Classic Accessories Trailerable ATV Cover

If you are planning to transport your ATV on a trailer, follow all of the steps below. If you are only using the ATV cover for storage, you can skip the tie-down strap installation in step 3.

1. First, load your ATV onto the trailer or vehicle. Before lashing the ATV down to the trailer, pull the cover over your ATV. Make sure the rear split panel is at the rear of the ATV.
2. Find the three tie-down straps included with your ATV cover. Attach two of the straps to the buckles on the side of the cover. Run the unattached ends of the straps through the horizontal slots below the buckles to the inside of the cover. The straps should fall through to the cover and out the horizontal slits. Attach the strap ends to the buckles on the side of the cover.
3. If you are using your ATV cover for trailering, use the tie-down straps to attach the cover securely to the trailer. The tie-down straps should run through the slots underneath the triangular panels on the front and rear of the ATV cover. Run your tie-downs from the ATV, through the cover, and then down to the trailer or vehicle.
4. Attach the last strap in the buckle at the bottom of the front triangular panel. Run the strap underneath the ATV to the rear and attach the loose end of the strap to the buckle on the back of the cover through the split back section.
5. Tighten all three straps to secure the cover snugly to your ATV. If you are trailering your ATV, tie off any loose strap ends to keep them from flapping in the wind. Tuck the loose strap ends through the slits in the cover.

Your regular storage cover may not hold up to the demands of trailering. Here’s why.

Not all covers are alike. You may think that a storage cover could pass as a trailerable cover, but the truth is that storage covers designed solely for storage may not hold up to the wear and tear of highway travel. The three main features that set trailerable covers apart from the pack are material thickness, tie down straps, and a secure fit.

Material Thickness
When you travel at high speeds down the highway, the wind can whip your cover around something fierce. Thinner, less durable materials will tear under the force of the wind. In order to withstand the wear and tear of highway travel, your boat cover or ATV cover must be constructed with heavy duty materials. Trailerable covers are thicker and more durable than storage covers, making them able to withstand constant wind, rain, and other forces during travel.

Tie Down Straps
With the force of wind speed, your cover needs to be securely strapped down in order to stay in place. Tie down straps ensure that your cover stays in place on your boat, jet ski, or four wheeler. You can adjust these straps as needed for a tighter fit.

Secure Fit
Without a secure fit, the wind can whip under the cover and “parachute” your cover. Getting whipped around by the wind can damage your cover. Make sure the trailerable cover for your boat, jet ski, or quad ensures a snug fit to reduce the wear and tear on your cover during trailering.

Trailerable covers make excellent storage covers as well. If you plan to use your cover for both storage and trailering, look for a cover that will work for both purposes.

Yesterday I got passed by a truck pulling a trailer loaded with 2 jet skis wrapped up snug as a bug in their jet ski covers. Looked good–except that the trailer was swaying back and forth like a drunk driver. Stuff like that makes me nervous–and I’m not even the one pulling a drunk trailer!

In the thick of summer, with more boat trailers and ATV trailers on the road, it’s not surprising to see a few wobbly trailers out there. What can you do to prevent trailer sway? The best way to prevent trailer sway is to stop it before it starts. Take the time to check over your trailer, hitch, and tow vehicle before hitting the road.

Make sure you have the proper equipment and hitch parts, including the right ball and coupler sizes, to tow your trailer. Check the weight distribution to make sure it is evenly balanced. Never exceed the weight capacity of your tow vehicle or trailer tongue. If the trailer tongue is too short or the suspension on the tow vehicle or trailer is too soft, this can also cause trailer sway. If you’re having towing trouble, check out the most common causes of sway and rule these out first before looking for other culprits.

Looking forward to exploring the great outdoors on your quad? Getting your ATV to the trail is the first step. Unless you live along the trail, most likely you’ll need to transport your ATV to and from the riding area.

Loading your ATV requires a certain amount of know-how and safety precautions to protect yourself and your equipment from accidents. Here are a few tips for loading and securing your ATV on a truck or trailer.

If loading onto a trailer, hitch up the trailer to the tow vehicle before loading your ATV. This prevents the trailer from rocking or tipping.

Use ramps with a loading capacity that can easily handle the combined weight of your ATV and any equipment left on your quad. The ground at the bottom of the ramps should be flat and solid, and the angle of the ramps should be gradual, not steep. Attach the safety straps or other safety device to lock your ramps in place.

Riding your ATV up the ramps can be dangerous, and accidents caused by improper loading are more common than you might think. If you choose this method of loading, wear protective gear such as boots, gloves, goggles, and a helmet.

Load your quad in first gear, or the lowest gear possible to mount the ramps. Avoid jerky starts or stops while on the ramps. Never approach the ramps at high speed. This could cause the ramps to buckle or to ram into the back of the trailer or truck.

The safest way to load your ATV is to use a winch. This method allows you to stand clear of the ATV and gives you greater control over speed and precision in loading. With a winch, you don’t have to worry about stalling on the ramps and can stand at a safe distance in case something goes wrong.

Once you’ve loaded your quad, balance the weight over the trailer axle to evenly distribute the load. Set the parking brake on your ATV and secure it to the truck or trailer bed with tie-down straps. Use a total of four straps: two in front and two in back. Ratchet down the straps as tightly as possible. The straps should be tight enough to lock your ATV in place when you try to rock it, and the tires should look like they are under load.

Loop and secure excess strap length to keep them from flapping or dragging. If you are hauling your quad in an open trailer or truck bed, protect it with a trailerable ATV cover with tie-downs to keep it clean of road debris such as sand or salt and to shield it from the elements.