How to Haul Your UTV
Owning your own UTV gives you access to a versatile vehicle that you can use for riding recreationally, off-roading, hunting and work tasks around your ranch, farm or work site. However, you probably don’t live right next to all the places you’re going to have to ride your UTV, which means you need to load it up into a trailer and haul it elsewhere. So how do you do that safely?
Roseville Motorsports in Rocklin is your California UTV dealer, serving greater Sacramento. Below, you’ll find our best options for hauling your UTV without incident over short or long distances.
Should You Flat-Tow the UTV?
In short, no. You would have to have a street-legal UTV that is equipped with street tires for this to even be legal, but you really don’t want to do it even then. Why? Because you’ll be putting undue stress on your UTV’s tires, suspension and other crucial parts. UTVs don’t have a tow-bar option like a car or a Jeep that you might flat-tow, so you wouldn’t be able to align it properly. This option is not worth your time.
Pickup Trucks
Smaller UTVs may be hauled in a big pickup truck bed, but this option won’t work for all models. Make sure that the dimensions of your powersports vehicle and your truck match up before you attempt this. Don’t forget to consider the UTV’s weight and whether your truck’s gross volume weight rating is over it. In order to get your UTV onto the truck, you’ll need a strong loading ramp and you’ll want to carefully secure the UTV in place, especially because you’ll probably have to leave the truck gate open.
Open-Bed Trailers
A good option for hauling a UTV is to use an open-bed flat trailer that has one or two axles and a gross volume weight rating that can accommodate the weight of your UTV. You’ll need to securely lash your UTV in place with ratchet straps or tie-downs. Bear in mind that this option may not be ideal for very long trips where you end up stopping overnight, as your UTV will be really vulnerable to weather damage or theft. However, for short day trips, this can be a good hauling option.
Enclosed Cargo Trailers
Another option that is more protective is to use an enclosed cargo trailer instead. These trailers are more expensive than open-bed trailers, but they provide you with a lockable door and a roof and walls around your UTV. This means you don’t have to worry about your UTV being stolen from a parking lot or damaged by hail or rain as you drive.
Searching for a new UTV? Come see us at our Rocklin, CA, dealership location to view our full stock of new and used UTVs for sale. Roseville Motorsports proudly serves the city of Sacramento, CA.