Towing With Your UTV
UTVs or utility terrain vehicles, also called side by sides, are versatile machines capable of hauling several passengers and plenty of cargo. They’re also great for towing equipment and trailers behind them over stretches of difficult terrain, hence the ‘utility terrain’ portion of their name. You can save wear and tear on your truck by using your UTV to tow around the farm, on the construction site or on any job site where rocks, inclines, mud or other unfavorable ground conditions could impede your progress. Your local UTV dealer, Langston Motorsports in Perris, California, has provided this list of tips for towing with your UTV to help you learn how to get all the utility you can out of your vehicle!
Equip Your UTV For Towing
Not all UTVs are built the same, so it’s important to determine whether yours is capable of towing the loads you want it to bear first of all. Many side by sides can handle quite large amounts of cargo, though, so you should look for a towing hitch or a bracket for one on your UTV’s chassis. If you can’t find one, you can research your particular model of UTV on the internet to determine whether or not it’s capable of towing and how much it can handle.
This last step is important because you want to determine the exact towing capacity of your side by side. All the weight you add to your UTV will change how it handles, so you don’t want to overload it by exceeding its handling capabilities.
Use The Correct Accessories
There are some accessories available that will make towing with your UTV a much simpler task. You should locate a hitch that’s compatible with the make and model of your side x side along with some tie-down or ratchet straps. Carrying a tow strap on your UTV at all times will also come in handy, because you never know when you’ll need to use it to drag another quad out of a ditch, pull a fallen tree out of the road or drag the prize game you just bagged into a place where you can easily dress it. Soft hooks will allow you to grip small bars, rails and boards. You should carry a good sturdy pair of gloves on your UTV to help spare your hands from blisters when working with ropes and cables that are under tension.
Plan Your Route
Without planning ahead, you may find yourself driving a route on your UTV that lands you in hot water. You’ll want to scout the lay of the land ahead of time to ensure that your side by side is capable of handling the terrain. Even though UTVs are built tough, when you’re towing or carrying heavy cargo, this changes their handling capabilities and you may find it impossible to get over obstacles that your empty UTV could handle with ease. You should check that both your UTV and trailer fit through tight spaces while they’re unloaded so you know you can simply unhitch your trailer if you get stuck without unloading it completely.
Driving Tips
After you’ve loaded up your trailer and lashed down everything that might shift as you drive, it’s time to get behind the wheel and head for your destination. You should give yourself more space to hit the brakes and come to a complete stop if you’re following any other vehicles. Turns will be harder to complete with a trailer hitched up, and reversing can cause your trailer to jackknife. Both these things mean you may want to practice driving with an empty trailer hitched to your UTV before attempting to haul your load.
If your current UTV needs parts or service, call our maintenance department to schedule an appointment with our mechanics. When you’re looking for a great UTV, new or used, you should visit our showroom to see the models we carry. Langston Motorsports serves the whole of the Inland Empire, including greater Orange County, with our Perris location. This includes the cities of Temecula, Riverside and San Bernardino, California.