How to Safely Tow an ATV

One of the best ways to spend your weekend is to take your ATV out on a new trail and enjoy a new experience. Of course, these vehicles are also useful for those who need some power for their work-related or practical tasks. Whatever your needs, quads are very useful machines that can change your life for the better. If you want to get the most out of your ATV, you’ll probably have to tow it at some point.

Four-wheelers are usually too big to fit onto a truck bed, so you’ll probably need a trailer to tow it. It’s not too complicated a task but there are some guidelines you should follow.

Have a Plan

You should be mentally prepared for the task ahead before you begin. When you have a plan in mind, you won’t flounder or miss an important step when hooking up your trailer, Also ensure that your tow vehicle and the trailer can handle the weight that you’ll be hauling. You should also distribute the weight evenly from left to right and taper it off from front to back, with 60% of your cargo’s weight placed toward the front and 40% toward the back. Before you get around to hitching your trailer, make sure you’re parked on flat, even ground.

Hook Up the Trailer

As we mentioned earlier, most ATVs won’t fit onto the bed of a pickup truck, so you’ll need to use a trailer to tow them. You have to hook up the trailer before you load the ATV as this makes it easier for you to hitch and load. Situate the trailer tongue until it is sitting above the height of the ball hitch, then back up your tow vehicle until the latch is directly beneath the trailer tongue.

Next, you should lower the tongue onto the ball joint and make sure it's securely set. Finally, cross the tow chains under the tongue in an “X” shape and hook them to the tow vehicle.

Load and Secure 

Once you have everything situated, it’s time to load your ATV. Begin by setting up the ramp however it has to be set up. Give yourself enough distance to get up the ramp without overshooting your target and bumping into the back of your tow vehicle. Drive up the ramp perfectly straight to avoid any mishaps. Once the ATV is loaded, you have to strap it down to secure it in place.

Drive Safely

Once you’re all loaded up and ready to go, there are some basic safe driving practices you’ll need to know while towing a full trailer. The first safety tip is to drive at moderate speeds and take it easy. Avoid going at speeds higher than 60 mph as your trailer tires aren’t usually built for high speeds. Leave plenty of space between your rig and the other vehicles on the road as stopping won’t be as fast and as quick as you’re used to.

If you’re looking for ATVs for sale, stop by Big Country Powersports to see what we’ve in stock. We are your premier four-wheeler dealership in Bowling Green, KY. We welcome all those coming from Louisville, KY, and Nashville, TN.