’ll be kicking yourself for not having it. 

Getting The Right Coverage For Your Can-Am Side-By-Side

The amount of coverage you get for your Can-Am might depend on things like how handy you are with a wrench, how risky you are on the trail, and how many accessories you run on your UTV. The price of your vehicle will also come into play. A Can-Am Defender owner may not pay the same amount as a Can-Am Maverick owner; and a Can-Am Commander owner might pay something different still. 

If UTVs are street legal where you live, getting insurance that is endorsed for street use might be important to you. Similarly, if you use your vehicle for work purposes, then insuring it is definitely a valid business expense (and likely a tax write-off as well). Many riders have their UTVs bundled with their home and automobile, which helps to keep costs low. Others have their machines covered by their farm/ranch policy. Although no two situations will be identical, there are a lot of overlapping characteristics that can help you better determine which insurance policy is right for you and your Can-Am. 

The Best Insurance Providers For Can-Am UTVs

Most of the big names in insurance offer coverage for ATVs and UTVs. As long as your record isn’t strewn with DUIs and reckless driving infractions, you should be able to get a good rate with one of the major insurers. The UTV insurance policies by Progressive, for instance, are popular because you can pick and choose what matters most to you. You can get full coverage with just about every option plus total-loss coverage for around $475 per annum on a machine registered as primarily off-road with some highway use.    

What you have to look out for, however, are companies with pricing models that issue rates based on repair costs, not cash payouts. USAA is notorious for using such a model. If you make a claim with them, they’ll always attempt to repair something (with OEM parts) before issuing a check. This is great for automobiles, but not so much for off-road toys. For banking and other financial products, USAA is great. But their UTV insurance just doesn’t cut it in our opinion. 

Some friends of the site who own Can-Am UTVs have them bundled with their house and car through Safeco for $477 per year. And other riders we know pay $220 per year for insurance through Country Financial, and $110 per year through Travelers. 

If you’ve looked into the matter of UTV insurance at all, you’ve likely seen many different range amounts online, or have gotten a variety of differing quotes yourself. You may have found out the hard way that “full-coverage” isn’t actually full coverage. Further, some things aren’t included in some policies, and if you are the one with the policy but weren't the one behind the wheel at the time of an accident, you are likely SOL. 

While you might be tempted to be your own insurance policy by fixing your machine and making repairs whenever they’re needed, if your rig rolls down a hill on accident, goes up in flames for some reason, comes off the trailer, or encounters some other unlikely event that totals the unit, you’ll be glad you bought insurance. Some homeowners insurance policies cover stolen UTVs, however others don’t. So if you live in a sketchy area, insurance that covers stolen side-by-sides might be worth looking into. 

In Closing

If you want to make your Can-Am street legal or purchased the vehicle through a bank loan, buying UT insurance is compulsory. But even for those who drive exclusively off-road and own their machine outright, insurance can make rides more enjoyable and less stressful, helping you to not incessantly think about damaging your Can-Am side-by-side. At the end of the day, only you can decide if insurance is necessary for your circumstances. But if you do decide to get coverage on your UTV, shopping around, bundling, and making sure you have actual cash value insurance instead of replacement cost insurance will save you from needless suffering and strife in the future.

Depending on who you ask, you’re probably going to get multiple different answers and opinions vis-à-vis the best way to play music and other forms of audio in the Can-Am Commander. While soundbar-style stereos are sleek and easy to install, they can’t rival other styles of UTV stereos. Things like overhead sound systems are similarly sleek and streamlined, but more complex than soundbars. On the higher-end, full Can-Am Commander stereo kits with multiple speakers, subs, and amplifiers dispersed throughout the cab can also be installed for the highest sound quality and decibel output. Regardless of your budget or the other aftermarket accessories you have already installed in your machine, there are many great options for Can-Am Commander sound system setups. 

