If you’re getting more and more into off-roading, and you’ve already had a lot of fun in an SUV or a truck, then you may be considering investing in another vehicle to broaden your whole experience. Two of the most popular choices here are All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) and Utility Vehicles (UTVs). If you’re on the fence between the two, here’s a post that should clear the decision up.
The Case for ATVs:
One of the main selling points for people who get an ATV is that they’re able to stay nimble in challenging off-road terrain. They’re great at making quick, sharp turns, they perform well in dense woods, and they’re also great for situations where you have to hop on and off and hauling small pieces of cargo. They’re also much more convenient when you’re planning to tow your off-road vehicle from place to place with a conventional truck. If you’re looking for speed, then ATVs are probably the best choice for you as well. Sports quads, such as the Yamaha YFZ 450, the Yamaha Raptor, and the Polaris MXR 450, are smaller, lighter, and designed specifically for high-performance riding. Finally, if you’re just desperate for some smaller off-roading vehicle, ATVs tend to be several thousand dollars cheaper. A quick flick through a publication like this: http://powersportsandmore.net/atvsutvs-side-x-sides/atv-trader-new-used-atvs-sale/. Will show you just how much you can save by going with an ATV over a UTV. Furthermore, if you’re planning to make any modifications to your new off-roader once you buy it, these will be much cheaper on an ATV than a UTV, just like the general maintenance.
The Case for UTVs:
While UTVs are certainly more nimble than larger off-roading vehicles, they’re much more bulky and clumsy than ATVs. However, this also means that you’ve got a lot more space if you need to haul anything around while you’re off-roading. Aside from a passenger seat which you can use to terrify your girlfriend, most UTVs also have a large dumping cargo hold on the rear. Obviously, this provides much more room than most ATVs can transport, short of attaching a big, unruly trailer. Furthermore, because their cabs are kind of truck-like, with seats that allow people to sit upright rather than a saddle, they’ll be much more comfortable after long periods of use. However, if you’re looking into a new off-roading vehicle just for the love of off-roading, you might not have that much use for all the extra space. Another thing that attracts many people to UTVs is the wide range of customisation options they offer. You can fit one with cab kits, specialised lighting, booming stereo systems and handy in-cab heaters. The wheels and tires can also be upgraded, leading to better all-round performance. You’re never going to get a UTV to be as quick or nimble as a decent ATV. However, there’s certainly a lot of wiggling room for performance enhancement, so if you’re crazy about modding and off-roading, this kind of vehicle may be the right choice.