I currently haul my Yamaha Big Bear in the back of my Tundra and wanted to fill y’all in on how to correctly haul your ATV in the bed of your truck.
How to haul an ATV in a pickup truck? In order to haul your ATV in the bed of your truck, you will need some ramps, a heavy duty ratchet strap, and a cushion to go between the front of your truck bed and the front of your ATV and a towel to lay on your tailgate to prevent the ramps from scratching your tail gate. The first step is apply your truck’s emergency brake and then position and secure the ramps as recommended by the manufacture. Make sure your ATV is in Low or 1st Gear and then drive it up the ramps slowly and steady. Once your back tires are on the tailgate, let off the gas and hit the brakes to prevent slamming into the front of your truck bed and bending it (like I did). Or potentially breaking your back glass. Put a ratchet strap across the rear tires pulling the tires down and forward at the same time. Lock the hand brake and slide the ramps under your ATV. You can use a piece of rope or wire to secure the ramps to your ATV’s rear axle to prevent the ramps from sliding. Now you are ready to hit the road!
Now that you know the basics of hauling an ATV in a pickup, let’s talk more about the details on how to load your ATV and how to properly strap it down to ensure the safety of people driving behind you.
Loading your ATV can be quite nerve wrecking at times but with the proper knowledge you will be fine. As mentioned earlier, set your truck’s emergency brake. This prevents your truck from being pushed forward causing the ramps to be pulled from the tailgate. Place a towel on the edge of your tailgate and then position your ramps properly. Secure your ramps to your truck following the ramp’s instructions. Place some form of cushion (I used one of my foam gym mats) at the front of your truck bed.
Now you are ready to drive your ATV up the ramps. Put your ATV in Low or 1st Gear and drive up the ramps slowly and at a steady speed.
Keep the gas steady and don’t be afraid. Once your rear tires are on the tailgate immediately let off the gas and hit the brakes. Set your hand brake to lock the brakes on your ATV and you are ready to strap it down.
Securing your ATV ramps is very important when loading an ATV for obvious reasons. Most ramps come with chains that can be hooked to your tailgate latches. If you do not have chains then I would recommend using 1-2 small ratchet straps depending on the type of ramp to secure the ramp. You can go underneath the ramp and connect it to where your trailer chains would typically hook up or anything that is secure and will pull the ramps toward the ground ensuring they will not slip off. Please make sure you are securing your ramps when loading on concrete, asphalt or any hard packed ground because this is when they have the greatest chance of slipping off your tailgate.
How to strap an ATV in your truck bed?Now that your ATV is loaded, it is time to strap it down.
I recommend a heavy duty ratchet strap that is fairly new and not weathered at all. I always roll my straps up and keep them dry to extend their life and it makes me feel more comfortable going down the road knowing that my strap isn’t going to randomly pop.
Hook one end of your strap to the left rear tie down in your truck bed and hook the other end to the right rear tie down. If you do not have tie downs, you can hook your strap to the steel latches that secures your tailgate when it is up. Position the strap on the rear tires to where it is pulling your ATV forward and downward at the same time. You may have to unlock your hand brake if your ATV still has a ways to go before touching the front of the bed. Tighten down the strap and push the ATV forward at the same time until it is touching the bed.
Push and pull your rear rack to ensure everything is tight and secure. Make sure your hand brake is set.
Recommended Ramp for ATV’sI am currently using the steel 1000lb capacity tri-fold ramps (set of 2) from Harbor Freight.
These ramps are made of steel and are quite heavy. If I had to purchase another ramp it would be the Yutrax 78” Aluminum Tri-Fold ramp which has a capacity of 1750lbs. After reading the reviews it seems to be a great ramp for the price. I would go with the longer option (78”) to give you less of an incline. The aluminum construction is nice for transporting to and from the garage yet strong enough to give anyone the confidence to load their machines.
Planning on purchasing an ATV but not sure if it will fit? Almost all ATV’s will fit inside the bed of a full size truck. If you drive a small size truck such as a Toyota Tacoma, Chevy Colorado, Ford Ranger, etc. then you should measure the ATV before buying or purchase a small trailer.
