Hauling Cargo

Overloading the vehicle or carrying or towing cargo improperly can alter vehicle handling and may cause loss of control or brake instability, which can result in serious injury or death. Always follow these precautions when hauling cargo:

REDUCE SPEED AND ALLOW GREATER DISTANCES FOR BRAKING WHEN HAULING CARGO.

NEVER EXCEED THE MAXIMUM WEIGHT CAPACITY of the vehicle. When determining the weight you are adding to the vehicle, include the weight of the operator, passenger (if you are operating a 2-up ATV), accessories, loads in the rack or box and the load on the trailer tongue. The combined weight of these items must not exceed the maximum weight capacity.

CARRY LOADS AS LOW ON THE REAR RACK AS POSSIBLE. Carrying loads high on the rear rack raises the center of gravity of the vehicle and creates a less stable operating condition.

SECURE ALL LOADS BEFORE OPERATING. Unsecured loads can create unstable operating conditions, which could result in loss of control of the vehicle.

OPERATE ONLY WITH STABLE AND SAFELY ARRANGED LOADS. When handling off-centered loads that cannot be centered, securely fasten the load and operate with extra caution. Always attach the tow load to the hitch point designated for your vehicle.

HEAVY LOADS CAN CAUSE BRAKING AND CONTROL PROBLEMS. Use extreme caution when applying brakes with a loaded vehicle. Avoid terrain or situations that may require backing downhill.

USE EXTREME CAUTION when operating with loads that extend over the rack sides. Stability and maneuverability may be adversely affected, causing the vehicle to overturn.

DO NOT TRAVEL FASTER THAN THE RECOMMENDED SPEEDS.

The vehicle should never exceed 10 mph (16 kph) while towing a load on a level surface. Vehicle speed should never exceed 5 mph (8 kph) when towing loads in rough terrain, while cornering, or while ascending or descending a hill.