Date: Oct 29, 2024
Time: 15:10
In this video, SuperATV walks you through how to install the SuperATV cargo rack on a Can-Am Maverick X3. This cargo rack is built to increase your storage capacity and add functionality to your machine without sacrificing performance. Whether you’re loading gear for the trails or packing essentials for a weekend adventure, this upgrade provides the durable support and versatility you need.
Start by assembling the latch and handle mechanism. Begin by threading the Heim joint onto the strut by hand—do not fully tighten yet. Then gather your M5 Allen bolts and Nylock nuts, which will secure the handle inside the latch bracket. Insert the handle through the bracket and install the catch stops on the backside to lock the handle into position. Slide the latch together and thread your bolts through. Hand-tighten all bolts initially, then secure everything with an 8 mm socket and 3 mm Allen wrench. This assembly forms the core of your lift-and-lock mechanism.
With the latch assembled, attach the struts to their mounting brackets. You’ll need your M10 shoulder bolt and two spacers for each strut. Insert the spacers on each side of the Heim joint to center it inside the bracket, then feed the bolt through. This entire unit is referred to as the strut mount in the installation instructions. Repeat this process for both the left and right sides. Once complete, thread the jam nut and Heim joint into the rack shelf’s threaded stud but don’t fully tighten it yet. Just secure it enough that the assembly can hold itself together.
Now it’s time to assemble the cargo rack shelf itself. Take both sides of the rack and align them so the center seam matches up. Using the provided M6 bolts and Nylock nuts, connect the two rack halves. Insert bolts into each hole down the center spine of the rack. Some holes may be tight—use a ratchet to push the hardware through. Once all bolts are inserted, go back and fully tighten each connection. This forms the structural base of your cargo rack.
Rotate the cargo rack so the mounting tabs face you. Insert the included three plastic bushings into the rack brackets—two into the cargo rack itself and one into the right-side shelf mount. Align your shelf mount bracket and prepare the M12 shoulder bolt with its flat washer. This bolt should go through the plastic washer, then through the bushing and mounting bracket. Ensure the tab on the bracket is facing inward toward the center of the rack. This step secures the movement points of the rack’s lift arms.
If your Maverick has remote reservoir shocks, loosen the clamp and rotate the reservoir so it points straight up. This allows clearance for the cargo rack hardware. Next, remove the T30 Torx bolt located at the rear corner of the bed. Below it, there is a 10 mm nut—hold this in place with a wrench while you unthread the bolt from the top. Save the nut but discard the factory bolt, as it will be replaced with SuperATV-supplied hardware.
Install the strut mounting bracket by sliding the LDP spacer into the same hole from which you removed the factory bolt. Insert the long M6 bolt through the bracket and spacer, guiding it down into the frame. Use a 10 mm wrench to tighten the nut on the underside. Next, install the bed mounts using the M6x25 mm bolts (only two are included). These sit flush in the bed’s molded pockets. Insert the bolt from the top, thread it in, and tighten it securely. Then go back and fully tighten the strut mount hardware.
Now, remove the stock cage bolts on both sides of the machine. These bolts will be reused to secure the new rack brackets. With a second person helping, lift the assembled cargo rack and position it onto the cage. Insert the factory bolts through the brackets and into the cage. Loosely thread the nuts to hold everything in place. Once aligned, begin tightening the brackets to the cage for stability before attaching the lift hardware.
Take the shoulder bolt and spacer and install them into the lower pivot point on the lift arms. This connects the rack’s movement mechanism to the cage brackets. Ensure the flat portion of the lift arm faces the rear of the machine for proper operation. Secure each side with the supplied Nylock nut. Fully tighten all bolts that secure the brackets to the cage to ensure a stable structure for the lifting mechanism.
Attach the front face plate to the rack using the remaining M6 hardware. Then, install the cable system by sliding the ball-end of the cable into the rear bracket and threading the retaining nut a few turns—leave room for later adjustments. Route the cable upward and connect it to the handle latch, hooking it over the locking tab. This connection allows the handle to release the locking struts when pulled. Use the included washer and cotter pin to secure the ball end of the cable, then snap the retaining clips in place.
Adjust the cable system so both sides are evenly tensioned. If one side is too loose or tight, remove slack or thread the cable further into the Heim joint. The goal is to ensure the rack locks evenly on both sides when the handle is engaged. Once cable tension is correct, use the smallest hardware in the kit to anchor the cable using the pre-threaded holes in the rack. Tighten both sides and verify that the cable runs cleanly and securely.
Your kit includes optional accessory brackets that can be used for gear, tie-downs, or mounting a spare tire. Install them using the final remaining bolts—there are both long and short ones depending on your setup. In this installation, the brackets are skipped in favor of using the rack for spare tire mounting. Finally, make fine-tuning adjustments to the rack’s position and cable tension. Adjust Heim joints and jam nuts so that the rack stays level and the latch mechanism locks smoothly in place.
Once everything is tightened and adjusted, your SuperATV Cargo Rack is fully installed on the Can-Am Maverick X3. Check the video description to order your own, and don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more installation content and off-road upgrades.
