When someone says “UTV,” what’s the first thing that comes to your mind? Chances are it’s a sporty model with two seats and not much else. Performance-based UTVs are all the rage, but it wasn’t always that way. Not long ago, UTVs were more associated with farms and job sites and not dunes and trails.
Utility side-by-sides have been making people’s lives easier for years. And if you plan to haul a lot of stuff with your UTV’s bed, you may want to consider one that comes with a dump bed. Your back will thank you! To make your choice easier we’ve compiled a list of the top dump-bed-equipped UTVs.
So what exactly does a dump bed do? Having a dump bed means you can tilt the whole bed to dump whatever you’re hauling, saving a lot of time and effort.
The uses of a dump bed include, but are not limited to:
There’s nothing wrong with a pickup truck, but a side-by-side with a dump bed has a lot of advantages over a standard pickup.
With a UTV, you have the ability to go places where pickup trucks can’t. They also leave a smaller footprint, so you won’t have tire tracks everywhere.
Not to mention, a UTV is much more affordable than a truck, and you’ll save a lot of gas money. Besides, how often do you see a pickup truck with a dump bed?
Unloading the contents of your bed by hand can get tedious. It can also be a pain… literally. Constantly unloading by hand can wear you out and strain your back. A dump bed can save you time and effort.
Why work harder when you can work smarter? Think of all the time you’ll save when you aren’t unloading the contents of your bed by hand. There’ll be more time for hitting up trails and exploring the countryside.
Utility side-by-sides remain a large segment of the UTV market. We’ve gathered a list in alphabetical order of some of the biggest names in the dump-bed-equipped utility market to help you find the right one.
No stranger to the side-by-side game, Arctic Cat makes the three-passenger Prowler Pro and six-passenger Prowler Pro Crew.
Can-Am spoils you for choice. You can get multiple bed sizes, three or six-person seating, and four or six-wheels. There’s even the option on some models for hydraulic power beds—a great feature to have for those extra-heavy loads!
This company makes all kinds of vehicles across multiple industries, so it’s no wonder that they have plenty of utility side-by-sides in their Pioneer line.
This name is familiar to farmers across the country, and they make a wide range of UTVs. Whether it’s a farm, large property, or a construction site, they make a machine for it.
Kawasaki made the first Mule back way back in 1988 and hasn’t stopped innovating. They now produce a variety of Mules for nearly any job.
While not the biggest name in the States, Kubota brings years of construction and farm equipment experience to the UTV market with their models.
Polaris is one of the biggest names in UTVs, and they make a wide range of work-focused machines. Whatever the job, chances are Polaris has the machine for you.
This company has made UTVs for over 15 years now, and they show no signs of stopping. They offer several variations of their workhorse Yamaha Viking at various price points.
Choosing the right UTV with a dump bed may seem daunting with all the options available. But by focusing on your needs, you can make the choice easier.
You should consider:
By thinking about what you want to use your UTV for, you can be confident the UTV you’ve chosen will work for you.
We hope this helps you narrow down your decision. What might be right for some might not be right for others, but there is no doubt a UTV with a dump bed can help get the job done.
30 Comments
i will be towing / dragging equipment on artificial turf, one person and some garbage bags. the equipment is to dress up the artificial turf
Hey Gerald! You should be fine with any of these machines really. A UTV with turf mode may be more ideal. The only ones on this list that do not include this are the Yamaha Viking and the Kubota RTV. Thanks for tuning in with us!
Do any of these have the ability to attach a snow plow, and powerful enough to plow?
Hey William, thanks for tuning in. Any of these machines will be able to plow with a plow mount, and they will have the power to plow. You shouldn’t expect to be able to push 3 ft of snow at a time, but they will get the job done.
Are these all 4x4s
Hey Jo, they are! But they all do it a little bit differently. Some, like Polaris and Can-Am machines, have limited slip differentials so they behave more like AWD machines. Most others have manual differential lock and work more like a traditional 4WD. Thanks for reading!
After MUCH research I settled on the Polaris but I must tell you although I love the hydraulic dump bed I really have a hard time driving it because I am on the shorter side, 5’2″. I can barely reach the gas pedal and have to sit almost in the middle to make it work. I asked the company if there was some modifications but I get no response. Is there one of these that would work better for the people who need these but aren’t tall?
Good question. There are some aftermarket extended pedals out there for you like the Throttle MAXX. We’ve never used it, so we can speak to the product’s or the company’s quality, but it’s probably worth looking into. Apart from that, you’d probably have better luck in a midsize Ranger. They’re smaller all around, so you’d be sacrificing overall space for a slightly better fit for you. They are nice little machines though. Good luck and happy riding!
You are the BEST! I hope this works because I really don’t want to sell it! Thank you again!
No problem! Good luck! There are a lot of different options for pedal extenders. I’m sure you can find something that works.
Thanks so much for both the question and your answer! I’m short at 5’ 1 ½” and I know which one to study on and what to do if I pick one that doesn’t fit?
My wife is 5’0” so we ended up getting a John Deere Gator TH 4×6. The ELECTRIC dump bed is low, huge and holds 1200 pounds. It has no suspension but we never use it over 10 mph so it’s perfect fit for us.
