Polaris Sportsman 550 EFI - Manual (Page 76)

72
OPERATION
Hauling Cargo
Overloading the vehicle or carrying or towing cargo improperly can alter vehicle
handling and may cause loss of control or brake instability. Always follow these
precautions when hauling cargo:
Never carry cargo in the rear box when operating the ATV in the 2-up mode with
a passenger.
REDUCE SPEED AND ALLOW GREATER DISTANCES FOR BRAKING
WHEN HAULING CARGO.
NEVER EXCEED THE MAXIMUM WEIGHT CAPACITY of the vehicle. When
determining the weight you are adding to the vehicle, include the weight of the
operator, passenger, accessories, loads in the rack or box and the load on the
trailer tongue. The combined weight of these items must not exceed the
maximum weight capacity.
REDUCE SPEED AND CARGO to maintain stable driving conditions when
operating over rough or hilly terrain.
WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION in the cargo bed should be as far forward and as low
as possible. Carrying a high load raises the center of gravity and creates a less
stable operating condition. Reduce load weight when cargo is high. When
handling off-centered loads that cannot be centered, secure the load and
operate with extra caution.
SECURE ALL LOADS BEFORE OPERATING. Unsecured loads may shift and
create unstable operating conditions, which could result in loss of control of the
vehicle. Always be sure that the cargo bed is lowered and latched before
moving the vehicle.
USE EXTREME CAUTION when operating with loads extending beyond the
rack or cargo bed. Stability and maneuverability may be adversely affected,
causing the machine to overturn.
BALANCE LOADS proportionally between the front rack and cargo bed, but do
not exceed the stated load capacity. Carrying a load on only the front rack or
cargo bed may cause an imbalanced condition and increases the possibility of
vehicle overturn.
USE EXTREME CAUTION when applying brakes with a loaded vehicle. Avoid
terrain or situations that may require backing downhill.
Always attach the tow load to the hitch point.
DO NOT TRAVEL FASTER THAN THE RECOMMENDED SPEEDS. The
vehicle should never exceed 10 mph (16 kph) while towing a load on a level
surface. Vehicle speed should never exceed 5 mph (8 kph) when towing loads in
rough terrain, while cornering, or while ascending or descending a hill.
DO NOT BLOCK THE FRONT HEADLIGHT BEAM when carrying loads on the
front rack.
WARNING