Bionic

Agreed, kind of what my mind was thinking by sharing one tire. Our mowers we run one wheel lock pictured in red, if you don’t whip the trailer like a maniac it doesn’t slide around

I hear ya. We run this on our zero turns for daily use in a box trailer, still not a one application for all setup by any means. You could always bolt D-rings to the floor, and use certain straps over the tires, but honestly the Erickson kits I have are not expensive for what you type of pricy vehicles that are being tied down with. Just a lot of hardware sitting on the deck in your scenario. I only use the trailer for this utv, otherwise I use a dump trailer.

I don’t want electric.

I run gravel logging roads, and dirt roads, and black top, I don’t need aftermarket plates. Long wheelbase like you I would. Check out gusset kits too for front end.

Trailering a UTV. My preference is tire tie down systems. Single strap design, or wheel nets. Some machines have up to 24” of wheel travel, and soft suspension. If you ratchet strap traditionally to the center of a machine, for example to the safety chain loop of a hitch/receiver, and hit a good bump, or overpass that allows the utv to squat far enough, that ratchet strap will have momentary slack, and can actually unhook. By using wheel tie downs, or strapping traditionally as close to the tire as possible reduces the chance greatly of a strap loosening, or unhooking. @moog5050 a d I coincidentally run the same method, not saying we are examples to lead by, but its an option, tire nets are even better.

Definitely personal preference. I just added a half windshield for the same reason you mention, I want that outdoor feeling as well, but a half windshield will direct some of the air over our bodies so my wife is warmer.

Shhhhh, someone might hear you. Agree 100%….just something about the area that you either cannot get enough, or have no desire for.

As a lot of you are aware I love trail riding. Lately, more and more people are buying this machines, and like myself were unaware, and still unaware of critical safety features you can add, or modify, to create a safer machine. Some interests were expressed in seeing what I have been doing to my UTV, so I have decided to share, and also explain why/how I did certain modifications to my machine. Some are fun, some are for safety, and some are just for aesthetics to make me look back at the machine as I walk away, lol. This is any extremely expensive hobby, and some parts should be considered high priority, if not a necessity! This will be a long post, and while I am still learning, please bare with me. My info will mainly be focused on my particular machine, BUT other manufacturers do have similar designs that these parts are manufactured for as well. #1 harness seat belts, these look like uncomfortable racing seat belts like back pack straps. Some will argue that they are only crawling around slow speeds to there field, or treestand, and that is ok, I am not selling anything. I will share that I know someone who was in his RZR traveling at 25mph, on a trail, blew a tire, and the machine rolled. The 2 occupants had 4 point harnesses on, and were lucky. The driver firmly believes that the harnesses kept his passenger safe as the machine rolled in the woods. Again, not selling anything, but creating awareness is my goal. I do plan on harnesses within a few months, you can buy a pair for around $2-300 and up. A lot of machine have tabs that are bolt in ready from the factory for these harnesses. Some might say overkill, but the factory 3 point seat belts are designed for taller people, so as scary as it sounds, a young child, or teen could easily be thrown from the seatbelt, god forbid. Example: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08BTTH47G/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_2?smid=A3RRSLWC47API7&psc=1 #2 We always wear a helmet, and goggles, we are more comfortable wearing them, to each his own though. #3 Lower door panel inserts. A bunch of machines have half doors. Basically a big open area half way down the door, to the door sill leaves the riders legs exposed to the elements. You can purchase panels, with metal tube framing that bolt to the half door, which fills in the open factory area. The risk of this area being open is that it allows sticks, and limbs, as well as rocks to enter that area, and smack a rider, or actually impale an occupant! This has happened, and it is a real danger, photos are floating around online. These “lower door” inserts, are affordable, and a necessity in my opinion, and the very first product I added to my machine. I had these before I had the machine home. I installed these door panels in about 20-30 minutes, zero drilling. Example: https://www.amazon.com/Aluminum-UTV-PRO-2017-2020-Maverick/dp/B089QGR6MH/ref=mp_s_a_1_11?crid=7HZNRARDEJX8&keywords=utv+door+inserts&qid=1646923140&sprefix=utv+door+inserts%2Caps%2C603&sr=8-11#immersive-view_1646923177460 #4 Windshield. I don’t consider this a necessity at all due to our riding situation. We ride solo, so we aren’t following other machines on the trails where a rock can fling up, and hit us. Referring back, we always wear a helmet, and goggles, so if a stone hits us from our own front tires, we are protected. #5 If you trail ride, I recommend riding with your low beam headlights on. Same idea as daytime running lights on your car/truck. It helps. #6 Chase light. If you ride dusty trails, like we do in Maine, or if you go out west in the desert, or dunes, you will see bright LED strobe lights shining behind the UTV’s. They are there for the same reason that highway plow trucks have them on their rears. If you need to pull over on a trail, and it is extremely dusty, or if you simply ride a lot slower than a guy flying up behind you, these bright LED strobes can help the machine approaching see you through thick dust. I plan to add one, nothing crazy, a small 4-6” amber bar. These are called “Chase Lights”. Eample: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08DCNTBJR?pd_rd_i=B08DCNTBJR&pd_rd_w=re7Qh&pf_rd_p=749ab43d-a1a9-454c-a9be-a3d48d2e835a&pd_rd_wg=Ce7SG&pf_rd_r=X5Y3H7V33W8RAEX8WFV7&pd_rd_r=c7a245fa-d239-4442-86d5-15e9315545e4#immersive-view_1646923271456 #7 Roof, some do, and some don’t come factory with a roof. As ridiculous as that is for the price of these machines, thats just reality. If you ride all day, its like being in a boat/kayak/canoe….sunburn sunburn SUNBURN. We run an aluminum roof because I am in the sun at work, and I like shade, and worry about skin issues later on. Personal preference, but in the even of a rollover, its again…more protection from boulders, branches, stumps. #8 The most recommended advice I see given on forums is to NOT do doughnuts, as it is a sure way to rollover if you do not know how to do a doughnut. With lots of suspension travel on some machines, and aggressive tires, you need all that power to keep them tires sliding, and not grabbing. I have not, and will not do a doughnut in my machine. This is my informal list on some things I feel are ways to set up a safe machine. I am not an expert, but I love this sport, and read daily about it. I plan to add posts to this on my own modifications, and detailed pics of the installs. Most of this stuff anyone can install. Be safe out there.