The problem I had was my tool box, upfront, took up too much space and my ATV did not fit. My Tundra only had a 5 1/2’ bed so every time I wanted to load up my ATV, I had to remove my tool box.
I certainly was not putting the front tires on top of the tool box so I had to ditch the large tool box.
I ended up purchasing an Undercover Swing Case Tool Box. This swing case box has been the best thing since sliced bread. No more jumping into the back of the truck to access my tool box to, then, find out what I was looking for wasn’t there. All I have to do is drop the tailgate and pull a little lever which enables it to swing around and allows me to access my tools. It doesn’t have much space but, heck, this is all I need to carry the basics. I currently only have one on the drivers side but plan to buy another for the passenger side as well.
For owners of ATVs who need to transport their quad to another location, the most common method is to either use a sufficiently sized pickup truck bed or to load the ATV into a trailer.
Of course, for the transportation process to go safely and smoothly, one must understand how to safely load the ATV first so it is secure during transportation.
Here’s a quick overview of the process of loading an ATV into a truck bed or trailer.
7' 10" Bi-Fold ATV RampThe majority of trailers will either have ramps attached or be low enough to the ground where you can easily purchase and use a small ramp that will allow you to safely load an ATV. But regardless of whether you’re using a trailer or the back of a truck, the most important thing is to make sure you a) have a ramp meant for the job and b) properly secure that ramp in position.
Ramps can be a potential safety hazard if they are not secured properly. If you do not have straps or another method of connecting them to the truck or trailer, they could slip off while you try to load the ATV, which could cause significant damage and injury.
6' 8" Tri-Fold ATV RampOnce your ramp is set up for safe loading, make sure you position the quad so you are lined up straight with the ramps. A crooked alignment with the quad could result in you flying right off the side of the ramps before you’re loaded.
Give it a little distance. Get about five to 10 feet back from the ramps and push the quad forward without turning the wheel. If the quad moves forward straight, you have a good alignment and can proceed.
6' 2" Extra-Wide Tri-Fold ATV RampHere’s the part that requires precision, patience and control.
Although you can load an ATV manually by pushing in up the ramp into your truck or trailer, the fastest way to load it is by carefully riding up at a controlled speed. This is why having your loading ramps completely secured to a metal part of the vehicle's frame is critical - if they aren't properly secured, there's a risk that they'll kick out or slip while you're on the ATV mid-ramp. That spells disaster for your ATV, for you, and possibly for any bystanders who could be hit by any of the fallout.
We always recommend having a spotter when loading any powersport vehicle. Not only is it a good safety practice in the event of a loading accident, they can provide a second set of eyes to make sure that your wheels are properly aligned with the ramps and that you're loading straight.
Although hard to do, keeping the ATV going at a controlled, steady speed up the ramp minimizes the amount of time you're on the ramp, and reduces the risk of something going on. By taking the time up front to set up properly, you can roll right on up and keep the jerky start-stop motion at bay.
Mac's ATV Wheel Nets are a good resource for keeping the quad secure without compressing the suspension.You’re not done once the ATV is in the trailer or truck bed. The next step is to secure it so it does not move around while being transported.
To accomplish this you’ll need a set of high-quality ratchet straps. Strap the front of the quad around the handlebars and keep the ends hooked in around the front tire inside the truck bed or trailer. This will provide enough forward and downward tension to prevent the ATV from bumping and moving during transportation. The second strap will then pass through the grab bar and down to the rear wheel, where it will provide slight tension down and to the back, preventing the back from bouncing during transportation.
Before you go anywhere, make sure you grab on to the handlebars and give the ATV some pushing and pulling. It shouldn’t move or wiggle at all. If it does, you’ll need to increase the tension and/or potentially add another strap so you can better keep the quad in place.
Follow these steps and you’ll be able to safely transport your ATV wherever and whenever you need without a whole lot of extra equipment necessary!