Cheap Can-Am Commander Sound-Systems Options

One of the cheapest ways to play music in the Can-Am Commander is to bring along your cousin Billy-Bob who plays the Banjo. Alternatively, you could just use your phone speaker set upside-down in a glass cup. Using headphones and earbuds is a simple and cheap way to listen to music when you’re on the trail, but if you want the best bang for your buck when it comes to Can-Am Commander sound systems, better options are available.

Front speaker pods by companies like Bad Dawg and SSV Works aren’t too expensive, and the Cooter Brown side-by-side stereo unit from EMP also puts out decent sound for the price. And while cheap Boss audio tubes can be purchased at places like Walmart, which plug into your cigarette outlet and sync to your smartphone's bluetooth, these are generally not waterproof, shockproof, or able to withstand the bumps and vibrations that are common in off-road riding. 

Even lower-end UTV soundbars are better for off-road applications than the higher-end ones made for indoor use. The JBL Stadium UB4100 Powersports soundbar, for example, not only provides its user with handsome sound, but it also comes with an interior light to illuminate the cab of your side-by-side and a GoPro stand for capturing all your high-adrenaline stunts. 

The Memphis soundbar is another cheap option that is more than enough for most casual listeners. Although it doesn’t have a lot of bass — and most soundbars don’t compared to bigger systems — it provides great quality sound nonetheless, and is a small system that takes up very little space in the cockpit of your Commander. 

Wet Sounds soundbars are common, but many riders reckon that if you are going to spend that much and still want a soundbar, the Powerbass 1200 is a better option with crazy loud capabilities and superbly clear sound. Before you decide on a soundbar, however, you should take into consideration potential fitment issues with aftermarket roofs, windshields, and rear windscreens. The last thing you want is to have to mess around with mounting hardware or retrofit your own stereo bracket just to make your soundbar fit properly.  

Roof Stereos For The Can-Am Commander

For a stereo setup that is powerful yet out of the way, accessible yet non-obtrusive, an overhead Can-Am Commander stereo unit is the way to go. Unlike their cage-mounted speaker boxes — which barely fit on an RZR, yet alone a Commander with angled support bars — many Can-Am owners really enjoy the stereo tops by Audioformz. You can use them as is, or upgrade the speakers to some 6x9 Rockford Fosgates. 

Like Audioformz, J Strong Industries also makes a great overhead audio system for the Can-Am Commander, equipped with built-in speakers, an infinity head unit, interior lights, and bluetooth as well as AM/FM and Aux inputs. Companies like ProBox and Southern Sounds also make good roof stereo systems for the Can-Am Commander, but it all just depends on what you need and what you can afford. 

Complete Stereo Kits For The Can-Am Commander

Full audio systems for the Can-Am Commander can get expensive, but for those who prioritize sound quality over cost, companies like Swamp Donkey, Froghead Industries, and Mayhem Manufacturing offer high-end stereos and stereo gear that will make your rig bump like nothing else on the trail. The Noam kit is an option as well, and riders frequently mix and match various parts from different sound accessory providers. 

For example, a great audio system could include two Noam 5.25” speakers mounted on the rear roll bar set for low range, two 5.25” Polk audio speakers on the front roll cage pillars with the Bad Dawg speaker pods and a 10” subwoofer by SSV. A system like this sounds way more natural than other types of side-by-side sound systems, as the music faces you from the front rather than screaming at you from behind. 

Be it an expensive system, a cheap system, or something in between, the right audio setup for you and your Can-Am Commander will depend on what you want, what you care about spending money on, and the space available in your side-by-side. 

Keeping your Can-Am Maverick X3 nice and lubed up is an important factor in maintaining a properly functioning machine. Most people recognize the need to consistently grease their wheel bearings, but things like driveshafts, heim joints, and zerks also require a good amount of grease to function. And where lubrication is concerned, running the right oil in your machine is also crucial. So how does one keep their X3 properly lubed up?

