Safe UTV Towing

UTVs or four wheelers can make a weekend so much more exciting. Off-roading on rough terrain can amp up your vacation and offer you thrills you can’t get elsewhere. Unless you’re perfectly situated on lands that provide you with plenty of off-roading options, you’ll probably have to tow your UTV somewhere more ideal. The fine folks at Virgil Naff's, located in Lynchburg, Virginia, understand the importance of towing safety, so we’ve prepared this convenient guide to help you tow your four wheeler without incident.

Hitching Up Your Trailer

Ensure that both vehicles are on level ground before you start, which will also help you when you load up later. Jack up your trailer until it’s at the same height as your truck’s bed, then get in your truck and reverse slowly toward the trailer. Have someone stand outside and guide you if your mirrors aren’t sufficient. When the trailer and your truck’s hitch meet, park your truck and secure them in place. Cross your tow chains in an X orientation underneath the tongue of your trailer as protection in case the hitch somehow comes undone.

Load Your Quad

While you’re on that nice piece of flat ground, you’ll want to load up your UTVs. Lower and secure the ramp to your trailer. Drive your UTV far enough away to allow you time to speed up before you hit the ramp, but don’t just push the pedal to the floor. You’ll want to build up enough speed to get up the incline without shooting through the front of your trailer. Take it slow, and try again if you don’t make it up the first time.

Once you’ve loaded your UTVs, you’ll want to secure them to the interior of the trailer, which you can do with ratchet straps that will torque down the quad’s suspension to hold it in place. Your goal is to prevent your cargo from shifting around after all that careful weight-balancing work you’ve done.

Safe Towing Practices

When you’re towing heavy cargo, it’s important to follow a few safety rules on the highway. Try not to exceed a speed of 60 mph, because you’ll need more time than normal to come to a complete stop, and you want to give yourself time to react to obstacles. Going too fast can be destabilizing and wear down your tires much faster, too, meaning you’ll put yourself at risk of blowing out a tire if you speed. Let other cars pass you – passing generally requires that you speed up, and you should avoid that at all costs. Looking to buy a great used UTV to save some cash for your next trip? Come check out the selection in our dealership, and we can answer any more questions you have about UTV towing. Virgil Naff's is in Lynchburg, Virginia, easily accessible for our customers in the Roanoke
area, as well as those in Charlottesville, Virginia.