10 Unique UTV Applications

10 Unique UTV Applications

We have been in the side-by-side business long enough to know that most enthusiasts use their vehicles to tear up trails or their local dunes, and not much else. Oh, we know your Rhino or Ranger might take you to the grocery store or around the neighborhood once in a while, but for the most part their applications are fairly limited depending on the owner. However this doesn't mean that they cannot be used for dozens of other activities, and with summer half over and fall quickly approaching, we thought we'd give our readers a couple ideas of how they can utilize their vehicles in what many consider their “off-season.”

UTV Unique Applications

1.Rock crawling in UTVs is one of those strange activities that’s way more fun than it looks like in photos or in televised competitions. With both dedicated events and combination desert racing/rock crawling events like the “King of the Hammers” in Northern California, there are plenty of ways to test your driving ability and ingenuity in this most difficult and complex of all UTV sports. While it may seem like rock tires and a winch are all that would be required for this type of competition, we can attest to the necessity of some custom cage work, doors, long travel suspension, and full undercarriage body armor if you want to be all competitive. Having said that, there are few off–roading group activities that are more challenging and build a greater sense of camaraderie than rock crawling, no matter what type of vehicle you drive. This sport is also well-suited to both two seater and four seater models, and while the proven durability of both the Polaris RZR and Can Am Commander has made them favorites over the years, any vehicle can be customized adequately to create a wicked crawler.

2. Desert racing is an incredibly exciting spectator sport, 2nd only in our minds to the incredibly dangerous rally racing. With UTV entries faring incredibly well in races like the infamous Baja 1000, these vehicles have proven their ability as endurance machines, despite competition with racing trucks that often top $500,000 apiece. We can't imagine the intensity of such a long race in such a small vehicle, however the type of half-day races that occur almost every weekend all over the country in this racing category are certainly doable for the average driver. The capacity for UTVs to contain both the driver and navigator makes e these vehicles all the more attractive for racing applications. Side-by-side desert racers have also become masters at racing on a minimal budget, with many of them attending races all year long for about the same cash outlay the stock vehicle cost them.

3. We're sure that to many reading this, we are preaching to the choir, but we would be remiss to ignore the excellent hunting companion that is the side-by-side. Avid hunters have been using the Rhino and Ranger since their introduction, and with the constant addition of gun racks and storage options in the aftermarket for every vehicle available, we expect to see this niche continue to grow for years to come. The convenience of other accessories like full enclosures and heaters are all the more reason to leave your truck at home. There are dozens of models now available in full Camo graphics just for this use, and Camo graphics kits and enclosures are available for every major UTV model.

4. The UTV is viewed in many circles as a “golf cart on steroids.” As enthusiasts, we know what a gross misinterpretation this is, with the incredible durability and sophistication that has been borrowed from ATVs, Jeeps and other off-road vehicles from the beginning. However, we recognize that extreme off-roading is not every owner's goal, and with many UTVs only priced $1000-$2000 more than a high-end golf cart, they're an attractive option for riders with more subtle intentions. While we don't foresee golf courses with lines of tricked out RZRs parked out front anytime soon (although, we’d play that course!), the “active adult” communities like our own Sun City in Arizona are full of residents that use their golf carts as their primary transportation. Many of these communities have max speed limits of 30mph on all their streets, and enough golf courses to tire out Tiger himself. So why invest in what is widely considered an off-road vehicle when your intentions are exclusively for on road use? Simply put, golf carts in general just are not built as well as UTVs (duh), and while these owners may not be abusing their carts, something like a stock two-seat Rhino or Ranger will endure such light use for years, absolutely trouble-free. With companies like Polaris and Can Am introducing two seater electric models in 2012 and other makers soon following suit, we honestly can't think of a reason not to.

5. Whether in a UTV, motorcycle or truck, everyone should experience mudding at some point in our lives. One of the favorite summertime activities in the marshes and bogs of the American South, spend an hour or 2 on YouTube watching full-size Chevy trucks on 44 inch tires struggle through neck-deep muck and you'll see what we’re talking about. While a lot of these swamplands would usually swallow a stock UTV, with a little suspension work, some modified fenders for extra tire travel, and MUCH larger than stock mud tires, most UTV owners will have a blast playing in the deep stuff. A few words of advice: don't even try this without a winch, an air filter well above the water line, and at least one more vehicle just in case you find yourself getting that “sinking feeling.” If you can figure out how to bolt up a set of tractor tires without destroying the rest of your vehicle, you'll be amazed what a stock side-by-side can do in the mud.

6. How long is your commute? Okay, so maybe you won't enjoy putting on your freshly pressed suit and heading to the office in your of Rhino, but with ever increasing gas prices, and the instant success of vehicles like the Mini Cooper, Fiat and ridiculously tiny Smartcar, we foresee UTVs becoming very attractive as second vehicles for many families. We already see UTVs the on the streets regularly, and once people get comfortable with the idea, they’ll wonder why they didn't buy one sooner. After all, how often do you have to strap the whole family AND cargo in your car to go anywhere? Most everyday driving is done solo, and we’ll bet dollars to donuts that an RZR will protect its driver and passengers better in an accident than any “Smartcar.” We would also like to see a Smartcar on a trail ride. If you do, PLEASE send us pictures.

7. We know that most people do not live on a farm, but take a cross-continental flight in the US, and you'll realize that all those neatly formed squares on the ground are the farms and ranches that feed this country and others. We are now entering into an era where completely autonomous tractors will do most work in the fields, and even put themselves away in the barn when they're done. The days of Farmer John putting around his farm and his town on his trusty John Deere will soon be a thing of the past. With the exception of large semis to haul their crops away, many farmers will have little need for full-size trucks. What better replacement vehicle than a side-by-side with a small hydraulic dump bed, and an open-air cabin to enjoy the country lifestyle?

8. On a recent trip to a shopping mall in a VERY nice area, I noticed that the cheesy GEM car had been replaced by an all-white Ranger with only a siren added to the roof. While the GEM car is certainly an improvement over your standard golf cart, clearly the security company in charge of the mall found little reason to use anything but a UTV as a patrol vehicle. With employees as the exclusive drivers and little concern for the durability of what they're driving, I’m sure the Ranger will have no problem enduring the type of curb-jumping antics most security guards enjoy so much.

9. The John Deere Gator might be considered by many as the very first UTV. While we can't fathom how no one on the design team didn't envision it with a full off-road suspension getting big air in the dunes, eventually the folks at Yamaha and Polaris did, and a sport was born. That's not to say that the tractor jockeys at John Deere (we love you!) did not have a vision, as most UTVs are a perfect fit for the maintenance uses that gave birth to the Gator. Spend any time on the golf course or any sporting event in a stadium, and you'll no doubt see that familiar green body and yellow wheels. Many a gridiron hero has been hauled off with a broken leg on the bed of Gator, and there will be many more. What big maintenance projects can use your vehicle for?

10. We only recently discovered the growing use of these vehicles in emergency situations, particularly in national parks, campgrounds and other narrow off-road locales where adventurous types wander. One of the premier companies that converts 6x6 Rangers for emergency duties is Alternative Support Apparatus, LLC (ASAP). Their wide range of impressive vehicles ranges from firefighting, to ambulance service, to lifeguard patrol, and they will build an emergency Ranger to fit just about any application. Take a look at our June article highlighting this impressive company on this blog. If you own any type of search and rescue outfit that operates in the wilderness regularly, give their website a look.

We know that every owner has their favorite application, but we often forget just how capable these vehicles are in a wide array of situations. Try something new in your side-by-side, you’ll be glad you did!