Hauling & Towing With Your UTV
Utility terrain vehicles or UTVs, also called side by sides, are extremely useful vehicles that can help you to navigate difficult terrain while working on job sites, on the farm or on a ranch, or wherever it is you need to do some difficult work. UTVs are capable of hauling heavy payloads and towing equipment if properly outfitted, so if you find yourself with a lot to haul, you might want to invest in a UTV that can help you with it. Your local UTV dealer, Interstate Cycles, is in Lake City, Florida, and we’re ready and willing to help you determine the best ways to haul and tow cargo and machines with your side by side.
Equip Your UTV
You’ll first want to insure you have the right UTV for the towing and hauling you want to do. Side by sides in general are capable of handling a great deal of cargo, so look at your model to see if it has a towing hitch or bracket on the chassis. You can research your particular model of UTV online to see what its towing and hauling capabilities are. When you add weight to your UTV, you change how it handles, and you definitely don’t want to overburden it, as this increases your risk of rolling over on uneven terrain or even damaging the UTV’s body from the strain of a too-heavy payload.
Use The Right Accessories
When towing or hauling with your UTV, you’ll want to have the right accessories for the job at hand to make it easier. Having the right hitch for your make and model of UTV along with tie-down or ratchet straps will make your work so much easier. A tow strap on your UTV will let you pull another UTV out of a ditch or drag a fallen tree from your path. Soft hooks help your UTV grip bars, rails and boards or any other cargo so it doesn’t fall off. A good strong pair of work gloves will protect your hands from rope burns, splinters and blisters.
Plot Your Route
You should take your empty UTV over your planned path in advance before you load it up and try to traverse your intended route for the first time. This will let you see how your UTV handles while empty on the terrain, and you can easily get unstuck if you find a place where your UTV doesn’t fit. Figuring out the path of least resistance will help you keep your load balanced and make shorter work of your hauling and towing overall. Hooking up your trailer if you’re using one and driving it over the path will let you see where your trailer might not fit, and you won’t have a problem unhitching your UTV if you have to move it.
UTV Driving Tips
When you’ve loaded up your side by side, even with a small payload, you have changed the way it handles, so you’ll have to adjust your driving accordingly. Your UTV will be more top-heavy so you’ll have to take corners and rough terrain very gently to avoid rolling over. Ensure your load is secured before you head out and balanced evenly from side to side and front to back.
While towing with your UTV, you’ll want to be careful with your brakes. While many UTVs made for towing have great brakes, you still need to go at a slower speed and take turns carefully. Going slowly will allow you to stop sooner in case you come upon an obstacle or an animal runs into your path.
When you’re looking for a great UTV to help you get the job done, come down to our dealership to see our wide selection of new and used UTVs for sale. We carry the latest models by the most popular brands so you’re sure to find a UTV that meets your needs. Interstate Cycles is located in Lake City, near Jacksonville and Tallahassee, Florida. We also serve the cities of Gainesville, Alachua and Sanderson, Florida, as well as nearby Valdosta, Georgia.