Oiling Up The Can-Am Maverick X3

10w40 is the recommended grade of oil for the Can-Am Maverick X3. However full synthetic oils like the Redline 5W40 Full Synthetic, Rotella T6 5w40, or Mobil1 0w40 are also great for the engine in the X3. Changing the oil every 1000 miles or so is common practice, and when coupled with routine maintenance, will greatly extend the life of your machine. 

Some riders have managed to get lifetime free oil changes from their dealerships as a sweetener for buying their X3. But even if you’ve gotta shell out a little for an oil change or take the time to change it yourself, it’s well worth it in the long run to preserve your X3’s engine. 

As far as front differential oil goes, the owner’s manual said to run 75-90. However, if you have a 2020 XMR Turbo RR or another X3 edition with smart locking differentials, 75-140 oil is suggested for best results. 

When the X3s first came out, a lot of people found unexplained oil on their machine or garage floor. It turned out the oil was spilled when it was filled up at the dealer or the factory. This isn’t always the case, however, so if you see any oil leaking from your machine, keep a close eye on it. Some X3 owners have told us that their machines leaked at the prop shaft coming out of the tranny. 

Coolant pumps are also known to leak every now and then, but you can also check near the starter bolt (case sealant) for any failure. If you take your X3 in to have an expert look at it, make sure you are very clear and communicate your expectations to whatever services department touches it. That whole wait and see if it does it again is BS and shouldn’t be tolerated.

Greasing Up The Can-Am Maverick X3

Everyday greasing in things like the wheel bearings and zerks are common place and required regularly. Regardless of whether you bought your machine used or straight from the factory, you’re still gong to want to make sure the bearings are greased up. Over-the-axle wheel bearing grease tools can be purchased for under $50, and with this style of tool, you do not need to remove the axle or the carrier assembly to grease your X3 bearings. 

Heim joints, CV joints, and sway bar bushings can also be greased if your machine is creaky and you’re looking for a solution to make your X3 ride more smoothly and with less noise. Aftermarket accessories such as SuperATV's sway bar links can help in this regard, but if the noise stems from your radius arm joints, a little Kroil oil will do the trick. It doesn't attract dirt and keeps your joints moving freely. If you’ve just washed your machine, some WD 40 can also work, albeit not as long. 

Strange noises are also commonly found in the driveshafts of the X3. Unlike other Can-Am UTVs with grease points on the joints, the X3a driveshaft is slightly different. If you want to grease up the driveshaft, we’d suggest marking the shaft points with a paint pen. You can then unbolt the front shaft and pull the side panels to access the carrier bearing. Mark those shafts and rear then unbolt the carrier bearing so the drive shaft can move forward. Get yourself some heavy tractor grease, grease it up, then put it back together — you shouldn’t hear any strange driveshaft noises after that.  

Other Fluids For The Can-Am Maverick X3

Something like windshield wiper fluid is not unimportant, and without cooling fluid, your machine will surely overheat. So in addition to grease, oil, and other lubricants, ensuring that your fluid levels and good is an important check to make before any ride. 

An important, yet often underrated, part of the Can-Am Commander is its electric system. Riders often pay it no mind, that is, until it’s not working properly. While accessories like aftermarket winches, radios, and light bars get a lot of attention, little emphasis is placed on the electric system that powers all of these accessories. But regardless of whether you’re wanting to augment your Commander’s electric system to handle more draw from accessories, of simply trying to remedy an issue stemming from a particular electronic component, below is some information that should get you familiar with common issues and electric system modifications for the Can-Am Commander. 

Augmenting The Can-Am Commander Electric System  

Unless you are adding a bunch of electronics, things like dual battery kits, relay boards, and more powerful staters may not be compulsory. Some Commander owners would tell you to use your funds to first upgrade your tie rods or get aftermarket tires, but there is something to be said about having the added security of knowing that you’ll always be able to start your machine no matter what. 

