Let’s face it, you can’t ask a UTV owner to drive gently. This isn’t what an off-road vehicle is made for. When driving a growling UTV monster, it feels better to ditch the “etiquette” and get nasty!
Here comes the downer, though: UTVs aren’t invincible. With the money you put into buying them, you don’t want that growling monster to turn into a coughing geriatric after a couple of rough rides.
This begs the question: how long do UTVs last? That’s the topic of the day. We’ll tell you how long UTVs last and how you can make them last longer, so stick around.
Do UTVs Last Long?
True, UTVs can be long-lasting vehicles, but if you want an exact number that applies across the board, I’m afraid that might be a big ask. I’ll give you a rough estimation, anyway. Afterward, we need to flesh out all the factors coming into play.
Generally, a UTV can have your back for thousands of miles. The exact number will usually be under 10,000. It’ll take a planetary alignment of all the following factors if you want your UTV to exceed the 10,000-mark!
Maintenance
Maintaining your UTV on a regular basis can effectively prolong its life expectancy. There are two ways you can go about maintaining your UTV.
The first one is specific to the brand you have. You can contact the brand’s authorized dealer, and schedule routine maintenance and check-ups. Some brands, like Cat®, also have planned maintenance kits that you can obtain online.
The second way is making it a point to carry out basic maintenance tasks whenever needed. These include things like checking if you have sufficient fuel before starting your trip.
Speaking of fuel, you also have to ensure its integrity if your UTV has been stored for a while. That’s as the fuel can go bad and cause issues with the engine if left stagnant for long.
To know if the fuel is intact, it has to pass the smell test. Take a sniff; if the smell makes your body stiff, then enough said. Drain the tank right away, and add new fuel.
Aside from the fuel, there are other essential maintenance practices to keep in mind, such as:
- Inspecting the tires
- Changing the air filter
- Changing the oil filter
- Replacing the oil
- Lubricate the fittings
While regular maintenance is all good and well, sometimes you need to take things up a notch and equip your UTV with better gear.
Modifications
Everyone knows that modified vehicles are superior to stock ones, and UTVs are no different. Such modifications have the potential to boost the vehicle’s performance, along with its durability.
If you like to take on tough terrains, for instance, you might need to replace your stock tires with thicker, more heavy-duty ones. The same goes for the beadlock wheel, which secures the tire in place.
When you change those beadlock wheels alongside the tires, you’re adding a considerable amount of stability to your UTV, which translates to greater longevity.
Yes, it helps to upgrade your vehicle to make it better suited for tough trails, but it’s also important to know your trails well so you don’t strain the UTV beyond its limits.
Nature of the Trail
Frequent riding on rough trails is bound to take a toll on your vehicle. Not all trails are created equal; some are more demanding than others. When a UTV is constantly tasked with navigating hellish trails, it’s definitely going to take a lot of wear and tear.
I know the word “hellish” is a loose one, so let’s get more specific. Most off-riding parks assign certain ratings of difficulty to different trails. Even when riding outside of those parks, we can still use those categories to gauge the difficulty, and therefore know how much the trail will take out of the vehicle.
For the sake of this article, we’re going to use one of the most established ratings—those of the Department of Natural Resources. They divide trails into three types: the green circle, blue square, and black diamond.
As you can guess, the green circle is the easiest of the bunch. It doesn’t differ much from paved roads, to be honest. Obstacles are few and scattered. Hills are barely steep. In essence, this type of track is made for either beginners or those who seek a light recreational activity.
While riding on green-circle trails will definitely make your UTV last longer, the same can’t be said about the blue square. There, obstacles multiply, hills become more upright, and even the roads get narrower.
Blue-square trails aren’t that intimidating, though. They’re made for the intermediate driver, and most UTV drivers prefer them. Yes, they’re going to make your vehicle work harder, but you can cushion the blow by putting to work some of the other tips we mentioned, like modification and maintenance.
One blow that’ll be hard to cushion, though, is the one from the black-diamond trails. The name alone tells the tale. The hills there are practically vertical and the obstacles look like they’re coming out of an action flick.
Of course, driving frequently on such trails will significantly reduce your vehicle’s life expectancy. However, much easier trails can take a similar toll on your UTV. How? If Your vehicle is already weighed down, then the trail will only add insult to an existing injury.
Cargo
Some UTVs are designed with only recreational use in mind—they’re 1- or 2-seaters with a small engine and a somewhat light build. Other UTVs, however, are made for not only recreation, but also family trips, hunting expeditions, and farming.
The latter type can be a 4-seater, feature bigger engines, and have a stronger skeleton. Thus, it can not only carry weight but also tow it. That doesn’t mean their capacity for carrying cargo is unlimited, though, and here lies the issue.
When you exceed your UTVs capacity to carry or tow weight, you put it at risk of premature breakdown. How much weight is too much? As a rule of thumb, the towing capacity of bigger UTVs hovers around 2,000 pounds, whereas smaller ones can tow only half of that.
That said, different UTVs have different capacities, so it’s better to check the manufacturer’s manual. Also, even if a UTV’s towing capacity is 2,000 pounds, you don’t want to push it to its limits too frequently.
That’s especially the case if the passenger seats are already maxed out, either with people or additional cargo.
Final Words
UTVs started out as little-known recreational vehicles. Nowadays, however, their use has become ubiquitous. UTVs are turning into a practical vehicle for farmers, hunters, and also parents looking for a change of pace for their kids.
Considering that UTVs can last for thousands of miles, the rising popularity is completely justifiable. What’s more, the life expectancy of a UTV isn’t a fixed digit.
You can maximize it by modifying your UTV, maintaining it, and also taking note of the cargo you carry, and trails you blaze. All of that will lead to a UTV that has taken a sip from the Fountain of Youth!