ATV as your other vehicle

[Texas Gypsy]

I have a shuttle bus and was looking at pulling my truck on a car hauler behind it. Not ideal but better than breaking camp if I have to go somewhere.
Then I got to thinking about the last time I was full time. I was pulling a cargo trailer behind a camper van. I had a motorcycle and a 4 wheeler in the trailer. I had all my bases covered except water.
I plan on mostly being in states where ATVs are legal. I already own a cargo trailer. I can pack up camp and drive the shuttle bus if I need to but thinking an atv may be an acceptable run around vehicle plus it would allow me to explore further than I can take the shuttle bus in.
Are there any problems with operating an ATV on forest roads if they are legal on public roads? I would think a forest road would be a public road. I don't rip and tear on one. It's simply a good substitute for legs since I can't go hiking any more.
Plus I can set up the sewing studio in the front portion of the trailer and give myself a LOT more room in the bus! I am completely comfortable pulling a trailer of any size. Used to drive a big rig

 

[wayne49]

There are rules about ATV/UTV width on some forest roads/trails. Check those rules online for the NF's where you might hang out.

Can't recall seeing an NF caring about an ATV/UTV being street legal in the state.

I have run a street legal dual sport motorcycle in NF's with no issues to date.

 

[WanderingRose]

Yes to what Wayne said.

I see more restrictions on ATV’s, as to where they can be, on what roads, etc., and they cannot be driven in all towns across the US.

I would like to think the restrictions are because of the noise they cause and the clouds of dust they leave behind them.

 

[Texas Gypsy]

I wish I was steady enough to ride a motorcycle. It's really embarrassing when you drop your bike.....and not good for it either. Only time I ever dropped my bike was on purpose when a buddy I was following didn't make a curve. It was faster to drop it than to do the kickstand.

I get that they can't be driven everywhere. That's why I specified where they are legal. I pretty much plan to be in the Rockies or Mexico if I can get my bus nationalized....or I can get someone at Aduana to read the statute that a permanent resident can actually get a TIP on an RV from out of country. Not holding my breath on that one.

I may see if I can test ride an ebike. Depending on range that might be an idea.

 

[bullfrog !]

There are electric fat tire 3 wheelers and with multiple batteries you can travel easily 20 miles. I tried for years to get some type of vehicle that would work for me. Even now I have several electric bikes none of which I really feel work as well as I want. Weather is a problem. Traction, turning and traffic as well. They do work and on occasion well, but not always. ATVs and UTVs require special permits and in many states are not legal on roads with speed limits above 50 MPH as well as restricted on certain federal lands even with all the highway lights, equipment and licenses. Several places are lax on enforcement tho and many places you can drive beside the road, so it is possible to meet most needs but again weather and dust come into play. My solution and many others have chosen to use a street legal, licensed and insured in all fifty states small 4 wheel drive vehicles made by Suzuki. A Samurai in stock form can cruse at 60 MPH is weather tight, can be had with a heater and AC, gets around 25 MPG, is a little less than 12 foot long, actually smaller than many UTVs, the manual can be flat towed over 200 miles without having to run it a few minutes to lubricate transfer case bearings, is so light weight you probably won’t notice you are towing it, it is still produced world wide so parts are readily available. It was sold for several years in the USA as a street legal vehicle and even though they are getting rare they still cost 1/2 what a new bottom line UTV cost. If you want more power and an automatic then the Sidekick or Tracker will fill the need at a slightly higher cost and a little less reliable vehicle that is capable of 65 MPH. Biggest problem with these vehicles is they are not something you want to take on an 80 MPH interstate or travel long distances in. The good thing is they are amazingly capable on dirt roads as well as dust and weather tight and you are able to store and lock things up securely. No legal hassles other than regular registration requirements in your state of residence.

