Ah, going off-road! Is there a more American motorsport other than perhaps monster trucking? Whether you’re thinking about dune bashing through the Qatari desert, driving right through a cold bog, or simply taking a detour through the woods, off-roading is always an experience.
Depending on the situation or circumstance, you might want something different out of your off-road vehicle than others. For example, some people are especially fond of ATVs since they are relatively light, mobile, and thoroughly agile, while others prefer more bulky alternatives.
If you’re interested in UTVs but have not quite gotten to experience them or simply need a reason to reaffirm your passion for the hobby, then I’ve written this article to describe why I feel they are tremendously fun.
What Is a UTV?
Also called a utility-terrain vehicle, the UTV is a relatively recent addition to the world of automobiles. Not that cars themselves aren’t babies when considering how long humankind has existed!
First developed during the late 1980s, the UTV evolved out the ATV from a need to have a vehicle that is even more efficient in extreme terrain conditions. Yes, an ATV is highly convenient and can take you through areas that are difficult to travel through.
On the other hand, UTVs also have a couple of additional advantages. For one, they tend to be steadier and sturdier. You could, for example, add a roll cage to your UTV, which is not something you can do with a quad bike – that is, an ATV.
Ever wanted to take a beer cooler with you whenever you go roaming around with your vehicle, too? An ATV can’t accommodate that easily, and if it does, then you’re probably going to break a couple of cans of beer before you pull them out of whatever satchel you slung over the side of your vehicle.
A UTV, however, can be outfitted with a storage container, just as you would have a car trunk. Talk about convenience!
Why Are UTVs Fun?
Each person sees UTVs differently. Some enjoy the fact that they can dominate the terrain. Others like speeding through nature, while others love to carefully maneuver their cars through very sharp and rocky terrain, just as if they were doing a vehicular puzzle. There are also those who don’t even consider them fun but use them for utility.
They are, after all, called utility-terrain vehicles.
Here are the most common reasons UTVs are considered fun. Who knows? You might get the same enjoyment out of them!
Convenience and Functionality
Compared to ATVs, UTVs have been designed for heavy-duty work. They’re going to take you where you want in one piece and good comfort. While they’re not as quick or as exciting, there is a lot of fun to be taken from simply being able to defeat terrains that would otherwise have stressed you out a whole lot.
Being able to drive through three miles of wet mud during a rainstorm without getting stuck is what I consider a mind-blowingly pleasant experience for car-driving adults.
Passenger Capacity
ATVs are single-rider vehicles, which means you can’t take anyone with you. Technically, you can, and it’s been done before, but if you don’t know what you’re doing, then you’re going to injure them quite badly, and what’s the point of taking your kids off-roading with you if they’re going to get hurt?
Next time you want to have a late-night drive, feel free to take a friend. A UTV can accommodate them.
Customization
You can change so much about UTVs it’s almost unbelievable. Sure, you can have simple additions like additional bumpers or tacky car stickers. You can also affix a stoplight to your car, or even a searchlight if you’re feeling like a World War sentry.
But it doesn’t stop there. You can go wild! Want to attach a machinegun to your UTV? It’s probably as illegal as can be, but theoretically, you can do it. Need something simpler? Upgrade your UTV battery with Rad Parts!
“Fun, Fun, Fun, Fun!”
As Rebecca Black so eloquently quoted about a dozen years ago, UTVs are extremely “fun, fun, fun, fun!” It’s only a matter of understanding what you can do with them. As with every other off-road vehicle, I’d also like to remind you that taking care of the environment is critically important to the motorsport, so take care of your trails!
Thank you for reading this article, and make sure to clean up after yourself, welcome others into the hobby, and keep everything copacetic.
