SideXSide Action - January 2008 - (Page 86) MOVING YOUR SXS BY TRUCK? HERE’S A COUPLE THINGS YOU MAY WANT TO CONSIDER. BY CODY FLETCHER No matter what type of Side X Side unit you have, the day will come when you will need to move it from one place to another, without being able to drive it. Whether you’re going on a long trip or you’re just taking it down for some repairs at your local dealership, moving day will come. I’ve received a couple emails lately regarding transporting a SXS in the bed of a truck and what units will fit in what truck beds (along with receiving a couple photos of loadings gone bad). So what UTVs can fit into truck beds and what truck beds can hold them? TRANSPORTING The biggest things you’re going to run into when transporting a Side X Side in the bed of your truck are weight, width, and length. All of the major Side X Side brands on the market will fit in a majority of ½ ton and larger trucks, in a stock configuration of course. I have included a list of some of the major Side X Side brands on the market, along with a list of all of the trucks on the market and have included their dimensions, to give you a reference of what Side X Sides can fit into what truck beds. While many of these machines will not fit between the wheel wells, they will still fit into the truck beds. Just be careful that once they roll over the wheel well they don’t roll through your back window. of the quad ramps that are on the market will not hold the added weight of a SXS. Look at the load rating on the ramps and make sure that your vehicle is at least 500 lbs. under this weight. This will give room for the driver’s weight, along with any miscellaneous weights that might be a factor when loading. If you’re a big guy, buy bigger ramps. Just check the over-all appearance of the ramps. If they look like they won’t hold up to the weight, they probably won’t. When you’ve got your ramps and know that your vehicle is going to be able to accommodate your particular Side X Side, make sure that you have a good set of tie-downs. You’ll want to use a set of 2” ratchet tiedowns to get the best hold while driving down the road. Remember, many of the Side X Sides on the market are over 1,000 lbs., this is a lot of moving mass. A 1” ratchet tie-down will work, but I would recommend a 2” ratchet strap for maximum holding. One thing that is often overlooked when loading anything into the bed of a truck is the truck’s payload capacity. This is the number that is going to determine how much weight can be put onto those rear axles. Obviously, a dually or 1-ton truck is going to have a higher payload capacity because they are using a stiffer rear suspension setup. Be sure that you look at your vehicle’s payload capacity and not its towing capacity. These two numbers are drastically different. Also, when determining your UTV’s weight, be sure to take the wet weight from the manual or website, along with factoring in some additional parts that may have been added after you bought it. Another key weight point when loading your UTV is the load rating on your truck’s tailgate. If you’re going to be loading your SXS into the bed of your truck often, you may want to consider a stronger or reinforced tailgate cable. A good set of ramps is key to a successful loading scenario. Look for heavy-duty ramps. Many If you can, make sure that someone is there to spot you while you load the vehicle into the back of your truck. This will make it much easier for you, the driver, and will also help add safety to your loading process. Always inspect your tie-downs and the vehicle between stops to make sure that the tie-downs are taught and that your SXS has not moved during transit. If your truck’s payload capacity is higher than the weight of your SXS but the rear end squats when you load your unit into the bed, you may want to consider installing a set of airbags to your rear suspension. This will stiffen up the rear suspension and even out your truck’s ride. [ TIP ] Easing over the wheel wells Getting your SXS over the wheel wells can sometimes be a bit of a pain. You don’t want to gas it too fast over because you may end up with a broken rear window. Try putting two pieces of two-by-four in front or on the side of the wheel wells to help ease your SXS up. This will allow you to keep a steady speed while climbing over. 86 SIDE X SIDE ACTION MAGAZINE
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