 

[Texas Gypsy]

There are electric fat tire 3 wheelers and with multiple batteries you can travel easily 20 miles. I tried for years to get some type of vehicle that would work for me. Even now I have several electric bikes none of which I really feel work as well as I want. Weather is a problem. Traction, turning and traffic as well. They do work and on occasion well, but not always. ATVs and UTVs require special permits and in many states are not legal on roads with speed limits above 50 MPH as well as restricted on certain federal lands even with all the highway lights, equipment and licenses. Several places are lax on enforcement tho and many places you can drive beside the road, so it is possible to meet most needs but again weather and dust come into play. My solution and many others have chosen to use a street legal, licensed and insured in all fifty states small 4 wheel drive vehicles made by Suzuki. A Samurai in stock form can cruse at 60 MPH is weather tight, can be had with a heater and AC, gets around 25 MPG, is a little less than 12 foot long, actually smaller than many UTVs, the manual can be flat towed over 200 miles without having to run it a few minutes to lubricate transfer case bearings, is so light weight you probably won’t notice you are towing it, it is still produced world wide so parts are readily available. It was sold for several years in the USA as a street legal vehicle and even though they are getting rare they still cost 1/2 what a new bottom line UTV cost. If you want more power and an automatic then the Sidekick or Tracker will fill the need at a slightly higher cost and a little less reliable vehicle that is capable of 65 MPH. Biggest problem with these vehicles is they are not something you want to take on an 80 MPH interstate or travel long distances in. The good thing is they are amazingly capable on dirt roads as well as dust and weather tight and you are able to store and lock things up securely. No legal hassles other than regular registration requirements in your state of residence.

If I were going to do something like that instead (big part of the point of this is the advantage of pulling a cargo trailer with the extra room).....I would go buy an old VW beetle in Mexico.
Not sure how fast they will go but I've seen them go places a good 4 wheel drive truck can't!
I'm legal to drive a Mexican vehicle in the US because I'm a permanent resident of Mexico. It's actually illegal for me to drive a US plated vehicle in Mexico.

 

[bullfrog !]

I have had several VWs over the years and while they will go many places and can be made to cruise at highway speeds of 70 to 75 MPH stock the original air cooled Bug was designed for a top speed of 63 MPH. By lightening them and using a steering brake set up you can mimic traction control. A Baja Bug body still requires an engine cage for protection so length is still an issue. Myers’s Manx still makes a fiberglass body to fit a custom shortened chassis but like everything air cooled VW parts have gotten very expensive and performance VWs don’t like temperatures below 60 degrees in my opinion and usually are built without heaters. Manx is even putting aircraft engines and full electric motors in their chassis now a days. Tow bars for VWs are easy and anything below 2,000 lbs. is easy to tow again in my opinion. Generally speaking a light weight 4 wheel drive will go more places than a light weight two wheel drive and water cooled engines are easier to make more powerful and reliable today which is the reason you see so many UTVs on the dunes. Yes towing a somewhat stock Mexican Beetle would be a blast but again a lot of compromises. The Suzuki vehicles are easier to repair and get repaired today in my opinion as well in the USA but in Mexico probably much easier.

 

[hugemoth]

If you're ever in Oregon ATVs and UTVs are not legal on roads and cannot be plated. They can be used on some national forest roads but only on certain approved roads shown on the motor vehicle use maps (MVUM).

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

National Forest Motor Vehicle Use Maps are your best source for information on where and what you can drive in the forest. They generally follow state vehicle laws. They are also the most accurate for roads in a NF (more up to date than USGS topo maps).
The MVUM's I possess have separate roads into 4 categories:

1. Highway legal vehicles
2. All vehicles
3. Vehicles under 50" in width
4. Special vehicle designation

Off trail riding is usually limited to excursions of 300 feet from designated roads for camping. MVUM's will display where this is legal.
A lot of states have extensive 4wheeler/snowmobile trail systems that span 100s of miles across federal, state, and private land. You will need to check state and local laws to for legality of riding on normal roads.

 

[Texas Gypsy]

Don't plan on being in Oregon

 

[bullfrog !]

If an electric bicycle serves your needs and you have a way to charge the batteries then it by far is the easiest to deal with. Most electric bikes that are limited to less than 20 MPH and do not have a hand throttle can be ridden without being registered or insured most places especially if you have a documented handicap. Modern tire sealants like Stan’s and an old tube cut to use as a liner practically eliminates flat tires.

 

[bagabum]

I would try to go as light as possible. The shuttle is probably already high mileage and doing good to get itself around, now pulling a trailer with a truck on it, ouch, and you're talking about long trips, not just moving 20 miles to meet BLM requirements. Could you sale the trailer and the truck and get a tiny car, and possibly flat tow it if compatible.

 

[Texas Gypsy]

I would try to go as light as possible. The shuttle is probably already high mileage and doing good to get itself around, now pulling a trailer with a truck on it, ouch, and you're talking about long trips, not just moving 20 miles to meet BLM requirements. Could you sale the trailer and the truck and get a tiny car, and possibly flat tow it if compatible.

