Beyond Cars: Moving ATVs, UTVs, and Small Tractors With a Car Hauler

Q: Can I use a car hauler to transport a tractor or skid steer? A: Yes, for compact and mid-size equipment — but check the numbers first. Two figures matter: the trailer's weight capacity and its deck dimensions, both measured against your machine's actual weight and footprint. Our 22-ft wood deck car hauler carries up to 9,900 lbs, which covers most compact tractors, skid steers, and utility equipment in that class. Before you load anything, find the machine's operating weight (check the equipment's data plate or the manufacturer's spec sheet, not a rough guess) and confirm it's comfortably under the trailer's rated capacity — leave some margin rather than loading right up to the limit, since attachments, fuel, and any cargo in the bucket all add weight too. Deck length matters just as much as capacity. A 22-ft deck gives plenty of room for the equipment itself plus space to walk around it for tie-down access, but wider machines like some skid steers can push close to the usable deck width once you account for the ramps and fender clearance. Measure your equipment's width and wheelbase before booking so there are no surprises on load day. Q: Will a side-by-side fit on a car hauler? A: Yes, easily. A typical UTV or side-by-side runs around 64 inches wide, and most car hauler decks offer roughly 82 inches of usable width between the fenders — plenty of clearance on both sides for the machine itself plus room to walk the deck and set tie-down straps without squeezing past the tires. Length is rarely an issue either; most UTVs are well under half of a 22-ft deck, which means you can often haul a side-by-side and still have deck space left for gear, a cooler, or a second small item like a set of ramps or tools. Q: How do you load a UTV on a flatbed trailer? A: Drive it up the ramps under its own power in low gear, keeping a straight, steady line and moderate throttle — don't gun it, and don't ride the brakes on the way up, since either can cause the machine to lurch or stall partway. Center the UTV on the deck once it's up, roughly equal distance from each side and with weight balanced front-to-back relative to the trailer's axles, since an unbalanced load affects how the trailer tows. Once it's positioned, set the parking brake and put the transmission in park or gear (not neutral), then move to tie-downs. Use four separate straps, one at each corner of the machine, hooked to a solid frame point or the factory-rated tie-down loops most UTVs include specifically for this purpose — never to suspension arms, axles, or plastic body panels. Angle each strap outward toward its corner of the trailer rather than straight down, which resists both forward-and-back sliding and side-to-side sway during transit. Because UTVs and ATVs have working suspension, the straps should be snug enough to keep the machine from bouncing or shifting, but not cranked down so tight that they fully compress the suspension travel — moderate, even tension across all four points is the goal. The same fundamentals apply whether you're hauling an ATV, a side-by-side, or a compact tractor: confirm weight against the trailer's rated capacity, confirm width and length against the deck, load slow and straight, center the load, and secure all four corners before you tow. If you're not sure your equipment fits within our hauler's specs, give us a call with the make, model, and weight and we'll help you confirm it before booking day.