A second battery with an isolator will make sure that your main battery — which is used to start your Commander — will never run out of energy. When the engine is off, your electric system will only only draw from the second battery, so you can run light bars, whips, music, and your winch all without having to keep your the running. If you run things like a bilge pump fan and a Pro Comp Offroad fan in your engine bay to keep heat out while using high beams, a winch, and a light bar, there is little chance a single battery could support it all on its own. 

There is plenty of room under the drivers seat for a second battery, or you might be able to put it right beside the existing battery with an aftermarket battery tray. Wiring your Commander batteries in series will ensure that both get charged while the machine is running, but there are other ways/kits for wiring them in. Many riders go with Optima batteries, but the Odyssey battery is good as well. You should be good as long as it’s a dry-cell battery. Not only are dry cell UTV batteries both very durable and very powerful, but unlike wet-cell batteries, dry-cell batteries won’t drip battery acid on you in the event of a roll over. 

If your battery isn’t charging, the problem could be with your voltage regulator. And because the computer in the Can-Am Commander doesn't shut off — even when the keys off — your machine might need a jump if you let it sit for long periods of time. If this is the case for you, it would be beneficial to get a battery maintainer like a Deltran Battery Tender. Plug it in when you put your Commander in the garage and leave it plugged in until you ride again. This will always put the battery at peak voltage, which is important because the starter motor is generally the highest amp drawing power consumer in your Commander. 

Aftermarket or home-made relay boards can also be used to bolster the Can-Am Commanders electric system. Keeping your electronics on key power is important, as you don’t want them to continue drawing despite the machine being off, and the auxiliary power plug in the dash seems like the most easily accessible place to make this happen. We would suggest, however, to get a constant duty solenoid, power it from your secondary battery, but turn it on using your ignition circuit.

Mount any relay or aftermarket electronic component in the most dry place you can, and never forget to ground your electric system. We’d also highly recommend swapping your relays for sealed relays, especially if you mount them upside down or in an exposed area, as they will go bad the first time they get wet

Issues With The Can-Am Commander Electric System

A common issue with the electric system in the Commander has to do with bad switches. If your machine is acting strange — like throwing weird check engine lights and code on the screen, flashing air fault code, and showing a the speedometer bouncing around — or your high beam switch only works now and then, you likely have a faulty switch. If these problems happen intermittently, coming and going seemingly haphazardly, we’d suggest checking you’re switches. 

If the headlights are flakey, you can give them a hard tap from low to high a few times to make them work in the short term. But a longer-term solution would be to swap out or clean the switches. When opening up the switches, beware as there are some very tiny springs inside that you don’t want to loose. Once open, look at the connectors and check for areas that appear partially or fully corroded. If they’re still in tact, you should be able to clan them with a light sand on the brown burnt spot. Add some dielectric grease, put it back together, and you might get it working without having to buy a new one. 

Low batteries will also throw the computer off and cause your machine to flash false codes. Charge your battery to full capacity or swap it out with a different one to rule this out as the cause. Once you determine that it’s not your battery causing the electric issue, try the voltage regulator, then the stator. There could be a bad connection to either or the voltage regulator could be bad. Making sure that the cables are tight is also a good thing to check. 

Worrying About Damaging Your Commander’s Electronics

Many new Can-Am Commander owners are rightly worried about washing their machine, taking care not to damage the electric system. But we can assure you that the Commander is almost a hundred percent waterproof. You're not going to hurt a thing with a power washer. Besides, a water hose puts out way more flooding water than a power washer, so go ahead and pound the crap out of the dash electric connections, ECU, winch, and engine, you're not going to hurt a thing — these things will swim if you'll put snorkels on them

You won’t void the warranty for washing the Can-Am Commander. Walk into any Powersports dealership they will have at least one pressure washer, and probably a steam cleaner also. They are off-road vehicles, and made to withstand water. You are much better off keeping your machine impeccably clean than letting it get dirty. Glass the engine, blast everything, get it clean keep and it clean and it will last a lot longer.