Use and Care Manual

15
OPERATION
3. Once unloaded, lower the cargo bed and securely latch it
before operating the utility vehicle. Do not drive the utility
vehicle with cargo bed in the raised position.
Towing Loads
WARNING
To help prevent personal injury due to loss of
control or tipping, always tow a load slow enough to
maintain control.
1. Do not tow a load that exceeds 1200 lb (544 kg) rolling
weight (i.e. trailer plus cargo) and never exceed 110 lb (50 kg)
tongue weight.
2. Go slow when towing a heavy load. Allow for increased
braking distance. Tow load at a speed slow enough to
maintain control.
3. Do not tow on slopes greater than 5°.
4. Be cautious when towing downhill, even on a gradual
slope or when turning. The extra weight tends to push the
tow vehicle and may cause you to lose control (braking
and steering ability are reduced; towed equipment
may jack-knife).
IMPORTANT! Extreme angles such as high railroad crossings can
place high bending loads on hitch connection.
5. Do not modify the hitch in any way.
Loading a Utility Vehicle into a Truck or onto
a Trailer
WARNING
Always park the truck or trailer in a flat area, set the
parking brake, turn the ignition off, and chock the
wheels to prevent any unexpected movement while
loading the utility vehicle.
WARNING
Fully secure the loading ramps to the truck or trailer with
tie-down straps or cables to prevent the ramps from
sliding off while loading. Keep bystanders and/or helpers
away from ramps while loading.
Due to the overall size and dimensions, loading a utility vehicle
into a truck or onto a trailer is a task that requires precision
and the proper equipment to be achieved safely. By following
the steps outlined below you’ll be able to select the proper
equipment to do the job and safely load and unload your
utility vehicle.
DETERMINE IF YOUR TRUCK OR TRAILER IS SUFFICIENT
FOR THE TASK
Loading a utility vehicle into a truck or trailer that can’t support
its weight is extremely dangerous. It is important that before any
actual loading is done, make sure your truck or trailer and loading
ramps are sufficient for loading and hauling the utility vehicle.
Here are some of the variables you need to take into account:
• Length and Width: Measure the size of your truck or trailer
by taking width and length measurements at the floor level.
Compare these measurements to the width and length of
your utility vehicle to make sure it will fit comfortably.
• Weight Capacity: Making sure your truck or trailer can
handle the payload of your utility vehicle is another critical
task before any loading is done. If using a truck, the payload
capacity must be a minimum of 3/4 ton. If hauling on a trailer,
remember that the towing capacity of the vehicle will be
reduced by the added weight of the utility vehicle.
• Tailgate Considerations: If the payload capacity is
sufficient for hauling in a truck, the last thing left to consider
is your truck’s bed length. Make certain that your truck bed is
long enough to allow the truck’s tailgate to close completely
when the utility vehicle is loaded into the truck bed.
CHOOSING THE PROPER LOADING RAMPS
Choosing a reliable ramp and understanding how to properly
use it is far and above the best option for safely loading a utility
vehicle into your truck or onto your trailer. Take a look at the
considerations you should have in mind when choosing the
proper ramp(s):
• Capacity: Utility vehicles are not evenly balanced, meaning
it’s necessary to check the axle weights before you make
any choices regarding ramps. A typical ramp’s capacity is
based upon two axles with equally distributed loads. We
recommend 3000-lb minimum capacity ramp(s) as the
appropriate option for your two-person utility vehicle.
• Offset Track Widths: Your utility vehicle has an offset track
width front and rear, it’s important to factor this in to your
ramp placement and ramp width needs. Ramps need to be
wide enough to accommodate the difference in the distances
between the front two wheels and the rear two wheels.
• Ground Clearance and Wheelbase: Utility vehicles which
have low ground clearance (under 4”) and a relatively long
wheelbase (98” or more), make them prone to bottoming out
at the crest when using straight ramps. As a solution to this
issue we suggest using arched ramps.
• Load Height: As with any ramp application, the distance
from the ground to the truck bed or trailer impacts the overall
length of the ramp you will need, the greater the load height,
the longer the ramp should be. Some ramp manufacturers
and retailers provide load height calculators to help you
determine the correct ramp length you will need to safely
load your vehicle.
NOTE: If you are still unsure of what types of ramps you will need
to get the job done and are having trouble understanding these
instructions, check with your local ramp or utility vehicle retailer
for assistance.