Hauling & Towing With Your UTV

, or utility terrain vehicles, also called side by sides because of their bench seating, are powerhouse machines capable of traversing difficult terrain to help you work on job sites, on the ranch or on the farm. If you have heavy payloads to haul or bulky equipment to tow through a difficult area and your truck won’t fit, then it’s your UTV to the rescue! You only need to take the time to get your UTV geared up and ready to tow and haul before you get to work.

Whether you’re on a Can-Am®, Kawasaki or Polaris® UTV, you’re sure to get your work done in record time. To help you get the most out of your powersports machine, the folks at Family Powersports Lubbock have created this guide to hauling and towing with your UTV.

Equipment & Accessories

Make sure before you start towing and hauling that you have the right type of UTV for what you want to tow and haul. In general, a UTV is capable of carrying a great deal of cargo. Check your particular model to see if it has a towing hitch or bracket on the chassis. You can research your model online to double-check what its hauling and towing capabilities are. Adding weight to your UTV changes how it handles, so you don’t want to overburden it as this would increase your chances of rolling over on rocky terrain or damaging the frame of your UTV.

Choose Your Route

Before you load up your UTV with your payload or equipment, you should make sure that your empty UTV is capable of fitting through the route you’ve chosen. Ride it empty over the intended path so you can tell what areas might be a problem and easily get your UTV unstuck if it sticks somewhere without having to unhitch your trailer or other cargo. Determining the easiest path in advance will assist you in keeping your payload balanced and will make your hauling and towing much easier overall. Hitching up your empty trailer to see where it will fit is another good step, so you won’t have to unload all your cargo if your trailer gets stuck somewhere.

UTV Driving Tips

After loading up your side by side, even with small payloads, you’ll discover that the way it handles is much different because of the added weight and the distribution of it. You will need to adjust your driving accordingly as a result, since your UTV will be more top-heavy. This means that taking corners and going over rough terrain will need to be done very gently to prevent your UTV from rolling over. Make sure before you go that your load is both tightly secured to your UTV and that the weight is evenly distributed from side to side and from front to back.

While towing with your UTV, be cautious when applying your brakes. Most UTVs that are made for towing have very good brakes, but you should still go at a slower speed than normal and take turns very carefully. Taking things slowly will let you stop sooner when you need to in case you come across an obstacle or an animal runs into your path.

Ready to get some work done quickly? If you’re still in search of the perfect UTV for all your hauling and towing needs, check out our Lubbock dealership, where we carry a great selection of new and used UTVs, including the latest models by Can-Am®, Polaris® and Kawasaki. Family Powersports Lubbock also serves the cities of Lake Tanglewood, Plainview and Seminole, Texas.