The popularity of ATVs has grown exponentially over the past couple of decades. Athletes, hunters, huntsmen for professional purposes use such special equipment with pleasure. There are more than enough people who want to ride transport with increased cross-country ability for their own pleasure. Often there is a need to transport ATVs from one point to another, since they themselves are not designed for long journeys. Let's see what nuances should be taken into account.
The main problem when driving such ATVs on public roads is a number of requirements.
It is realistic to move on them, however, for this you need to have a whole package of documents:
The transportation of such a specific vehicle by a trailer is based on certain rules that must be strictly followed in order not to get fined by the traffic police. We will try to cite the most important and fundamental of them, especially since they are closely related to road safety issues.
So, the basic requirements for transportation:
But they are indispensable where space in the trailer is particularly limited in size. Another option is to use ratchet straps. Tightening is easier, but experience with such devices is required.
A trailer is perhaps the most popular scenario for transporting an ATV from one location to another. It is not even necessary to buy it, but you can simply rent it and install it on any passenger car with a tow bar. A modern platform trailer is ideal for such cases.
It is necessary to ensure that the special equipment is correctly fixed on it.
It is also recommended to pay attention to the auxiliary equipment of the trailer:
It is very important to properly secure the ATV to the trailer or platform. This will depend on the safety along the way. One fixation for the seats or wheels will not be enough.
A pair of tie-down straps will help make everything convenient and reliable. Further, the sequence of actions will be as follows:
Transporting an ATV with the help of professional companies is not always profitable. In many cases, it is even faster, and you can personally control the integrity and safety of the cargo all the way. However, you will also have to be solely responsible for compliance with the rules of transportation.
When referring to transportation in the back of another vehicle, it is understood that it is a truck, pickup or large van. The transportation of ATVs by such units of transport is not prohibited, since it does not differ in any way from other oversized cargo.
There are no restrictions, because the main thing is to securely fix the ATV so that it does not move while driving and passes through the load capacity.
If the all-terrain vehicle is not transported by itself, but in the back of a truck, then this saves the owner from a lot of trouble by analogy, just like in a pickup truck. It is not required to draw up an OSAGO insurance contract, you do not need to obtain license plates or have a special category in your driver's license.
In this case, the ATV will not be an independent vehicle, and therefore the driver only needs to be ready to confirm his ownership. For this, a sales contract and, if necessary, a power of attorney are suitable if the owner is not in the truck. Approximately according to the same algorithm, papers are drawn up if a truck is hired from a third-party organization (carrier).
This method is often used if it is necessary to take the ATV to another city.
In terms of meaning, this resembles an appeal to a transport company-carrier, although it differs somewhat in nuances. Over long distances it will be expensive, but if the settlements are relatively close, then it has the right to life.
It is necessary to independently check the reliability of mounting the ATV on the tow truck. Such companies often do not conclude contracts with the client, and therefore one cannot count on the fact that they bear full responsibility for the safety of the cargo in transit. Therefore, it is best, at a minimum, to accompany your cargo along with the tow truck driver and see for yourself how carefully it was fixed on the lift.
Cooperation with a transport company will make it possible to shift all the organizational and related issues related to the delivery of an ATV onto the shoulders of professionals. However, the carrier company will charge a fee for its services. It is very convenient that they have their own fleet, insured and undergoing maintenance.
If material damage is caused to the transported equipment, the customer will receive compensation.
This option is useful when you need to transport the ATV for a long distance. There is no need to study the technical requirements and think about how to securely fasten it to the trailer. All these difficulties will be taken over by the specialists of the carrier company. They will not only fix the ATV in the body, but also estimate the best route. In such companies, they know for sure what requirements must be met with such orders. You can find a professional and reliable third-party carrier in any major city.
So, the process of trucking a four-wheeled all-terrain vehicle must be approached very carefully and responsibly, given the cost of an ATV. If you plan to hire a third-party organization, then it would be useful to read reviews about its activities. Next, you need to carefully read the contract, which specifies the area of responsibility of the carrier for the safety of the transported assets. If you intend to transport on your own, then you should prepare a package of documents and stock up on technical equipment in case of unforeseen situations on the road. Perhaps readers will want to share their personal experience of transporting an ATV: how is it cheaper to do it, more economical, safer? Write in the comments!
