Can -Am Defender is a capable rig built with the manufacturer’s legendary reliability. It thrives on a hard day’s work and is tough enough to handle any task. It is ideal for property maintenance, ranching, farming, hunting, exploring, and more. The Defender is also popular because of its industry-leading towing capacity and storage space, making it excellent for heavy work.
You have a wide range of options regarding the types of trailers designed with Can-Am Defender. There is a sizable selection of single and double axel models, as well as variants with dump beds, available. The trailers are frequently narrow, just like the Can-Am Defender itself. Yet, these smaller dimensions are useful in most job locations.
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Why is It Important to Know the Weight?
UTVs are not street legal, so you must tow your Can-Am Defender in most public spaces. Additionally, weight has an impact on the performance of the vehicle and is related to driving characteristics. For instance, a heavy UTV may be challenging to maneuver on narrow pathways with sharp turns.
It is also vital to remember that trailers have a carrying capacity. The load rating of the trailer’s axle is the key determinant of its weight restriction. The diameter of a trailer axle is rated, which aids in assessing the overall strength of the axle. The weight that an axle can support depends on its thickness; most axles have a carrying capacity of between 1,000 and 10,000 pounds.
Knowing your trailer’s weight capacity might help you determine what it can tow and how to best balance the load inside it. You run the danger of the axle breaking if you attempt to tow something heavier than the trailer can carry or if you load the weight in an exceedingly uneven manner.
If this occurs when loading, you will experience delays and frustration and risk hurting both yourself and the other persons loading. A damaged axle is likely to damage your vehicle and nearby automobiles. Thus, it is crucial that you are aware of your trailer’s weight restriction and never exceed it.
Also read: How to Choose the Right Trailer to Haul Your ATV/UTV?
Why Do You Need to Know the Width, Length, and Height?
The dimensions are also as important as the weight concerning the driving characteristics. For instance, a lengthy vehicle could be challenging to maneuver on a narrow path with a sharp turn. The manufacturer specifies the standard dimensions ex works. Each model’s dimensions might vary, and occasionally the changes are significant.
Furthermore, the afterparts you have applied affect the width, length, and height. A lift kit can make a big difference. So, you will once more need to evaluate the Can-Am defender’s length, width, and height. If you are looking to buy a trailer, you may as well measure it.
The optimal size trailer for a Can-Am Defender has a minimum square footage of 72 feet. The most suitable compact choice for this UTV might be a 6′ x 12′ trailer. You might wonder why the width is given in inches rather than feet, which is a major deal. It is because items are measured in inches rather than feet, so the trailer width is determined in inches.
You can more easily determine what will fit in the trailer with the measurement in inches. Furthermore, a trailer shouldn’t be bigger than the vehicle pulling it.
Weight, Width, Length and Height of a Can-Am Defender
The width, length, height and weight are different for each type of Defender. View the table below for the different versions of the Defender and look up the data.
| Can-am Model | Estimated Dry Weight (pounds) | Dimensions (length x width x height in inches) |
|---|---|---|
| Defender HD 7 | 1,471 | 121 x 62 x 76 |
| Defender HD 8 | 1495.5 | 121 x 62 x 76 |
| Defender HD 9 | 1,541 | 121 x 62 x 76 |
| Defender HD 10 | 1,558 | 121 x 64 x 78 |
| Defender XT HD 10 | 1,600 | 125.7 x 64 x 80 |
| Defender X MR | 1,746 | 129.4 x 64 x 82 |
| Defender X MR with half doors | 2,174 | 161.9 x 64 x 82 |
| Defender MAX X MR HD 10 | 1,999 | 161.9 x 64 x 82 |
| Defender MAX DPS | 1,771 | 153.4 x 63.5 x 76 |
| Defender MAX XT | 1,902.6 | 158.3 x 64 x 79.5 |
| Defender 6X6 DPS | 1,945 | 154.1 x 64 x 78 |
| Defender Limited | 1,976 | 158 x 65 x 79 |
| Defender XT HD 9 | 1,606 | 158.3 x 64 x 79.5 |
| Defender XT HD 10 | 1,623 | 158.3 x 64 x 79.5 |
| Defender DPS PRO | 1,815 | 154.1 x 64 x 78 |
| Defender XU HD9 | 1,623 | 121 x 62 x 76 |
| Defender XU HD10 | 1,645 | 62 x 76 |
Note: The weight and dimensions are taken from the 2023 Can-Am Defender models. The weight of the Defenders that were previously produced are close to the weights mentioned in the table.
Added Weight, What Now?
You may have modified your Can-Am Defender and completely customized it with aftermarket parts. You may have changed or added components, such as bigger tires and rims, winch, or fitted a light bar.
These additions also have an impact on the rig’s weight. In this situation, the manufacturer’s data is no longer relevant, so you will need to estimate the weight. Therefore, you should consider the modifications done to the vehicle in addition to the manufacturer’s data.
There Are Different Types Of Weight
If you look for the weight of the Defender, you will encounter several ways in which the weight is expressed. This can sometimes be confusing.
The most important weight expressions are:
Dry Weight
This is side-by-side’s weight without cargo or fluid like fuel or oil. You can’t drive the UTV in this condition.
Wet Weight
It is ready-to-ride weight, also called Curb weight. The weight includes a full fuel tank, fluids, and all standard equipment of the UTV. It won’t significantly increase the trailer’s weight and is unlikely to cause you to rethink its size.
Gross Weight
The gross weight is the maximum weight of the UTV of your side-by-side and includes the wet weight plus passengers and cargo.
Payload
Payload is the total weight the UTV can carry, including the driver, passengers, and cargo. Many people mix up the payload and towing capacities when selecting a trailer. The weight a vehicle or trailer can safely transport without endangering the suspension, tires, or other parts is called the payload capacity.
The frame’s strength, suspension, tire size, and braking performance are some variables that affect payload capacity. There are many serious repercussions if you exceed your trailer’s payload capacity. First and foremost, you must always keep control of your trailer. You will be endangering yourself and other drivers if it is difficult to navigate the trailer because it is overloaded.
An overloaded trailer is also more prone to issues like flat tires or broken axles. So, always maintain your payload below the maximum limit to keep your vehicle and trailer safe on the road. Thus, it would be best if you never operated at or close to 100% of the capacity.
And What About the Dimensions?
Customizing your Can-Am Defender with aftermarket parts may affect its dimensions. You only need to consider a winch to understand how long it will take the vehicle. So, if you have changed or added components, such as bigger tires and rims, or fitted a light bar, winch, or lift kit, you must evaluate the Can-Am defender’s dimensions.
It is because the afterparts you have applied affect the dimensions of the UTV, and the manufacturer’s specs may no longer apply.
Final Words, How To Pick A Trailer?
So, you now have a better understanding of your Can-Am Defender’s weight and dimensions. But what should you do next? How do you pick from the several trailers? How can you locate a local maker of trailers?
First, decide how much you can afford and what features you require in your Can-Am Defender trailer. Then, visit trailer manufacturers’ websites to discover which trailers match your criteria or best suit your needs.
Numerous trailer variations are available, including enclosed UTV trailers, open utility trailers, and tandem axle utility trailers.
Finally, you can select a local dealer or manufacturer to deliver the trailer.
