A vehicle may include a CVT unit or a power source which requires ambient air. An air inlet for an air intake system coupled to the CVT unit or the power source which requires ambient air may be provided in a side of a cargo carrying portion of the vehicle. The vehicle may include a rear radius arm suspension.

A utility vehicle includes a rear frame, a front frame and a coupling body. A height of a vertical section of the front frame is shorter than a height of a vertical section of the rear frame tube, and a ground clearance of an upper face of the front frame tube is shorter than a ground clearance of an upper face of the rear frame. The coupling body connects a rear end of the front frame with a front end of the rear frame. An upper face member of the coupling body includes a forwardly descending sloped face that interconnects an upper face of the rear frame with an upper face of the front frame. A front differential unit is mounted on the front frame. A front drive shaft having a constant velocity joint extends from the front differential unit forwardly of the coupling body and upwardly of the front frame.

An apparatus for connecting a stabilizer bar to a vehicle includes a support for attaching to the vehicle. The support defines a space for receiving a bushing through which the stabilizer bar can extend. The support includes tabs to which a heat shield can be attached. The heat shield is spaced apart from the bushing to define a gap between the heat shield and the bushing to protect the bushing from heat emitted from the vehicle exhaust system or engine.

A utility cart includes a suspension having an integral suspension bracket having an attachment point for a lateral suspension link, holes through which U-bolts are passed to secure an axle of the utility cart to the bracket, and can include an opening into which a spring pin (e.g. a pin of a leaf spring) can be inserted. The suspension bracket can alternatively include a brake cable attachment feature. The suspension bracket can be cut from sheet stock of material, and stamped into final or near final form. In one embodiment a threaded nut can be attached to the attachment point for the lateral suspension link.

A supporting structure for a shock absorber of a suspension device of a utility vehicle includes a pair of right and left shock absorbers, and a transverse frame extending in a vehicle width direction. The both shock absorbers are supported on the transverse frame by one bracket from below the transverse frame, and the transverse frame extends from both sides of the bracket toward the outside in the vehicle width direction in an upwardly inclined manner.

In one embodiment, a utility vehicle includes a plurality of ground-engaging members configured to contact a ground surface, and a powertrain assembly operably coupled to the ground-engaging members. The utility vehicle also includes a frame supported by the ground-engaging members and extending along a longitudinal axis of the utility vehicle. The utility vehicle further includes a tunnel member coupled to the frame and extending along the longitudinal axis. The tunnel member is positioned at a first height from the ground surface. Additionally, the utility vehicle includes a cargo portion supported by the frame and positioned generally rearward of the tunnel member. The cargo portion has a cargo surface substantially aligned with the tunnel member and positioned at a second height from the ground surface. The first height is approximately equal to the second height.

A recreational off-highway vehicle includes side-by-side passenger and driver seats held within a chassis that is approximately 50 inches wide. The seats sit low in the chassis and are covered by a roll cage. Grab handles are positioned on the sides of the passenger seat. Select large round tubing protects the vehicle, while rectangular tubing frames the portions of the vehicle beneath body panels. The vehicle is powered by an engine rearward of the seats that is connected to a transaxle. The engine and transaxle are isolation mounted together with a portion of the air intake assembly. The vehicle is suited for rough terrain travel.

A vehicle is provided including a frame assembly. The frame assembly includes a front frame module, a middle frame module, and a rear frame module. The front frame module is fastened to a front portion of the middle frame module. The rear frame module is fastened to a rear portion of the middle frame module. The middle frame module is interchangeable with at least one other middle frame module to change a length of the vehicle.

A vehicle configuration wherein the center of mass of the vehicle is approximately superimposed upon the passenger and driver centers of mass when seated within the vehicle. An occupant's center of mass can be approximated using a standard center of mass position approximation, or a combination of any number of standard center of mass position approximations. The vehicle's center of mass can be approximately superimposed upon the occupant's center of mass in at least the longitudinal and vertical directions.

A vehicle incorporates a gravity-assist energy harvesting suspension system including one or more gravitational positive displacement pumps. The positive displacement pump has a cylinder and a reciprocating piston inside the cylinder. The piston is adapted for movement along a compression stroke and an opposite extension stroke in response to a gravitational bounce of the vehicle when in motion. A turbine comprising a rotor shaft and attached blades is mounted relative to a distal end of a fluid outlet hose connected to the pump. Fluid discharged through the outlet hose acts on the blades, thereby moving and imparting rotational energy to the rotor shaft. A generator is operatively connected to the turbine, and is adapted for converting the rotational energy generated by the rotor shaft to electrical energy.