To secure an ATV on a trailer, use ratchet straps attached to the axles, wheels, or frame so the ATV can't move forward, backward, or tip. Choose a strap setup with a Safe Work Load equal to or greater than the ATV's weight, use soft loops or axle straps where there's no tie-down point, and recheck the load early in the drive.
You're a few miles into the trip, the trailer is rolling along nicely, and you glance in the mirror to see your ATV rocking against its straps. That's the moment you wish you'd spent five more minutes in the driveway.
Those extra minutes are all a good tie-down setup takes, and it's easier than it looks. With more than 20 years of experience developing tie downs for work and play, SmartStraps understands what it takes to secure your gear. From choosing the right straps to checking your load before hitting the road, a few simple steps can help keep your ATV secure and your attention on the adventure ahead.
Why Is Securing an ATV Different from Securing Other Cargo?
Securing an ATV isn't quite like securing a stack of lumber. The vehicle’s wheels and suspension allow movement during transport, so where you attach your straps, how you position them, and how you tension them all matter. Get those three things right, and you've covered most of what keeps an ATV steady on the road.
Curious about strap ratings and what they mean? We cover that in depth in this article so you don't have to wade through it here.
Be sure to check out "What Are the Strongest Ratchet Straps? How to Read the Ratings That Actually Matter”
What Are the Best Straps for Hauling an ATV?
Ratchet straps are the best fit for most ATV hauls. A ratchet strap's mechanical advantage gives you firmer, more controlled tension than a hand-tightened strap (like a cambuckle), which is what an ATV needs to stay put through miles of road vibration.
Cam buckle straps (we call them cambuckles) are not a substitute for a ratchet strap when the load requires holding power with mechanical advantage.
Choose your straps by Safe Work Load (also called Working Load Limit), the rated capacity printed on the strap's tag. The goal is simple: use a strap setup with a Safe Work Load equal to or greater than the weight of the ATV you're hauling. Many ATVs weigh somewhere between 400 and 800 lb, so check your own machine's weight in the owner's manual and match your straps to it.
Depending on your ATV's weight, Standard Duty, Heavy Duty, or Commercial Duty straps can all be a safe choice. SmartStraps Standard Duty is rated at 500 lb Safe Work Load, Heavy Duty at 1,000 lb, and Commercial Duty at 1,667 lb and up. The tier name matters less than the rating, so confirm the number on the tag of the specific strap you're buying, since ratings can vary by product.
ATVs often don't have obvious tie-down loops the way equipment with built-in D-rings might. Where there isn't one, a soft loop or axle strap gives you a solid connection point. Pick one with a capacity equal to or greater than the tie down you're using, and keep it away from sharp edges, since a soft tie can be cut if it's wrapped around something sharp.
Where Should You Attach Straps on an ATV?
You have two main choices: the running gear (axles and wheels) or the frame.
Axles and wheels are the preferred spot. Attaching there lets the ATV's suspension keep working during the drive. Frame attachment can work too, but on machines with long-travel suspension, straps tied to the frame can work loose as the machine moves.
Many ATVs also have manufacturer-designated tie-down points, and your owner's manual will show you where they are. If you use those, great. Whatever you choose, skip plastic body panels and anything else that wasn't made to take strap tension.
How Do You Secure an ATV on a Trailer? Step by Step
1. Load the ATV Straight and Centered
Guide the ATV up the ramp slowly and center it on the trailer, facing the tow vehicle. A crooked load makes it harder to set your straps evenly and throws off the trailer's balance.
2. Set the Parking Brake and Put It in Park (or Gear)
Before you touch a strap, make sure the ATV can't roll. Straps hold the ATV against road forces. They aren't a stand-in for the parking brake.
3. Choose Your Attachment Points
Use the axles, wheels, or frame as described above. If there's no built-in loop, add a soft loop or axle strap around the axle or frame to give your hook something solid to grab.