I’m looking to find which one has the highest ground clearance. I cross railroad tracks and have been hung up a time or two with my Kawasaki mule 4010 even with blocks cut to ramp me up and “pallet style” supports to keep me from dropping down in between the tracks
Hey David. You’ll get the most ground clearance with a Can-Am Defender XMR with 15″. The Ranger XP 1000 gives you 13″ and a base model Defender gives you 11″. Your Mule 4010 only has 7″ of ground clearance. Thanks for reading!
Which UTV(s) would be most ideal for hauling lots of dirt on steep ground? A hydraulic dump bed is preferable. My husband digs graves and we are looking for equipment to make removing dirt easier.
Hey Tambra! You can get power lifts on some John Deere Gators and Can-Am Defenders. Both of those come in models with bigger cargo beds than you’ll find elsewhere. There might be something we’re working on along those lines that will help with many UTVs’ dump beds.
Can any of these pull a small disker for a small > 1/4 acre, food plot?
Any but the smallest of these UTVs are more than capable of pulling a small disker. The only problem with small diskers is that they tend to be a little too light to break up tougher soil. Otherwise, many of these come with a hitch receiver standard, but you’ll want to doublecheck before you pull the trigger on one.
I didn’t see an Intimidator dump truck as one of your choices. Have you researched those as a good vehicle and also, which dump truck UTV would you recommend that can get me thru rough terrain out in a pasture and out of mud puddles if I happen to not judge the ground correctly and myself spinning my tires stuck in a puddle?
Great call out on the Intimidator, Teresa! They’re great machines and would definitely be a solid choice. When this article was written in 2021, Intimidator vehicles were in a much higher price range than the vehicles we featured and not as well-known as they are today, but that’s definitely changing. The competition is heating up!
As for dealing with rough or soggy terrain, you want to pay attention to torque and curb weight. You want higher torque at lower speeds in these situations for better control. You’ll find torque listed on most manufacturers’ spec sheets. You should also consider weight since heavier machines will sink faster and deeper. A good winch could also be helpful for these situations! If you get stuck, you can always winch it out. We’ve got a huge selection of winches for almost every UTV available. https://www.superatv.com/utv-atv-winches-accessories
We have some pretty steep areas between the house and the boat dock. How prone are these to rollover if we et a little sideways? And which ones are least prone to that?
Hi Roy! That’s a tough question to answer. Anything machine with a wider wheelbase will be less likely to tip over. However, without knowing how steep the area is, it’s hard to advise. I wouldn’t recommend using a dumb bed on a steep slope. It’ll change the weight distribution and could cause you trouble.
Which one is best for hilly unpaved roads?
Hi Gilbert! Thanks for reading.
The answer to that question is dependent on what your goals are. As I’ve said before, I don’t advise using a dump bed on steep terrain, nor do most manufacturers. If you’re looking for a machine with superior traction and control over uneven terrain, the 6-wheeled Can-Am Defender 6X6 DPS is a great choice. Its 82 hp/69 lb-ft engine is powerful enough to tackle rough rides with the bed fully loaded.
Thanks for your reply. I’m really looking for something that can carry construction material, such as cement bags etc. from the main road to the top of the hill, and also offroad expeditions. The six-wheeler would be beyond my budget. Any ideas? By the way, this would not be used in the US, but in Jamaica.
Well, living outside the US & Canada really complicates that! I don’t know what will be available for you in Jamaica, but if you’re looking for a cost-effective UTV with a bed, a CFMOTO UForce could be a good choice. They’re good quality machines that come loaded with features at a lower price point. A Honda Pioneer may also work well for you—they’ve got a great reputation for reliability and they’re pretty fun for recreational weekend rides too. If you can find or order one of those two to Jamaica, I think you’ll be in good shape.
Neither come stock with a dump bed, but they do have flatbed space for transporting construction materials. If you can manage moving materials out of the bed yourself without the dump bed, you can save thousands of dollars!
Thank you so much for your info. Manually unloading the flatbed would not be a problem, as either myself or one of my workers could do it.
Buying it in Jamaica would not be an issued, as I would take delivery in Fort Lauderdale, FL, and ship it in a container along with other building materials. I would want a powerful machine with large capacity and hill climbing capability when loaded, and also something a bit speedy for recreational purposes.
Best Regards,
Gil.
Why didn’t you review ALL makes, as you said…eg Trailmaster, Vitacci, etc.
Name brands are way overpriced for a vehicle that only lasts a few years, if you work them as intended. Just to replace an engine costs almost as much as a new one. Should be $5-7k.
Thank you so much for this article, it has been very helpful. I am looking for one that I can use to go from the top of my bluff down to the beach on Pacific (in Oregon) and then drive down the beach about a mile to the river to go fishing. I want the dump bed to haul salmon and crab rings and have enough space up front for my wife and our medium-sized dog. The bluff is sand, about 75′ down at an approximately 30 deg slope and I would like to go up it slowly since my house sits at the top of the trail. I also want to put a box scraper on it to maintain my property and driveway. The machine will also get some abuse from salt-spray. What would you recommend?
Hey Dan,
You’ll want a powerful 4×4 UTV like the Polaris Ranger XP 1000 for climbing that sandy bluff and hauling your fishing gear. It’s built for rough terrain, has a dump bed, and can handle salt spray and a box scraper with no problem.