A Guide to Towing Your UTV

Chances are that you’ll need a way to transport your UTV to wherever you’re heading for your outdoor adventure. The easiest way to do this is to tow your side-by-side. Follow the steps mentioned in this brief guide and you’ll be towing your UTV with ease in no time!

Prepare to Tow

If you want your towing process to be as easy as possible, consider doing some prep work. Make sure that your tow vehicle can handle the extra weight of your side-by-side. Your vehicle will have a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) that will tell you how much weight it can haul.

You’ll also need to have a good understanding of the UTV towing process. This includes everything from hitching your trailer to driving safely on the highway. You should also practice driving while hauling your side-by-side. It’s important to make sure you feel comfortable and confident before you hit the road.

Hook Up the Trailer

Always hitch your trailer to the tow vehicle while on flat, even ground. Start by positioning the trailer tongue so that it rests above the ball hitch. Slowly reverse until the latch rests below the tongue. Place the tongue on the ball joint and secure it. Arrange the tow chains in an “X” formation under the tongue so it doesn’t scrape the road if it comes unhitched. Connect the chains to the tow vehicle and you’re all hooked up!

Load the UTV

You should consult your owner’s manual for information on positioning the ramp for loading your UTV. Line up the powersports vehicle with the ramp and slowly ride up it. You’ll need enough momentum to get up the ramp, but not enough that you blast yourself far into the cargo bay.

While loading the trailer, be intentional about where you place the weight. Ideally, 60 percent of the weight should be in the front, 40 percent in the rear, and 10 percent of the weight at the front should be resting over the hitch.

Driving While Towing

When you’re towing your UTV, you’ll need to adjust your driving. You will need more distance and time to safely come to a complete stop. You should approach corners at different angles, and you’ll also need more space to change lanes. Drive at a moderate speed in good road conditions, and drive slower in poor conditions like rain. Don’t forget to leave plenty of space between you and other vehicles.

Are you ready to hit the road and take your UTV to the trails? We hope that this guide was helpful! If you’ve any questions, feel free to reach out to our friendly staff at Nielsen Enterprises in Lake Villa, IL. We are proud to serve all those in Chicago, IL, and Milwaukee, WI.