UTVs and ATVs can be run on secondary roads in Ohio, like neighborhoods, but technically, they need to be titled. Not sure, but I don't think there are any registration requirements. Our neighborhood connects to a main road before there are any shops or gas stations, so even though I wouldn't mind having one, I can't justify the expense.
RevRico said:In reply to Robbie (Forum Supporter) :
Register the trailer in Maine? $60 for 5 years
I'm uncomfortable with this for a couple reasons.
1. Does it give law enforcement a valid reason to pull me over at any time? Or would I be hassled about it if I did get pulled over? I'm sure I wouldn't be the first to have IL truck plates getting pulled over in IL, but "oh yeah I keep my trailer in Maine, usually". "Sounds great sir, here's a $200 ticket for the trailer light that doesn't work instead of a warning."
2. There's a lot of language on vehicle title and plate applications that would be pretty embarassing and easy to prove that I lied while directly attesting that I was not lying (about where I lived or stored the trailer). If that isn't enough by itself for insurance to deny paying liability in a claim, I'm sure it's enough for them to take a long hard look.
No thanks.
In VT they are not legal for use on roadways unless crossing at ninety degrees and to go from one part of the property to another or slowly along the side of the road. Unless a town posts the roads as passable for them. So far we've been able to keep them from becoming legal in our town, but they get driven wildly past our place at all hours, especially on the weekends. No helmets, registration, or insurance. Sheriff and troopers tell us to call so they can document times and places and they'll patrol more, but they never show. Besides they turn off the roads and disappear into the bush when LEOs show up.
UTV use in North Florida seems to be a continuous reconfirmation of Darwin's theory.
In reply to Robbie (Forum Supporter) :
It's not illegal to have vehicles titled in another state besides your primary residence. It's actually pretty common for people with vacation homes. IL police can't do anything about your trailer being registered in Maine(or anywhere else) as long as it's legally registered there.
eastsideTim said:UTVs and ATVs can be run on secondary roads in Ohio, like neighborhoods, but technically, they need to be titled. Not sure, but I don't think there are any registration requirements. Our neighborhood connects to a main road before there are any shops or gas stations, so even though I wouldn't mind having one, I can't justify the expense.
I've gotten a lot of mixed information on this. The dealer said they officially can't be registered at least not without addition of turn signals and such, but also that they regularly have customers tell them that they managed it. Seems to vary by location, rural areas tend to not care and will give you a registration for anything you have a title for. If my friend ever actually receives the title for his, we might find out if it's really that easy.
They are really annoying out here by us. We live 10 miles out, on a twisty dirt road, and it seems like everyone has one but us. Never used for anything except rowdiness late at night. Pathetic attempts to do donuts at the intersection, and turning around takes them into our yard. Meeting them on a blind corner means everyone hits the ditch. berkeleying morons
Pete Gossett (Forum Supporter) said:In reply to Robbie (Forum Supporter) :
It's not illegal to have vehicles titled in another state besides your primary residence. It's actually pretty common for people with vacation homes. IL police can't do anything about your trailer being registered in Maine(or anywhere else) as long as it's legally registered there.
Laws vary by state, but I think that typically having a vehicle titled in another state besides your primary residence is normally allowed only if primary use of that vehicle is in that other state - for instance, if a snowbird spends winters in Florida and they keep a car at their Florida address.
stuart in mn said:Pete Gossett (Forum Supporter) said:In reply to Robbie (Forum Supporter) :
It's not illegal to have vehicles titled in another state besides your primary residence. It's actually pretty common for people with vacation homes. IL police can't do anything about your trailer being registered in Maine(or anywhere else) as long as it's legally registered there.
Laws vary by state, but I think that typically having a vehicle titled in another state besides your primary residence is normally allowed only if primary use of that vehicle is in that other state - for instance, if a snowbird spends winters in Florida and they keep a car at their Florida address.
This is thread derailment at its finest, but yes, while I believe it to be correct that it isn't illegal to have a vehicle titled in a different state, it is also not illegal to 'throw the book' at someone who's being a "legal" dick when you'd normally let someone off with a warning. I'd rather have the grace of the officer and also show respect for the rules in the state for which I choose to live. I can choose to live elsewhere.