No lol, she’s actually a nice lady.

Very cool, I always loved the big barn/shop out back, it was such a post card picture, but they removed it.

I love that area around the Golden Road. We have gone through Caribou, Telos gates, around Seeboomook, Ripengenous dam, slowly venturing further little by little as time allows. Did you stop in at Kokadjo Trading Post for fuel? You see the happy woman? lol

Thank you. Fortunately my wife loves Maine just as much, and has zero desire for anyplace else. I proposed on the top of Mount Kineo fire tower on a crystal clear day, and we married at Blair Hill, she’s that into Maine. Buy your wife extremely warm clothes lol. I did that for this trip, and a friend of ours lives on Long Island, and his wife couldn’t tolerate the cold up there. He bought her warm clothes, and winter is now her favorite season up there.

I am too far south as it is already in the Catskills. I am hoping that I can stay in decent shape until I retire to handle the central-northern Maine seasons. We are looking to start now with preparations of setting up a property to help with that(equipment, etc). We enjoy the freedoms up there, that at this point we truly do not have in NY(state wide trail systems/ATV/UTV friendly towns). The real estate market in the areas I have been watching is actually similar to NY. There are so many bodies of water, and areas for mountain views, that house prices can vary by the mile.

lol, I do apply for moose tags! In fact I have a pack of moose cube steaks in the freezer as we speak. Love moose sliders!

Ok ok ok addddding lol

My grandparents lived there for years. Post Hill Rd.

Patten, Maine views are insane. We go to Moosehead region, specifically looking at Kokadjo to retire.

I missed this thread!

Thank god I bought a Corolla to commute in last July. I will roll up in the car, and everyone will be like who the…is this??? Haha

Hell yeah, that would be sick.

I appreciate that! What you said validates my thoughts as well, when the right one presents itself, all will fall into place, what is meant to be, is meant to be. I always say everything happens for a reason as well. Thanks Grampy

Thank you, not this trip unfortunately, I don’t think it is worth the time hauling it up, unsure of winter trails, etc. Our August trip is booked though, and the X3 will be in tow for sure on that trip. I have been adding some parts to the SxS for this season though, been thinking about adding that stuff to my journal but not sure if there is any interest. This trip will be more “homework” than anything.

Headed back up in a week to check out the area for our first ever winter trip. I plan on a lot of photography, and videos, as that is something I enjoy on my free time. We have a few cabins that we have in mind to take a look at, as well as acreage. We have been actively searching for about 2 years. Obviously we all know the market, and the few on our list are actually decent in price for the times, so we have nothing to lose. Depending on snow depth, I hope to maybe look in a few areas for shed moose antlers, but I am honestly doubtful due to snow depth, and accessibility to areas. The ultimate plan is to buy a cabin, or build, on as much land as possible. I am almost requiring it to be within the street legal section for ATV use, and direct snowmobile access as well. Long term goal is to own a couple cabins up there, a good side garage/barn to leave UTV, and snowmobiles right up there, snow removal equipment, etc, and retire there, or sell, and move further north depending on how the area develops over the next 19.5 yrs. We are not necessarily in a rush, but the sooner the better, but definitely not going to over pay for anything, if we must wait another 2-5 yrs, then so be it.

Nice, yeah some old mud flap maybe.