Safely Towing Your ATV
Few pastimes are as thrilling and fast as an ATV ride over rough terrain. However, if you want to get your all-terrain vehicle to some prime off-roading spots, you’ll inevitably need to tow it there. ATVs generally don’t fit into a pickup bed, so you’ll either need a toy hauler or another style of trailer to safely transport your ATV from home. While this might seem like a daunting task, it’s nothing you can’t handle with a little prep work and practice. To that end, Destination Powersports of Punta Gorda has drawn up this list of safe ATV towing practices to get you on the road -- and then off it again on your quad.
Form A Plan
Before you start out, you should plan how you’ll load your trailer. If you’re taking multiple four-wheelers, you’ll have to figure out how to distribute their weight within the trailer. You need to balance the weight of your cargo from left to right when looking at your trailer from the rear, so that no tire bears more weight than the rest. You’ll also want to balance the weight so that 10 to 20 percent of it is over the front axle of your trailer, resting upon the hitch. This will help stabilize your towing load and ensure that your trailer doesn’t become unwieldy on the road.
Hooking Up Your Trailer
Now you’ll want to get your trailer hooked up to your towing vehicle. Get both vehicles on flat, level ground, and raise up your trailer’s front until it’s level with the hitch of your towing vehicle. If you’re using a fifth wheel coupling, you’ll want to raise the trailer to the height of your truck’s bed instead. Climb in your truck and slowly reverse until your trailer’s tongue meets the hitch. You might want to have someone else standing outside the vehicle to keep an eye on how you’re doing and shout out directions to you. Once the hitch and trailer are aligned, park and get out so you can attach them securely. Cross your tow chains in an X under your trailer’s tongue and attach them to the trailer. If you have brakes and lights that hook up to your trailer, you’ll want to attach these now to the power source and make sure they function correctly.
Leveling & Loading Out
Stay on that flat piece of ground to level out your trailer. The ramp will work best if it’s at the height designated by the manufacturer, so having it resting on an incline or bump will make this impossible. You’ll be able to see how the weight is distributed better when you’re starting out level, too.
Lower and secure your ramp. Then, get in your ATV and drive far enough away that you’ll be able to accelerate sufficiently to get the quad up the ramp. Drive at a constant pace, but not too quickly, so you can scale the ramp without blowing through the front of your trailer. This will take some practice to accomplish, but a few false starts shouldn’t put you off. Once the ATVs are all loaded, strap them down with ratchet straps or whatever securing tools you have within the trailer. Ratchet straps are good because they can be torqued down over the suspension, holding the ATV securely in place so they don’t skid around as you drive and unbalance your trailer.
Safe Towing Practices
Once you’re on the road with your ATVs in tow, you’ll want to adhere to some basic safety guidelines to keep you, your passengers and other drivers safe. Don’t drive faster than 60 to 65 mph because trailer tires aren’t built for high speeds. Also, your heavy payload means that it’ll take longer for both your vehicle and trailer to come to a complete stop, so you don’t want to be blazing down the road and unable to brake for an obstacle. This means you should increase your following distance between you and the drivers ahead of you. Use your side mirrors to keep an eye on traffic and your trailer to make sure it isn’t veering into the next lane. Try not to pass other drivers -- give them the right of way because they aren’t towing and it’s not advisable for you to speed up anyway.
Your trailer makes your turn radius much wider, so take turns slowly and be wary of curbs. You may also want to practice your turning and reversing in a parking lot or other empty lot before you get on the highway just to make sure you have towing down. Take things slow and enjoy your journey! You’ll be off-roading soon enough and it’s best that you arrive safely.
Are you itching to get ahold of your own ATV now? To see a great selection of new and used four-wheelers and all-terrain vehicles, come check out the Destination Powersports showroom. We have a dealership in Punta Gorda, near Fort Myers and Cape Coral, Florida.