Quad to the store - why not?

[hitekcountry]

There have been a number of times I've thought I'd like to jump on the quad and run to the store instead of going in the truck. The quad gets maybe somewhere around 40 to 50 mpg and the truck gets about 14 mpg. I don't do it of course because the quad is not legal on the roads. But why is that?

 

[mjfox6]

There have been a number of times I've thought I'd like to jump on the quad and run to the store instead of going in the truck. The quad gets maybe somewhere around 40 to 50 mpg and the truck gets about 14 mpg. I don't do it of course because the quad is not legal on the roads. But why is that?

They simply aren't designed to run on paved roads. Just look at West Virginia:

"The state has the highest death rate in the nation with two-thirds of the deaths on paved roads."

Source: Hur Herald

 

[hitekcountry]

Oh no way would I want to go on any highway with the thing, I'm only talking about 25 mph type roads.

 

[mjarrels]

If I had a off road vehicle, I could go to the bank and several other stores using paved cart paths on the 36 hole golf course next door.

mark

 

[Heywood Jannockitov]

I'm pretty sure in northern Ontario they can legally be driven on secondary roads as long as they are plated and insured. Not sure where the dividing line is, probably north of North Bay.

We take a Yamaha scooter with us to horse shows because, one, it fits in a stall and two, it can be driven off the show grounds if we need to run to the store. Something you can't do with a dirt bike, small ATV or golf cart, which are the other common run-abouts at shows.

Of course you can't carry a whole lot, but better than unhooking the truck from the trailer to get a carton of milk or, ...ahem, a six-pack.

 

[RobertN]

When I was in Costa Rica last summer, they were all over the place in smaller towns.

 

[Wayne County Hose]

Any OTR motor vehicle must have insurance and specific parts must meet certain DOT spec's. I can make brake chamber hoses that outlast and are infinitely safer than the commercial ones available, but you have to have DOT certified crimps to do that. My buddy's shop makes stainless steel braided brake hoses for automobiles and bikes. He is assigned a DOT # that is stamped into the crimp whenever he makes a line. Quads have none of this. If they did, add at least 50% to the price.

Then, there's the lawyers.......

 

[Tig]

It's county by county in Ontario. They can be driven on county roads in the Frankford Ontario area. There was a big push to do the same in Prince Edward county. That went south when the sponsor was involved in a police chase and subsequent crash with injuries on his quad.
Based on experience with quads, 3 wheelers, dirt bikes motorcycles and snowmobiles, I don't think it's safe. Quads were not built for the road.

 

[charlz]

Well, I know it is possible in Montana as my dad got a license for his, had to change to DOT approved tires. Limited to 45 mph and below roads I believe. I have seen plated quads here in Idaho as well, don't know the particulars here though.

A friend of mine bought a UTV and then tried to license it here in Idaho... no go... but the lady said you could put a SMV sign on the back and drive it almost where ever you want.... that might be something to think about

 

[IllMarty1]

The paved county road that runs by my summer place in Wisconsin is an authorized ATV trail. You must have your ATV registered and slow down to 10mph when within 150' of a house.

 

[Beavis]

Kansas:

8-15,100. OPERATION OF ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLES; WHERE; WHEN; EXCEPTIONS.
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), it shall be unlawful for any person to operate an all-terrain vehicle: (1) On any interstate highway, federal highway or state highway; or (2) within the corporate limits of a city of the first class.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), all-terrain vehicles owned and operated by a county noxious weed department, or all-terrain vehicles owned and operated by persons contracting with a county noxious weed department or the Kansas department of transportation may be allowed to operate such all-terrain vehicles upon the right-of-way of any federal highway or state highway for the purpose of eradicating noxious weeds and such all-terrain vehicles may be operated incidentally upon such federal highway or state highway.
(c) No all-terrain vehicle shall be operated on any public highway, street or road between sunset and sunrise unless equipped with lights as required by law for motorcycles.

 

[schmism]

while they may not be legal to drive on the PAVED road.

there is a public ROW that runs alongside the road which you should be able to use. 1) its dirt/grass a better surface for the ATV, 2) it means it will keep your speed down.

Its common to see the guys on snowmobiles run the ROW's when we get big snow.

 

[Unclebuck257]

We live in a rural area in N Texas, with county roads (dirt and rock) for two miles in any direction before we hit a blacktop, paved, road. We ride our ATVs on those county roads quite a bit, BUT, we do it for fun and not to save fuel.

I'm not sure what size bike you're riding to get that kind of mpg, but I've got a 2003 Bombardier 650cc ATV, which is 4X4 and heavy, weight wise, that never has gotten much better mileage than my truck. By that I mean, my ATV probably gets around 15-18 mpg, and that's certainly not worth missing the comfort and safety of my truck for a longer trip.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

kids big and small ride them on the road here all the time.