4 wheelers

The Yamaha Raptor 660R is a sport all terrain vehicle made by Yamaha with a 660cc, single cylinder, five-valve, four-stroke engine. It is designed to perform well in every riding condition. Yamaha sold the Raptor 660 from model year 2001 through 2005. The Raptor 660R was replaced in 2006 by the totally redesigned Raptor 700R (686cc).

1. Know your trailer’s weight and your vehicle’s towing capacity rating, and don’t exceed it! When determining the towing capacity of your vehicle, refer to your car or truck manufacturer owner’s manual. Then, use your ATV manufacturer owner’s manual to verify the weight of the ATV and trailer. Don’t forget to add in any other items that you carry, i.e. generator, extra gas, etc.
2. Check your vehicle’s oil and radiator levels, all other automotive vital fluids and tire pressure. Towing a large load puts extra strain on your vehicle, so make sure that it’s up to the task.
3. Grease up your trailer wheel hubs. The trailer has likely been sitting for a good portion of the winter and may have old residue from trails and roads still sitting on it, so cleaning out and greasing up the hubs will prevent seizing and over-heating on the highway.
4. Make sure you test the brakes on your trailer (if it has brakes) before you hit the road.
5. Check the tires on the trailer for pressure and cracks. The sun and seasonal wear causes natural oils in the tire to break down, reducing the life of the tire. If one tire needs replacing, it’s best to replace both tires so that they have matching tire treads and pull evenly. If you can only replace one tire, try to replace it with the same manufacturer model tire and tread. Also, always carry a spare tire for your trailer.
6. Check that your tire jack fits properly under the trailer. Some tire jacks may be compatible with your vehicle but too large to fit under a trailer.
7. Remember to always carry a trailer tool kit with ratchets, spare trailer bolts and hooks, as well as recovery straps to rescue vehicles. The Steady mate Recovery Strap is stronger than cable, lighter than chain and can easily attach to any vehicle in trouble.
8. It is wise to carry a tow strap in both your trailer tool kit as well as your ATV kit so that you are always prepared to rescue an ATV or yourself. Steady mate has come out with a 15-foot long Tow Strap that is perfect for pulling an ATV out of a muddy situation, or when the engine has ceased.
9. Make sure the size of the ball on the hitch matches the size of the latch (ball cover) on the trailer. One of the biggest mistakes people make is hook up a trailer with a two-inch ball cover to a trailer hitch with a smaller ball (e.g. 1 7/8”) – this can easily come off if you hit a bump or pile of snow.
10. Attaching trailer chains from the towing vehicle to the trailer is a must. The chains should have snap hooks or links that will prevent the chain from coming loose, and the chains should be crossed, creating a basket in case the hitch comes off the ball.
11. Be certain to check that the sacrament points (i.e. tie-down hook points) on your trailer are structural members of the trailer’s body and that they are properly intact. If no suitable securement points exist on your trailer, secure the tie-down straps to the trailer’s frame, or purchase and install a trailer mount kit. Steady mate offers a variety of trailer surface mount kits, including the Surface Mount E Kit that can be easily installed without any routering.
12. When loading your ATV onto the trailer, make sure to attach the trailer to your vehicle first, and only use a ramp that can support your ATV weight plus all of your extra ATV gear. Approach the ramp in the lowest gear, and try to avoid jerky starts and stops. Never approach ramps at high speeds as this could cause them to buckle or ram into the back of the trailer or vehicle.
13. Once your ATV is up on the trailer, remember to balance the weight of the ATV over the trailer axle to evenly distribute the load, and then always set the parking brake.
14. When securing your ATV with tie-downs, think of the Steadymate 4 X 45º rule. Prevention of movement from side to side and back to front is achieved with Tie-Downs in four opposite corners creating equal tension and balance. Prevention of movement up and down is the next step, and this is accomplished by securing straps at a 45º angle from the ATV to the floor at all four securement points. By following the 4 X 45º rule, you have now completed the task of securing your vehicle from the forces of all three directions: side-to-side, front to back and up and down; thus, creating less risk in braking situations, accidents or slippery conditions for you and others on the roads.
15. Steady mate recommends that each strap used to secure your sled should be rated for the full weight of your ATV; during transport, any one strap could be called upon to hold the full weight of your ATV due to uneven road conditions, sharp turns and emergency situations.
16. Only use sacrament straps that have a working load limit tag (1/3 the ultimate breaking strength) to ensure you are compliant with new safety legislation. Not having a working load limit tag on your straps is equivalent to having no straps at all in the eyes of the law, and fines can cost you hundreds of dollars and points deducted from your license. Steady mate takes these regulations seriously and has sewn a working load limit tag onto every strap they sell.
17. When driving at night, it is always recommended to have reflectors on your trailer. By the way, every set of Steadymate Cinchtite Straps comes with a Steadymate reflective sticker!
18. Take a couple of minutes at each fuel or rest stop to check on your ATV and trailer. Make sure that all tie-downs are securely in place, your lights are still functioning and your trailer tire hubs are not too hot.