UTVSpot – Beginner Gear Guide

Getting into the UTV scene is a blast, but figuring out what you actually need can feel like a maze. There’s a ton of gear out there, and everyone has an opinion. Truth is, you don’t need every gadget under the sun but there are a handful of essentials that make riding safer, smoother, and a whole lot less stressful.

Here’s the starter kit I’d recommend for anyone new to the sport.

1. Solid Tie-Down Gear (Don’t Skip This)

Before you even get to the trail, your UTV needs to survive the trailer ride.

Get:

• Wheel chocks
• Quality ratchet straps
• Soft loops for the cage and frame

Cheap straps or lazy tie-downs cause more damage than you think. Set it up right once, and you’ll never worry about it again.

2. Mounted Fire Extinguisher

Engines get hot. Wiring does weird stuff. Accidents happen.
A small extinguisher bolted in a reachable spot is a no-brainer and takes almost no space.

3. First-Aid Kit

Off-road = scratches, cuts, and the occasional “that’ll leave a mark.”
A basic kit handles all the small stuff so you’re not stuck improvising in the dirt.

4. Portable Tire Inflator

Tires lose air, trails get rough, and temperatures change.
A compact inflator saves you from riding a half-flat tire back to camp and ruining a wheel.

5. Tire Plug Kit

Cheap, tiny, and worth its weight in gold.
A plug kit can fix a puncture in minutes and keep you from limping out on a destroyed tire.

6. Spare Tire or Spare CVT Belt

Depending on your machine and where you ride:

• Spare tire if you hit rocks often
• Spare CVT belt if you’re in a belt-driven rig (Polaris owners, you know the deal)

Both can save you from a long walk.

7. On-Trail Tool Kit

You don’t need a full garage on board. Just throw together:

• A small socket set
• Screwdrivers
• Allen keys
• Pliers
• Knife or multi-tool

That’s enough to handle most of the basic “of course this happened out here” situations.

8. Portable Jump Starter

One of the biggest rookie mistakes is killing the battery by running lights or accessories with the engine off.
A small jump pack weighs nothing and can get you going in seconds — no second vehicle required.

9. Recovery Gear

Eventually, everyone gets stuck. Doesn’t matter how good you are.

Must-haves:

• Winch
• Recovery strap
• Soft shackles
• Solid tow points

Whether you’re pulling yourself out or helping someone else, you’ll be glad you brought this stuff.

10. GPS or Offline Navigation

Cell service drops fast once you leave the main path.
A GPS or offline-capable app keeps you from getting turned around and makes exploring way easier.

Final Thoughts

These are the basics every new UTV owner should have dialed in. They’re not flashy upgrades, but they’ll save you time, money, and stress — and they keep your rides fun instead of turning into recovery missions.

Once you’ve got this foundation built, then you can start throwing on performance parts, lighting, comfort mods, and all the fun stuff that personalizes your ride.