Tips for Towing with Your UTV

Towing things off-road can be difficult because the kinds of vehicles usually used for towing (such as SUVs and pickup trucks) are designed for paved roadways rather than dirt pathways. SUVs and pickup trucks are also fairly bulky, which can make squeezing through narrow spaces difficult. That’s why many people recommend using a UTV to tow off-road. Not only are UTVs powerful and able to operate on a variety of different terrains, but they are much slimmer than traditional tow vehicles. If you’re interested in using your UTV for an off-road towing job, this guide from Team Mancuso Powersports South can help you get the job done correctly.

Use a Suitable UTV

A UTV used for towing needs to be equipped with a towing hitch or bracket. It’s also important to know your side by side’s towing capacity. Exceeding safe weight limits isn’t just dangerous, it’s illegal. You may need to find a way to split up the weight or even borrow a more powerful UTV model. Make sure that your hitch is compatible, and have some tie-downs or ratchet straps on hand to help secure your cargo. 

Plan Your Route

The best way to ensure a successful towing job is to plan out your route ahead of time. We recommend doing a dry run in your UTV. Identify potential obstacles and get a general idea of the kind of terrain you’ll need to overcome. You can then do a second run with the trailer attached but empty to make sure that you’ll be able to squeeze through any narrow spaces. Take what you learn from these two trial runs to create a route plan that is both safe and efficient. 

Driving Tips

Once you’ve created the plan, get ready for the actual towing job. Drive a bit slower than you normally would and be extra cautious when you’re dealing with sharp corners and difficult terrain. Remember to keep cargo weight distribution as close to even as possible. Securing your cargo will prevent it from shifting around mid-ride, thus making your job slightly easier. 

Shop UTVs at Team Mancuso Powersports South in La Marque, Texas. We’re proud to serve communities like Galveston and League City, Texas. We also offer servicing, parts ordering, and servicing.