After researching, reading reviews, and checking prices, you finally got the perfect UTV. But, what are you going to haul it with? No machine is complete without a UTV and ATV trailer to get it to the trail. Luckily, you have tons of choices for your side-by-side.
You’ve got enclosed trailers, truck racks, flatbeds, and more that you can choose from to fit your needs and your budget.
What size trailer you need is dependent on what kind of side-by-side you have. Choose a 14-footer with a width wider than your machine and you’ll be able to fit your 4-seat Ranger with a little room to spare. Some longer 4-seat vehicles will require up to a 16-foot trailer, while some short 2-seat models will only need a 12-foot trailer.
If you were wondering if a UTV will fit on a 5×8 or 5×10 trailer, the answer is no, not really. In most cases, even with smaller UTVs, this will result in your wheels or bumper hanging over the edge of the trailer. You would need to make some modifications in order to transport it safely. For this reason, we don’t recommend transporting your side-by-side on a trailer that small.
If you want to haul two UTVs, you’ll need to upgrade to at least a 20-foot trailer with a double axle setup for the extra weight.
You’ll want a width of at least 60 inches, but shouldn’t need anything wider than about 76 inches unless you’re rocking a killer custom suspension. Compare your vehicle’s width with the trailer’s advertised width as you shop to make sure you get one wide enough for you.
Open trailers are the standard. They have short sides and a heavy tailgate/ramp for loading and unloading. This type of UTV utility trailer is usually equipped with a single axle, giving it around a 3500 lb. maximum load capacity.
They’re also affordable. They usually come in around $1,500 for single axle versions which makes them an easy entry level choice for most riders. Of course, if you plan to haul more than one UTV, you’ll need to upgrade to a double axle with 20 or 22-foot trailer and tack on another couple grand.
The great thing about an open trailer is that they work for more than just side-by-sides. When you’re not hauling your ride, you can move lawnmowers, furniture, farm equipment, and garbage.
But like all the open trailers on this list they’re not very secure. You might have do some extra work securing it from theft to keep your UTV from rolling away.
Open Trailer Specs* | |
Price | $1,500 |
Trailer weight | 1,500 lbs. |
Load capacity | 3,500 lbs. |
Typical combined UTV and trailer weight | 3,500-4,000 lbs. |
Flatbed trailers are the next step up for side-by-side enthusiasts. Flatbeds are more specifically designed to load and unload vehicles which makes them better for UTVs, and not as good for everything else. Without sides, you have easy access to your tie-down points and straps. If you’re a frequent rider, a flatbed can’t be beat.
They’re priced similarly to standard open trailers with a 14-foot single axle costing approximately $1,500 new. You can count on paying one to two thousand more for a double axle and increased length.
They’re not as useful for other tasks though—we wouldn’t want to load up a flatbed with a load for the dump. But that’s a trade off we don’t mind making for how easy it is to get loaded and unloaded.
Flatbed Trailer Specs* | |
Price | $1,500 |
Trailer weight | 1,500 lbs. |
Load capacity | 3,500 lbs. |
Typical combined UTV and trailer | 3,500-4,000 lbs. |
Truck racks are small, convenient, and fairly new to the industry. They are not technically trailers, but they are a great way to haul your side by side. Truck racks are rails that install on your pickup truck and use the space of your bed and the roof of your car. They let you park your side-by-side right on top of your truck. It keeps it out of the way and you don’t have to double park when you roll up to McDonalds for lunch.
These mount to the bed of your truck which makes them almost as easy to use as a regular trailer, and you can get them big enough to fit any four-seater.
Since it’s not a trailer, you can’t use them for anything but hauling your side-by-side around. But that’s what makes them so good—it’s not a trailer, so it doesn’t use your trucks trailer hitch. We see a lot of people using this setup to haul a camper or an additional trailer with another UTV along with their truck rack.
Truck Rack/UTV Deck Specs* | |
Price | $2,500-$3,500 |
Rack weight | 1,000 lbs. |
Load capacity | 2,500 lbs. |
Typical combined UTV and trailer weight | 3,000-3,500 lbs. |
Tilt trailers are a popular option for people that like to load up and go without a fuss. They eliminate the need for ramps by using a hydraulic tilt mechanism. It keeps everything clean and simple… if you don’t mind messing around with hydraulics and paying the extra premium for the feature.
We don’t see as many of these around for a couple reasons. First, people don’t want to pay extra for it, and second, side-by-side enthusiasts don’t necessarily like trading loading quickly using a little muscle for loading effortlessly with a tilt.
These are great for loading and unloading any motorized equipment so you can use them for more than just hauling your favorite ride around. If you want to keep your back strain to a minimum and don’t mind paying a little extra, a tilt trailer might make your rides better.
