How to Jump a Side by Side UTV

Power - by Bryan Veldboom - updated on 3/4/2021

UTVs (Utility Task Vehicles) are a great asset for hauling, towing and off-road riding. Just like with any other vehicle though, your UTV's battery may occasionally run out of juice. When that happens, follow these easy, step-by-step instructions for jumping your UTV from another UTV or by using the battery in your car or truck.

How to Jump Start Your UTV From Another UTV or ATV

1. Position the two vehicles so that they're close enough for the jumper cables to reach both batteries.
2. Attach your jumper cables to the good battery, making sure that you are connecting them to the proper terminals. That means attaching the red (+) clamp to the positive terminal and the black (-) clamp to the negative terminal.
3. Attach the jumper cables to the dead battery. Again, be sure that you're connecting the clamps to the right terminals - positive to positive, negative to negative.
4. Start the machine with the good battery and let it run for three to five minutes.
5. Start the machine with the dead battery. If it works, be sure to keep it running until you get your UTV home. If it doesn't start, make sure that your battery connections are right and that your jumper cables are in good working condition with no rust or damage to the copper leads. If everything looks good, repeat the steps above.

How to Jump Start Your UTV From a Car or Truck

Can you jump a UTV with a car or truck? You can, however, it's not your best option. If you have no other choice though be sure that you keep the car or truck OFF at all times. Your car battery will be strong enough to power your UTV on its own. Turning over your car's engine will bring the alternator into play, which can overload and damage your UTV battery, so keep those car keys in your pocket.

1. Move the two vehicles close enough that the jumper cables can reach both batteries.
2. Make sure the ignition on the car or truck is off!
3. Attach your jumper cables to the good battery, same as above with the red clamp attaching to the positive terminal and the black attaching to the negative terminal.
4. Attach the jumper cables to the dead battery.
5. With the car engine off, wait about three to five minutes.
6. Start the UTV's engine.

Can You Jump Start Your UTV Using a Jump Pack?

A jump pack is a great tool to have on hand in case you get stranded. Jump packs are portable batteries that enable you to jump start your UTV without the aid of another vehicle. One thing to note, when selecting a jump pack for your utility vehicle, be sure the model you select is compatible with a UTV battery. We suggest the GB20 Boost Sport from NOCO. It's perfect for motorcycles, ATVs, lawn mowers and provides up to 20 jump starts on a single charge.

If you notice that your UTV is consistently having trouble holding a charge, bring it to your nearest Batteries Plus and we'll test it for you free of charge. You'll also find other UTV essentials, including replacement batteries, chargers (ATV chargers are compatible with UTVs), headlight bulbs and more.