The bus is a beast! Ford E-450 7.3L super duty. Had 6 new tires put on it today and oh boy will it move on down the road now! Just took it to the mechanics and he's going to be fixing some exhaust leaks and putting a new kit in the turbo. Filter transmission fluid, flush the radiator, change any suspicious belts and hoses.
Oh yeah......I wasn't asking for folks to throw shade on my bus. Was just seeing if anyone knew of a reason I can't use an atv on blm or forest land.
This is the oddest forum. Folks just want to be negative and not answer the question asked
Did I mention that I'm a truck driver, operate heavy equipment and grew up on tractors?

 

[Texas Gypsy]

If an electric bicycle serves your needs and you have a way to charge the batteries then it by far is the easiest to deal with. Most electric bikes that are limited to less than 20 MPH and do not have a hand throttle can be ridden without being registered or insured most places especially if you have a documented handicap. Modern tire sealants like Stan’s and an old tube cut to use as a liner practically eliminates flat tires.

I've considered an ebike but dang they are expensive! I have a 2,000 watt Bluetti solar generator and 2- 2,000 watt generators with a join kit so I can definitely charge one.
Other than price, my hesitation is my health. The 2 years since I received a transplant kidney have been a living hell. The medications have taken me from sailing solo in the Pacific to needing a wheelchair. Some of the meds have affected my balance. I'd hate to buy an ebike and then be put on something that would prevent me from riding it. I thought about a three wheeled ebike but those can get flipped if you hit a bump wrong.

 

[bullfrog !]

ATVs are pretty easy to get hurt on as well but in Southern Arizona rural areas like around Caballo Loco they pretty much are used by many for getting around on BLM and Arizona State Trust lands with proper permits. Many trails run beside the paved roads which they use to get to Three Points 20 miles away in good weather for supplies. Most use them for recreation rather than daily drivers as distances to more major services are longer and involve higher speed paved roads.

 

[NctryBen]

I use mine to go between the ltva’s in Quartzsite... and to do things like get water. It’s not really mine if you ask Kira...
it’s a handy tool... and can be fun to explore some with. Unfortunately my hand wasn’t to good and it would lock up on me. I’d either have to operate the throttle with my left hand or have Kira drive back. Haha. At home I can run up town with it. Most places a regular old 4 wheeler without blinkers and such are not allowed. Many states want you to have their tags on it. Like Arizona has a license plate for street legal and an off road sticker for trail type use.

 

[Happy Camper]

I would go with the trailer and ATV combo. Get an extra handicap hanger from the DMV and find a place you can have it on your ATV. If a ranger stops you, you say it's your mobility when camping, as your normal wheelchair can't go on dirt or rocks.

If your ATV doesn't have headlights, brake lights, or turn signals, consider addressing that. As well as a side mirror or two. In California they started making street legal golf carts at one point. What I mentioned above was most of the difference from a standard golf cart. If you can use it on the street, it should be ok to go where a vehicle is allowed to travel. That should include trails.

The site mentioned above will probably be of good use to see what's what regarding specific areas.

But sure if that helps, but it's pretty much all I have lol.

 

[Malamute]

I would go with the trailer and ATV combo. Get an extra handicap hanger from the DMV and find a place you can have it on your ATV.

Ive looked into how to use a handicap parking hang tag on a motorcycle, the consensus seems to be the law requires it to be hung from the mirror. Thats somewhat problematic on a motorcycle because it could simply blow off in a breeze or be stolen easily. Im working on a method for laminating one, most likely to a piece of aluminum stock with the hang hole mostly filled in and that would allow a small cable for attaching to the motorcycle mirror.

 

[Happy Camper]

Have a small lock on it if you don't want it to grow legs. Easy peasy.

 

[BlueMarkOhio]

Ive looked into how to use a handicap parking hang tag on a motorcycle, the consensus seems to be the law requires it to be hung from the mirror. Thats somewhat problematic on a motorcycle because it could simply blow off in a breeze or be stolen easily. Im working on a method for laminating one, most likely to a piece of aluminum stock with the hang hole mostly filled in and that would allow a small cable for attaching to the motorcycle mirror.

I think you can get handicap motorcycle license tags in most states. I've seen them in Michigan.