Ensuring Easy Trail-Side Belt Changes
Story By: Brandon Bunch
Photos By: Brandon Bunch
The Savage UTV case has been a necessary accessory added to nearly every one of our UTVs since the product was introduced. At first, it was just a genius product to keep your spare CVT belt fresh, clean, dry, and ready for use, with a customizable foam insert to store whatever else you wanted in the bottom. Over time it has evolved to also serve the purposes of containing a First Aid kit, a Pro Eagle Phoenix Air Jack, and it became available with a very basic tool kit added to the bottom foam. Now, it has evolved again to include a Boxo USA tool kit with Boxo’s beautiful black and red EVA foam.
The Savage Boxo Tool Kit (like all of the Savage cases) includes the standard stainless steel hose clamp mounts and therefore can be easily strapped to just about any size tube, or you can add on Assault Industries’ tube clamps for a nicer looking and more robust mounting solution. The hose clamps work just fine in my opinion, just don’t try to wrench them too tight or they will break. I learned from experience.
The case itself has been updated from earlier versions to include latches that are easier to operate (thankfully) and popping it open reveals that great looking EVA foam. The contrasting red foam beneath the black top layer makes it very apparent when tools are missing, and the foam is engraved to show socket and torx bit locations. There are 8mm, 10mm, and 13mm sockets along with T30 and T40 torx bits to ensure you have the right tool for whatever vehicle needs a belt change, and there are also precut locations in the foam to allow you to insert your OEM belt tool, whether it be a naturally aspirated or turbo Polaris tool, or a Can-Am X3 tool. You could even insert all three tools to ensure any trail-mates are always covered as well.
The ratcheting T handle driver and extension are a big upgrade from the ratcheting screwdriver that comes in the standard Savage tool kit, as it’s much easier to get in tight places and gives you more leverage to break loose stubborn hardware. Clutch cover bolts can be placed in the magnetic foam storage tray from the case lid, so they don’t get accidentally stomped into the dirt. I usually just leave them in the clutch cover, or put them in my pocket out of fear that I might knock over the storage tray and lose them.
The double blade knife that comes included in the Boxo tool kit is also a huge upgrade as it has a hooked blade that makes cutting out tangled belt shreds far easier, while still having the standard box-cutter style blade. Long needle nose pliers are also included so you don’t have to try reaching your hands into the burning hot clutch sheaves. Even with all these fancy tools, I’d still recommend wearing gloves when changing a blown belt on the trail because everything will be very hot, including the shredded belt pieces.