4. Make Sure the ATV Can't Move or Tip
The goal is simple: the ATV shouldn't be able to move forward, move backward, or tip. There's no one required angle or layout. Use enough straps, at solid attachment points on both the front and the rear, to keep it firmly in place.
5. Ratchet Each Strap to Even, Firm Tension
Tighten each strap enough to remove slack and keep the ATV from shifting. Don't use more force than the ATV, the attachment points, or the strap can handle just because the ratchet lets you. Work back and forth between straps so the tension stays even. One overtightened strap can leave another looser than it looks.
6. Check for Sharp Edges
Run your hand along each strap's path. Nothing should rest against a sharp edge, a hot surface, or a pinch point. Use a protective sleeve anywhere a strap crosses an edge.
7. Tidy the Excess Webbing
Loose strap tails can flap or catch at highway speed. Fold and tuck the extra webbing, or use a strap keeper. Many SmartStraps ratchet straps include a self-securing strap just for this.
8. Do a Shake Test
Before you pull out, give the ATV a firm push in a few directions. It may bounce a little on its suspension, and that's normal. It shouldn't slide, shift, or loosen a strap. If it does, re-tension or adjust your setup before you go anywhere.
9. Recheck Early and Often
Straps can settle as the ATV and trailer adjust to road vibration. Recheck your tie downs after the first 10 miles, then every 50 miles after that, and keep checking throughout the trip.
What Are the Most Common ATV Tie-Down Mistakes?
- Using a setup that leaves the ATV free to shift forward, shift backward, or tip
- Hooking onto plastic body panels or parts that weren't built to carry strap tension
- Letting a strap rub against a sharp edge without a protective sleeve
- Tightening one strap much more than the others, which leaves uneven tension
- Skipping the early recheck
Getting Ready for a Trail Weekend: A Quick Pre-Departure Checklist
- A strap setup with a Safe Work Load equal to or greater than your ATV's weight
- Soft loops or axle straps for any spot without a built-in tie-down point
- Protective sleeves for any strap crossing a sharp edge
- Parking brake set and ATV in park or gear
- Even tension across all straps
- Shake test completed
- Reminder set to recheck after 10 miles, then every 50
Frequently Asked Questions About Tying Down an ATV
What are the best straps for hauling an ATV?
Ratchet straps, used in a multi-point configuration with soft loops or axle straps at the frame connection points, are the general recommendation.
Where should I attach straps on an ATV?
The axles and wheels are the preferred spot because they let the suspension keep working during transport. The frame or manufacturer-designated tie-down points can also work. Avoid plastic body panels.
How many straps do I need to tie down an ATV?
There's no single required number or layout. Use enough straps, at solid attachment points toward both the front and the rear, that the ATV can't move forward, move backward, or tip.
How often should I check ATV tie-down straps during a drive?
Recheck after the first 10 miles, then every 50 miles after that. Straps can settle as the load adjusts to road vibration.
What Safe Work Load do I need for an ATV?
Choose a strap setup with a Safe Work Load equal to or greater than your ATV's weight. Depending on the weight, Standard Duty, Heavy Duty, or Commercial Duty straps can all work. Check the rating on the tag itself, and see our ratings guide for how to read it.
The Bottom Line
Tying down an ATV comes down to a few habits: the right straps, the right attachment points, even tension, and an early recheck. Do those in the driveway and the highway part takes care of itself.
SmartStraps has spent more than 20 years designing tie downs for hauling jobs just like this one. Ready to gear up? Shop axle straps and ratchet straps built for ATV transport. Planning to haul a side-by-side? Read How to Secure a UTV for Transport: Side-by-Side Hauling Done Right.
Click here to find the Axel Strap that best fits your need!
For the full step-by-step setup and technique, read How to Use Ratchet Straps Correctly: The Complete Guide or see What Are the Strongest Ratchet Straps? How to Read the Ratings That Actually Matter to go deeper on SWL vs. breaking strength.