Tilt Trailer Specs* | |
Price | $3,500-$4,500 |
Trailer weight | 2,500 lbs. |
Load capacity | 3,000 lbs. |
Typical combined UTV and trailer weight | 4,500-5,000 lbs. |
Enclosed trailers might seem like the ultimate trailer. Who wouldn’t want a trailer that completely protects your UTV from the elements, and lets you throw your tools, suitcases, and other junk in the corner instead of in the cab of your truck? That’s a great question. Enclosed trailers are awesome for most of you. If you can afford it and tow it, you should get one.
They’re great for just about anything, too. While they’re great at keeping your UTV secure on the highway (and locked up when you’re parked at the campground), they’re also great for hauling anything you can put in them. Put construction equipment, dirt bikes, or a refrigerator in there. Or throw a bed in it if you want to make camping extra cozy.
So, who wouldn’t want an enclosed trailer? Well, if you have a lifted machine, you’ll find the height of an enclosed trailer limiting. Not to mention the price goes up quickly if you want to go wider.
Enclosed Trailer Specs* | |
Price | $4,000-$6,000 |
Rack weight | 1,500 lbs. |
Load capacity | 2,500 lbs. |
Typical combined UTV and trailer | 3,500-4,000 lbs. |
For most applications, we prefer aluminum. Aluminum is lightweight and plenty strong for hauling just about anything. The advantages of having a lightweight trailer can’t be overstated. Even a trailer that’s just a couple hundred pounds lighter is much easier to haul. Also, you will be dragging that trailer around by hand from time to time—why not get one that doesn’t break your back?
If you’re going for used, there are plenty of places to look. The standard channels like Facebook and Craigslist are great places to look, but you can also check out more UTV-oriented sites.
Going with a new trailer gives you more options even if it means draining your wallet a little more. Here are some good places to look for the trailers we’ve talked about. Most of these sites will help you find local dealers that you can buy a new trailer from.
If you can get a good deal on a good used trailer, that’s almost always your best bet. It’s a pretty straightforward job to make sure you don’t buy a lemon—just make sure it’s not falling apart, has a good axle (or axles), and you’ll be able to save a ton of money.
Going with a new trailer has plenty of perks too. You have to pay a bit more but you can pick and choose the features you want to get exactly what you need. You also get support from the dealer and manufacturer of the trailer, including associated warranties. That could end up saving you a few bucks in the long run.
So you’ve got your trailer, you’ve got your UTV tied down, and you’re ready to hit the road! Not so fast, bucko. What if you drive through a cloudburst, it starts to snow, or, god forbid, a massive flock of birds flies overhead?
You need to make sure your UTV is protected from the elements.
Getting proper protection will keep your machine’s cab and contents safe during travel. While you won’t necessarily be putting any valuables back there, it would allow you to throw in some extra supplies that would otherwise get wrecked in the rain.
Here’s what you need to seal up your side-by-side:
These upgrades aren’t just good on the trailer—you’ll love them on the trail too. You can finish it off with some killer machine protection to keep your UTV safe from damage too.
All that’s left is to go for a ride. Load up, strap it down, and hit the road. Your trailer is your ticket to a fun weekend. So what are you waiting for? Get a trailer now, and enjoy your newfound freedom to ride.
*All prices and weights listed are for single-axle, entry-level trailers and are estimates only.
9 Comments
Where can i get a New UtV
Hi! Thanks for tuning in. Here is an article that we like to refer people to, who are interested in purchasing a new machine: https://superatv-offroadatlas.com/offroad-atlas/so-you-want-to-get-into-off-roading/ SuperATV does not actually sell these machines, but we offer aftermarket parts and accessories for your machine once you have it. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions!
Great information. If it were you, would you buy a 14ft tandem for a RZR XP1000 at 9ft in length? I was told if I wanted a 14ft, tandem is the way to go because I will feel a lot of swaying on a single axle 14ft. What is you opinion? I am purchasing an aluminum trailer.
Thanks for you thoughts.
Hey Gary! It’s definitely going to be personal preference and it’ll depend on what you plan to haul, if you plan on hauling anything outside of the RZR. One advantage of a single axle trailer is that you can move it around a lot easier by hand when needed, but that would obviously be more ideal if you didn’t have a lot of plans to haul other things bigger than a RZR. Hopefully this helps. We appreciate you tuning in!
Do u carry after market parts for 4x4s
Hey Ron! Can you define what you mean by 4x4s? This term is often used for Jeeps, trucks, and UTVs, so I want to make sure I know what you’re referring to before I answer. Thanks!
Dear Sir,
Please can you send me the full dimensions specifications and price for can am maverick x3 max trailer (4 seaters utv car /can am maverick x3 mx 2022 )
Side by side trailors
1600 lbs
I like when you shared that open trailer is that they work for more than just side-by-sides. You can move lawnmowers, furniture, farm equipment, and garbage when you’re not hauling your ride. The enclosed trailers are fantastic for most of you and great for just about anything. While they’re great at keeping your UTV secure on the highway (and locked up when you’re parked at the campground), they’re also great for hauling anything you can put in them.