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.