UTV 101: The Past, Present, and Future

Without a doubt, Las Vegas UTV Tours provides the best UTV trail riding in Las Vegas. The experience is unmatched when you have the vehicles and the terrain to utilize these machines to their full potential. Today is a history lesson on our favorite desert plaything, the UTV, or Utility Task Vehicle.

What is a UTV?

UTVs are often referred to as Recreation Off-High Vehicles (ROV) or Side-by-Sides (SXS), but a true UTV should sport an off-road design with a roll cage and four wheels. Depending on the design, they can be used for both recreation and utility.

Inspiring the UTV

There are many vehicles that inspired the UTV we drive today. The first four-wheeled off-road vehicle was created in 1941 by the US military. The Jeep, as it was known then and still to this day, was the original off-roader that started the Sport Utility Vehicle revolution. In the 1950s, people would strip down their cars to their chassis and rebuild them for off-road purposes, which was the first foray into the “buggy” movement that found a home on many of the country’s beaches. Although, the precursor that ultimately helped to shape the creation of the UTV was the All-Terrain Vehicle, or “ATV,” which also shares a fascinating history.

UTV Popularity Rising

The affordability and general popularity of the ATV in the 80s inspired a better built, better performing lightweight utility vehicle, the Kawasaki MULE. This particular vehicle was designed to be more lightweight and versatile than a truck while being more useful than an ATV. It quickly gained popularity in many industries, like groundskeeping, farming, and many more. It wasn’t until the 2000s that manufacturers began making these vehicles for the sole purpose of recreation.

The Future of the UTV

UTVs today are designed primarily as utility/recreational hybrid vehicles, but there are also specially-designed UTVs for medical uses and other unique industrial purposes. There is even a future of electric UTVs on the horizon, so we’re excited to see what technology can offer these exciting vehicles.

Speaking of the future, the best UTV trails in Las Vegas are waiting for you to explore. Call us today at 702-750-9751 to experience the Las Vegas desert terrain the way it’s supposed to be experienced — in a UTV.