
What to do if you roll a UTV?
You are out on the trail having a blast and then it happens. You take a corner too fast and you roll your RZR. Mistakes happen and they can happen to you, but don’t panic it’s not going to be that bad. We are here to give you some helpful tips to recover from a SXS rollover.
What to do if you roll a UTV?
- Make sure you and your passengers are not injured
- Turn off the UTV
- Check your surroundings and safely exit the UTV
- Get your UTV flipped back over
- Wait 5 minutes for the engine fluids to settle before you drive
- Check your brakes before you leave
Let’s go into a little detail about what to do if you roll your UTV.
Are UTV’s safe?
UTV’s are not inherently dangerous. Problems come mainly from the unsafe operation and lack of safety gear by the side-by-side operator. Always drive with caution and not under the influence. Wear your safety harness and helmet.
Why does the owner’s manual say do not start after a rollover?
Probably the same reason ladders are covered in warning stickers – because the company lawyers require it. In all seriousness, there is no reason why you should not start your SXS after a rollover. There’s not an internal switch in the motor or some sort of mechanism that detects rollovers.
Wait 5 minutes after you flip your UTV.
You should wait 5 minutes after you get your wheels back on the ground. This gives your engine oil time to settle back down into the crankcase. You don’t want to start your motor without the oil for sure. Take those few minutes to make sure you don’t have a fuel spill. Especially a spill on the electrical system of your SXS. Get any fuel cleaned up before you start her up. Don’t forget after a rollover your stuff is probably going to be spilled all around the trail. This will give your wife something to fret about while you do the important job of getting the SXS running.
Is it easy to roll a UTV?
It’s important to remember that all UTVs can sometimes roll over. This is not a design problem. Instead, it’s based on the dips, rocks, ruts, and steep elevation changes of the terrain they go over. So yes, it is fairly easy to roll a UTV, However, unlike a traditional vehicle a UTV is made to protect in the event of a rollover. A full tube roll cage is made to support the weight of the SXS in the unfortunate event of a rollover
How to keep your UTV from Rolling.
- When riding uphill, don’t do it too quickly because it may cause your ATV or UTV to roll over backward.
- When riding downhill don’t shift too much weight forward, apply your front brakes too quickly, or try to back up the hill. Otherwise, your UTV may roll forward.
- Be extremely careful when riding on uneven terrain because it can shift the machine’s weight to one side, causing your ATV to tip and rollover.
- Avoid accelerating rapidly from a stopping position, or your UTV’s front wheel may lift off the ground. This could cause the ATV to roll over backward.
- You shouldn’t accelerate rapidly while turning a corner, because your UTV may slide sideways (“fishtail”).
- It’s important to keep you arms and legs in the UTV at all times. You may think that you can stop your SXS from rolling by putting your arm or leg out. This is a mistake you simply can’t stop over 1000 lbs. with your own strength and you will get injured.
What to look at if you roll your UTV
- Check all of the suspension mounting points. Look for bent tabs and look for any cracks in the frame. A good way to see the start of a crack is to look for any spots near a weld that the paint has “popped” off of…
- Remove factory plastic covers to get a good look in hidden areas
- Make sure that the front mounting plates for the cage are in good shape. First, remove the plastic front fenders. Then check the bolt that welds the cage to the frame. Next, check the frame where the bolt is attached.
- Check all the fluids
- Check that your brakes are functioning properly
Will your UTV Roll over?
You can asses the rollover risk by analyzing the width of the wheel base and how how the SXS is. A narrow track width and high center of gravity always leads to a tip over risk no matter what the vehicle. So, the solution is to not push such large vehicles to the point that they become too top-heavy and roll over. That hardly seems like rocket science! You certainly enjoy using your ATV, and you do so safely on your property. However, it is always a good idea to think about the possible consequences of an accident and make precautions against them.