Must Have Towing Accessories for Your ATV or UTV
These are the tools to handle all of your towing needs
To ensure your machine safely arrives at your favorite ride spot, you’ll need some quality towing accessories to get the job done.
When you think of towing, at least towing relating to your ATV or UTV, there’s two worlds that come to mind. The good side of towing, meaning you’re towing your ride to some sweet place to hit the trails, or perhaps towing something with your machine, like doing some work around the farm. Then there is the bad side of towing, meaning you either have to haul a buddy’s machine – or worse, your own – off the trail due to a mechanical issue or the embarrassing “stuck in the muck.” Any way you slice it, there’s a few towing essentials everyone should have with them.
Table of Contents
1. Rhino USA Heavy-Duty Ratchet Straps
The Rhino USA Ratchet Tie-Down Kit earns its spot as our top pick for its combination of strength, thoughtful design, and value. Known for their recovery gear and tow straps, Rhino USA delivers with this kit, which includes four 1.6” wide poly/silk blend straps boasting over 5,000 lbs of breaking strength, thanks to double diamond stitching. The vinyl-coated S-hooks with safety clips and rubberized components on the ratchets ensure secure and scratch-free use, while the rubber end caps make tightening and releasing comfortable and smooth.
The kit also includes strap extenders, Velcro ties for managing excess webbing, and a convenient drawstring bag for tidy storage. In testing, these straps excelled while securing my Honda TRX 450R on rough country roads. The durable webbing handled tight ATV frame corners with confidence, and the robust ratchet assemblies made loading and unloading a breeze.
With a lifetime warranty and a design that prioritizes durability and ease of use, the Rhino USA Ratchet Tie-Down Kit is a reliable choice for securing your gear, whether you’re heading off-road or hitting the highway.
2. Ancra Tie Down Extensions/Soft Hooks
Ever have a problem finding a good place to attach a tie down hook? One of my frustrations with ATV and UTV manufacturing is that there never seem to be good anchor points on the frame and that is where tie down extensions, also known as soft hooks, come into play. Whether you need an anchor point on your truck, trailer or even your machine, these nylon webbing extensions come in various lengths and are extremely strong to help secure your load. A great benefit of using a soft hook on the frame of your machine is you don't need to worry about paint or chrome getting damaged during transportation because of their soft construction.
Even more than helping to provide a great mounting point, they also work for towing a machine back in a pinch, anchoring a winch cable and more, so be sure to keep a few sets on hand.
3. Rhino USA Tow Strap with Hooks
A reliable tow strap isn’t just an accessory—it’s a lifeline. Not to mention them again, but...the Rhino USA Tow Strap with Hooks is built for those inevitable moments when things go sideways (or maybe just stop moving altogether). With an impressive 10,321lbs rated capacity, this strap isn’t just tough; it’s your go-to for pulling, towing, or saving the day. Whether you're hauling your buddy out of a ditch or towing a vehicle off a city road, this strap gets it done with unmatched versatility.
Emergency situations demand visibility, and Rhino delivers with its bright green design, ensuring you can spot it from a mile away—or at least across a crowded highway. And speaking of emergencies, the spring-loaded keeper clips ensure that the hooks stay firmly anchored, keeping everyone safer during those roadside rescues.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Rhino product without a real lifetime warranty. Fray it, tear it, or rip it—they’ll replace it, no questions asked. So while you’re out there tackling the unexpected, your tow strap is one thing you’ll never have to second-guess.
Pro tip: if you're considering adding a personal touch, maybe think twice before embroidering your name on it. Nothing adds fuel to your riding group's jokes quite like being hauled out by a strap bearing your own moniker. But hey, at least you'll have the last laugh with the best strap in town.
4. Kolpin Universal 3-Way Multi-Purpose Bolt-On Hitch
A hitch does more than enable trailer towing—it transforms your ATV or UTV into a multi-purpose machine. The Kolpin Universal 3-Way Multi-Purpose Bolt-On Hitch offers three towing options—a tow hook for straps, a ball mount, and a clevis—making it ready for any hauling or recovery job.
Built from heavy-duty steel with a universal fit, this lightweight, one-pound hitch is easy to bolt on and compatible with most ATVs, UTVs, and SxSs. Whether you leave it mounted or keep it close for emergencies, the Kolpin hitch ensures you're prepared for whatever the trail throws your way.
5. Mechanix Wear Original Work Gloves
Regardless of the type of towing you’re doing, you’ve got to protect your hands. A good pair of gloves will not only help keep your hands safe, but also provide you with a little extra grip on things. You especially want gloves on when handling cables, like from a winch. If a shard of winch cable comes in contact with your hand, you’re going to end up bleeding. At least that’s what seems to happen with me.
Additional Resources
Recent Updates
12/12/2024: Updated product, links, images, some descriptions.
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Derrek's love for all things ATV started when he was a mere 11 years old, growing up on his family farm. His mom gave him and his sister a choice - get a horse, or a three-wheeler. The sister wanted the horse, and Derrek wanted the ATV. Luckily he won out, and was soon burning up the trails on a Yamaha Tri-Moto 200. By the time he was 14, he had saved enough of his own money by working on the farm and in his folks restaurant to buy a new 4-wheeler. That happened the day he and his mom were driving past the dealership and saw 1987 Banshee. His mom had no idea what he was buying, and he never looked back. He's been riding ever since, and been writing professionally for many years. He has ridden all over North America and been behind the controls of just about every machine out there. And yes, he still has his 1987 Yamaha Banshee.
More by Derrek Sigler
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