ATVs are designed for driving on difficult tracks.
On their own, they are not able to move along the highway for long distances, because the quadra has a large suspension travel. If you plan to ride away from home, the first thing you need to decide is how to transport the quad bike to the ride location. There are several ways to transport motorcycles. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. When choosing the best option, it is important to consider the distance between the start and end points.
If you need to transport the ATV over a short distance, you can use a private car or use the services of a transport company. But sometimes you have to transport equipment hundreds of kilometers away. In such cases, ATV owners are more likely to opt for the services of professional carriers. It is risky and dangerous to transport bulky cargo on your own.
Transporting an ATV with a trailer is the best option for those who need to transport equipment over any distance. This is a universal solution that allows you to conveniently transport children's, utility, sports ATVs.
But keep in mind that not every trailer will fit. It should be a full-fledged loading platform that allows you to securely fasten the vehicle. The maximum speed of a car with a trailer is 70 km/year, in a built-up area – 60 km/year.
A trailer for transporting an ATV can be made by hand or purchased ready-made. There are craftsmen who independently make platforms for transporting two ATVs. The work is quite difficult. It is necessary to prepare drawings, sketches, purchase materials. In addition, a homemade trailer must be registered. This will also have to be dealt with.
It is much easier and faster to buy a ready-made trailer. For the transportation of ATVs, platforms of different types are used.
When choosing a trailer, consider the distance over which you will need to transport equipment, the design features of the ATV, as well as your financial capabilities.
To transport a vehicle from one place to another on a trailer, you first need to secure the ATV. Driving safety depends on this. Fixation with belts for wheels, the seat is not reliable. For proper fastening, you will need two ratchet straps. The work should be done in the following sequence:
This method is reliable and convenient, allows you to carefully drive an ATV for any distance. Such fixation will not harm the winch or the seat. The wheels do not slip, motor vehicles do not shake the trailer while driving. If the ATV is not fixed or fixed incorrectly, this can lead to a deterioration in its performance, damage to important components and mechanisms.
Do you have a private car? Why not use it to transport an ATV? A light model (sedan, station wagon, hatchback, etc.) is not suitable for this purpose, since the dimensions of the cargo are quite impressive. Motorcycles simply will not fit in the luggage compartment of such cars. You can transport ATVs in minibuses and pickups. First, the vehicle must be loaded, secured in the body, check the reliability of fixation.
There are plenty of companies in Russia that provide cargo transportation services.
Transport firms, evacuation services, even private individuals – there is one to choose from. In certain cases, their services are beneficial to the client. ATVs are transported on tow trucks, semi-trucks and cargo vans. When seeking help from the evacuation service, certain nuances should be taken into account.
For one-time transportation over a short distance, a tow truck can be used. But if you have to transport vehicles hundreds of kilometers away, it is better to give preference to another method.
A very good solution is to contact a company that deals with cargo transportation. This option is relevant if you bought equipment in another city, and it makes no sense to drive a personal car after it. Such organizations have their own fleet of vehicles. The machine is selected depending on the dimensions of the ATV. For transportation of motor vehicles can be used:
The choice of a transport company also needs to be approached carefully. A reliable contractor is ready to take on all obligations related to the delivery of motorcycles.
Such organizations operate under an agreement that specifies the terms of cooperation, prices, terms, responsibilities of the parties, etc.
Another advantage of using a transport company is turnkey work. Specialists work out routes in detail, select a platform for a specific model of motor vehicles, notify the user about the movement of cargo.
No documents are required for the transportation of motorcycles in Russia. It is only important to prove that the ATV is yours. Take with you the contract of sale or donation for this. No insurance or license required. If you are importing a vehicle from abroad or exporting it outside the country, check if the ATV is equipped with license plates. A certificate of registration is also required.
So, we have considered the most common ways of transporting ATVs over short and long distances. For transportation of motorcycles, you can use:
