out west riding?? kicked out of the northeast

[RBrown]

I currently reside in the northeast. We have in my opinion "minimal riding" and many restrictions to follow regarding the xpedition. I recently was indefinitely kicked out of the state of Maine sxs registration because of the 2,000lb weight limit (so there goes that state) NH is following suit as well. Now I feel like I've spent 60k for nothing seeing I cannot ride my surrounding states.
Anyone on here lives out west? I have nothing holding me back where I am and I am huge into sxs's and have 3 more as well. What would you recommend for places where there are no restrictions like we have here now.

 

[RavenGS]

Bunch of us from AZ and Utah on this forum; both great places for xPeditions. I grew up in New England, and can tell you I love it hear in the high desert of Northern AZ. Overall I would say it doesn't get any better for those like us who want to go places in our big toys. Plus where I am SxS's are almost commuter vehicles! See them on the roads everyday. Highly recommend Northern AZ as a landing spot.

 

[RBrown]

Bunch of us from AZ and Utah on this forum; both great places for xPeditions. I grew up in New England, and can tell you I love it hear in the high desert of Northern AZ. Overall I would say it doesn't get any better for those like us who want to go places in our big toys. Plus where I am SxS's are almost commuter vehicles! See them on the roads everyday. Highly recommend Northern AZ as a landing spot.

Great information, thank you. Currently highly considering moving to Utah. I want to be able to have the full potential for what I bought my machines for. There are just so many restrictions now up here it's ridiculous and you get fined like crazy.

 

[JTBarlow]

I’m not certain on Arizona UTV street legal regs but I know they do allow a lot.

In Utah you can street legal license your SxS and drive it anywhere except 4+ lane primary highways, freeways, or roads specifically posted with no ATV/UTV. 2 lane highways are allowed even if they open up to 4 lane occasionally, unless otherwise posted.

Nevada doesn’t allow Street legal UTVs but some towns allow their use on city streets in certain areas.

Otherwise, all 3 states have an unending supply of open, unrestricted trails and backcountry to explore.

There are other things to consider as well.
Utah requires an OHV course and certificate for all OHV operators. Whether they’re licensed in Utah or not, to ride within the state.

If you’re not licensed in Arizona you’re required to buy a OHV permit from the Arizona Dept of Fish and Game. It’s an annual permit and only $30 per machine.

Haven’t really seen anything from Nevada, permit wise, just the no street legal stuff.

 

[RBrown]

I’m not certain on Arizona UTV street legal regs but I know they do allow a lot.

In Utah you can street legal license your SxS and drive it anywhere except 4+ lane primary highways, freeways, or roads specifically posted with no ATV/UTV. 2 lane highways are allowed even if they open up to 4 lane occasionally, unless otherwise posted.

Nevada doesn’t allow Street legal UTVs but some towns allow their use on city streets in certain areas.

Otherwise, all 3 states have an unending supply of open, unrestricted trails and backcountry to explore.

There are other things to consider as well.
Utah requires an OHV course and certificate for all OHV operators. Whether they’re licensed in Utah or not, to ride within the state.

If you’re not licensed in Arizona you’re required to buy a OHV permit from the Arizona Dept of Fish and Game. It’s an annual permit and only $30 per machine.

Haven’t really seen anything from Nevada, permit wise, just the no street legal stuff.

Thank you for the wealth of Info. Ride command shows so much riding out that way. We are so damn limited here, and now that my reg has been removed from the system in maine, I basically have no where to go anymore. But get this'...they will allow 4 seater rzrs and generals but not xpeditions, ridiculous

 

[JTBarlow]

Yeah, I don’t really see the point of a weight limit on SxSs. Maybe if there’s a particular area with a flimsy bridge… but otherwise it’s pointless.

Another thing I love about this area is it’s got a great SxS community and a ton of events. Starting the first of October, there’s Trail Hero, a massive event that used to be mostly jeeps but now has a ton of SxS stuff. It also includes a 3 day Music Fest, tons of Vendors and just all around a damn good time!

Then later in October is UTV Takeover. More UTV and SxS focused, but still packed with stuff to do.

Both will be in Sand Hollow State Park in Hurricane, Utah, and even without an event that place is pretty awesome. Sand Dunes, Rock Crawling and Trail Riding all in one area.

I live about an hour away from there, so I go to all those events I can. But anywhere in this area, you can just pick a direction and go exploring.

 

[RavenGS]

If you’re not licensed in Arizona you’re required to buy a OHV permit from the Arizona Dept of Fish and Game. It’s an annual permit and only $30 per machine.

One clarification to JT's post that might be of value to all:
An OHV that weighs over 2,500lbs, unladen, does not need an OHV decal/permit. Pertinent language from the AZ G&F Dept website:
AZ GFD OHV Registration Rules

Note: Not only is a decal not required, as an AZ resident when I registered as street legal thru AZMVD, I was not allowed to get an OHV decal since my XP5 is over 2,500lbs unladen.

Not sure if a non-resident can get the decal via G&F, or if it bounces you when you enter your unladen weight?

Since I want to maintain our great trails and ability to use them, I donated the $30 fee a different way.

Also I recommend you carry a hardcopy of the G&F rules in the vehicle, not all enforcement agents are up on the specifics of every rule. Already helped me once!

 

[New Polaris Dude]

Regarding RavenGS post "Note: Not only is a decal not required, as an AZ resident when I registered as street legal thru AZMVD, I was not allowed to get an OHV decal since my XP5 is over 2,500lbs unladen. "

Don't know who you talked to, but my ADV5 4 door Northstar is registered in AZ for both highway and off highway with stickers for both on the plate.

As a native son of Arizona, for those wishing to relocate in our great state from the east, I extend a warm welcome, as long as you do not bring east cost politics to our great state.

 

[RavenGS]

Don't know who you talked to, but my ADV5 4 door Northstar is registered in AZ for both highway and off highway with stickers for both on the plate.

Thank you foor the reply New Polaris Dude, I am confused. First no offense is meant by the below, or taken on my end for your comments.
I did not talk to anyone. I went first to the Dept G&F website and found the instructions I linked in my previous post. I also went to the AZ MVD site, via my account, and when I tried to get a decal, it was bounced by the system as not required!

I am registered street legal/for on highway with a motorcycle/atv plate. There is no category in the decal section of MVD registration for a UTV over 2500lbs, that allows on and off hghway use. The only way I get a decal is if I say I am not ever using my XP5 on the highway, and that is not how I will be operating the vehicle.
I am not sure why we have a registration for a license plate that says we can go on highway, and then the decal registration specifically cuts out anything above 2500lbs.

I welcome any comments,or ideas, since the above is based on my reading of the respective websites. I am a firsttime SxS owner and want to do it right.

My apologies to RBrown for this digression from the original aim.

 

[JTBarlow]

We tried arguing this exact point with them and was told it’s still required for any vehicle that’s primary use is off-road. Even if it’s registered as Street legal.
We were told this by both the fish & game officer who gave us warnings and the Department when we called them.

I’m sure someone could get the ticket and fight it in court, but it’s not really worth the time over a $30 decal.

 

[JTBarlow]

Also, as far as I know, if your SxS is registered as a resident of Arizona, you don’t need the decal. Only non-residents.

 

[RavenGS]

I agree it is not worth the $30 ticket. However I also have an issue telling AZ MVD I will only use the vehicle offroad (the option that allows me to get a decal thru MVD which as an AZ resident is the only way i have found), and then get stopped by DPS and warned/ticketed. Maybe I am over analyzing the issue, so I will let it drop.

 

[RavenGS]

Also, as far as I know, if your SxS is registered as a resident of Arizona, you don’t need the decal. Only non-residents.

Per this link: AZ OHV registration - Dept G&F everyone needs it if the OHV is below 2,500lbs;

 

[JTBarlow]

One of the fellows with us when we got the initial warning was an Arizona resident and his SxS was registered street legal in Arizona. The officer said he was fine, it was just us non-residents he was warning.
During the course of our “Discussion” the officer admitted it was just about revenue, and as much as I hold Revenue Generation Officers in the highest disregard, it’s still a waste of time arguing with them when we could be riding. So we got the decals

 

[JTBarlow]

According to this graphic, Arizona residents should be issued a decal with their street legal plate. It’s different from the non-resident but should cover the same stuff.

 

[RavenGS]

Here is why they do not issue the decal to the over 2,500lb SxS, snapshot taken of the MVD page when I go in to purchase the decal:

Unless you want to say you will only use the vehicle off-road (for which you still need ot be licensed).

 

[JTBarlow]

Yeah… their wording is weird. And vague laws give a lot of power to the Revenue Generating Officers

 

[New Polaris Dude]

Well everyone, all I can say is government bureaucracy at its best. Why should Az be any different?

So, if you are an AZ resident and register your SxS in the state you can do it one of 3 ways;
1) Street legal only
* Windshield
* Turn signals front and rear
* License plate light
* Horn
* Side/rear view mirrors
* Vehicle Insurance (same as you would for your car)

2) OHV only. You are issued an Az lic plate with an OHV sticker that is placed in the upper left corner, same size as your street legal sticker, just on the other side. If you are stopped on a legal roadway, paved or unpaved, you will be cited.

3) Both Street Legal and OHV. Same as 1 and 2, you are issued a Lic Plate with the yearly registration sticker placed in the upper Right corner and your OHV sticker in the upper left. Also, in Arizona you can register a motor vehicle for 1 to 5 years. If you register your SxS for both on and off road, you have to do it one year at a time.

I have 3 SxS and all are registered both on and off road. For my 2023 CanAm Maverick X3 Turbo as well as my Xpedition ADV5, both were registerd thorugh the dealer at the time of purchase. And no, there is no "special deals" given to dealers.

So think about this. If the Xpedition could not be stickered for OHV in Arizona for residents, all of the delaers in the state would not sell the Xpeditions.

I cannot tell you about being from out of state what issues you may have. My suggestion is take your rig (if you are going to register it for hiway use so they can verify turn signlas, etc) and your registration to a AZDot office and walk in to get your decal.

Best of luck ! ! !

 

[JGKopp]

AZ MVD made me register this as a Dune Buggy because it was over #2,500 LBS. She said it was fully street legal and therefore didn’t need an off-road sticker. Registration cost almost $800 for the first year and will drop as it ages. The issued license plate is full size and not motorcycle size like any other SxS around here, so I don’t think the following looks out of place.

WD Electronics has a link to a site that will make a vanity motorcycle sized plate so it fits their beautiful LED lit license plate frame. I think a full sized license plate would have looked out of proportion and subject to off-road damage if I were to mount it on this vehicle. That’s my excuse anyway if I’m ever questioned by LEO. I doubt it will ever be a problem. If they question the missing off-road sticker, I will respond with “I paid almost $800 to register this fully street legal Dune Buggy and was told by MVD I didn’t need the Off-Road sticker.”
I wonder if a fully street legal Dune Buggy can drive on the Interstate in Arizona? Not that I would want to do that but I think it’s legal. Cheers

 

[JTBarlow]

I doubt you’ll ever have an issue with them over the decal.
It’s more about generating revenue from non-residents.