What Size Trailer Do You Need To Haul A UTV?

You've got a side-by-side to move, to the trail, the lease, or the job site, and you need a trailer that actually fits it. Not one that almost fits, one that fits.

Here's where UTV owners get caught: a trailer that hauls an ATV without a second thought can be too narrow or too light for a side-by-side. A UTV is wider and heavier than most people expect, and finding that out at the loading ramp is a bad way to start the day.

Picking the right trailer for a UTV comes down to three things: width, weight, and how you want the machine protected. Here's how to size it, choose open or enclosed, and load it safely. If you're hauling an ATV instead, the numbers are different, and there's a separate guide for that below.

A UTV Is Not an ATV, at Least Not to a Trailer

Width is the deciding factor

A utility task vehicle (UTV), or side-by-side, is built wide, roughly 50 to 65 inches or more across, where an ATV is narrow enough to fit almost any utility deck. That width is the single biggest thing that decides which trailer works. A standard narrow utility trailer that swallows an ATV can leave a side-by-side's tires hanging off the edges, which is unsafe and often just won't work.

And it's heavier than it looks

UTVs also weigh more than people expect, often well over a thousand pounds, and a larger four-seat model more still. So the trailer has to carry real weight, not just span the footprint. Width gets the machine on the deck; capacity keeps it there safely.

Start With Your Machine's Numbers

Measure width, length, and weight

Before you look at trailers, get three numbers off your UTV: overall width, length, and weight. If you're hauling more than one, add them up. These are what you match a trailer to, not a guess about what looks big enough. Read more about what GVWR is and why it matters.

Capacity matters more than deck size

A deck that's long and wide enough can still be rated to carry less than your machine weighs once it's loaded. Read the trailer's carrying capacity, not just its dimensions, and leave yourself a margin. Read more about payload vs. tongue weight.

Open or Enclosed?

Open utility for quick, local hauls

An open utility trailer with a ramp gate and a wide enough deck is the cheaper, simpler choice for a short trip to the trailhead or the job. You load fast, and you're not paying for walls you don't need.

Enclosed for protection and security

If your side-by-side is expensive, or you're hauling it a long way or leaving it overnight, an enclosed trailer keeps weather and thieves off it. The trade is cost and a taller, heavier trailer to tow. Read more about enclosed vs. open trailer and when the extra cost is worth it.

Matching the Trailer to a Side-by-Side

Get the deck width right first

Look for a deck wide enough that the UTV sits fully on it with room to walk around and strap down, not one where the tires crowd the edges. Many single-ATV utility decks are simply too narrow for a side-by-side, so a wider utility trailer or a larger deck is usually what you need. Read more about what a 6x12 utility trailer can hold and when to size up.

Length and axles for bigger or multiple machines

A four-seat UTV, or two machines on one trailer, needs more length and often a tandem axle to carry the weight. When you're between sizes, size up rather than cram, because an overloaded or overhanging machine is a safety problem, not a tight fit.

If you're hauling an ATV instead

An ATV is narrower and lighter, so the math changes and a smaller, simpler trailer often does the job. Read more about how to pick the right ATV trailer rental.

Load and Tie Down Safely

Ramps rated for the weight, at a safe angle

A loaded side-by-side is heavy, so your ramps have to be rated for it and wide enough for the tires, and the angle has to be gentle enough that the machine doesn't high-center or tip on the way up. Drive on slowly and straight, and use a spotter if you can. Never ride a UTV up ramps that are too steep, too narrow, or not rated for the weight.

Strap down all four corners

Once it's on, secure the UTV at all four corners to the trailer's rated anchor points so it can't shift, bounce, or roll in transit. Set the parking brake, but don't rely on it alone. Read more about how to secure a load on a utility trailer and how to tie down an irregular load on an open utility trailer.

Match It to Your Tow Vehicle

The loaded trailer plus your UTV is the weight your tow vehicle has to handle, so check your vehicle's tow rating and hitch before you book, not after you've loaded up. The right trailer for your machine is still the wrong trailer if your vehicle can't pull it. Read more about how to tell if your vehicle can tow a trailer.

What About Insurance and Damage Protection?

Before towing a rented trailer, contact your auto insurance provider to ask whether your policy covers liability and towing-related damage claims.

Eligible rentals booked through Big Rentals also include Basic Rental Protection at checkout. This added protection can help limit your financial responsibility for certain damage or theft events during the rental period.

For full details on how Basic Rental Protection works, including deductibles, exclusions, and renter responsibilities, review our FAQ and platform terms.

Ready to Find Your Trailer?

Once you know the deck width and capacity your side-by-side needs, browse utility trailer rentals near you from local owners, or see all trailer rentals. Match the listing's width and capacity to your machine, and you're set.

The Short Version

• A UTV is wider and heavier than an ATV, so the trailer that hauls an ATV often won't work.
• Width is the deciding factor. Get the deck width right first.
• Measure your machine's width, length, and weight, and match the trailer's carrying capacity, not just its size.
• Open utility for quick local hauls; enclosed for protection and security.
• A four-seat UTV or two machines needs more length and often a tandem axle.
• Use ramps rated for the weight at a safe angle, and strap down all four corners.
• Match the loaded trailer to your tow vehicle before you book.