Also, while driving the vehicle registered in another state may not be illegal, registering it in another state may be illegal in the first place (read the application for title and registration language closely - you may be attesting that you live there when in fact you do not). Like, it's not illegal to drive around with a truck bed full of iphones. But if they are stolen iphones...
So, while I think this Maine plate trick might work for some, it's not for me.
All I know is they have saved my home town from absolute collapse. Gilbert, WV. You've probably heard of it thanks to the Hatfield McCoy trail system. It's become the Mecca of UTVs. Legal to ride on the road if you have a trail pass and follow a few rules.
I live in a fairly rural area, and it's not uncommon to see UTVs around. A couple of families let their not-yet-16-year-olds use them for transportation on the roads, but most of them seem like they rarely leave a given property.
But I drove through WV and VA recently and was blown away by the number of them that I saw being trailered around. It seemed like at least once per mile I'd see a truck pulling a SXS (or several). Some of them had $60k worth of SxS's on gooseneck trailers, being towed behind $60k diesel trucks. It was an eye opener for how popular they've become in some places.
In reply to STM317 :
That is probably because of the Hatfield and McCoy trails in WV that Scotty mentioned. They are on my bucket list at some point.
In reply to Toyman01 + Sized and :
Yeah, I tried to quote his post, but the quote and reply buttons weren't working for me at the time. Maybe I can edit it now
UTVs are road legal in Michigan with a list of necessary modifications, a state issued VIN and a plate.
Here in AZ they are literally everywhere.
It's starting to bug even the die-hard offroad crowd too.
I had a conversation with a guy who had put way too much money into a Jeep that more or less became a buggy. He said he used to be able to take his family out to remote old ranches and ruins that pretty much no other vehicle could get to due to road washouts, etc.
Now, those same places are overrun by SxSes on any given weekend usually driven by folks who have no business being that remote. He said on more than on occasion he had to give a ride to folks that had breakdowns way out of cellphone range.
Another thing he was disappointed about is that the proliferation of UTVs had made is Jeep pretty much worthless. He had listed it at $15k, then at $10k, and still had people offer him less.
When he finally sold it, he turned around and bought a SxS. "If you can't beat em, join em!"
My issues with the things are thing:
Cons: SxS are
- noisy and have one of the worst automotive engine notes available. If I owned one, it'd definitely be something with a sequential gearbox.
- they tear up roads that USFS never even considered passable anymore and formally had to go "close" to little success,
- they put a lot more strain on once remote sites like historic ruins and ranches.
- there are a lot more emergency calls for rollovers and people flying off roads that were never made for untrained driver to travel at 60mph on.
- Many land managers (state and federal) were already underfunded when it came to road maintenance and access management. Enforcement has been even worse.
Pros:
- for the amount of abuse they receive they are pretty damn reliable.
- relatively safe for their use case - harnesses and rollbars. I rolled one my first time driving one!
- great entry into rally, desert racing, offroad racing.
- decently efficient when you're off the gas, most get between 20-25mpg.
- relatively simple to fix.
Things I'd change:
- I don't think the problem is with the vehicle itself, but instead of the lack of enforcement. I'd like to see UTV's come with a state offroad management tax. Permitting would help to distirbute funds to the forest areas most impacted.
- Enforcement of noise levels would help wildlife and other forest users wanting a more peaceful experience.
- Perhaps some public areas should be made into "EV only" for off-highway vehicles. That would include e-bikes, e-motos, and e-SxS.
- I'd love to see more organize motorsports for these things. Clubs are a great way to raise awareness of issues and impacts of the sport, and could funnel volunteers into trailbuild and trail maintenance efforts.
- I want one (for aforementioned racing)
In reply to pheller :
SCCA has a rallyx class for them nowadays (but not all regions have yet jumped on board).
Appleseed said:Have you seen the price of a 4 seater? Might as well be a truck.
This. Everytime I look at one, I say "I could build a subie with aircon for that. Or a mini truck."
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