Originally published in May 2008. This report has been updated with full-size photography and additional historical context. Trail access, vehicle requirements and street-use regulations may have changed since this event.
The 2nd Annual UTV Rally brought side-by-side enthusiasts to Moab, Utah, from May 14–17, 2008. Guided rides took participants onto the area’s famous slickrock while manufacturers, aftermarket companies and UTV owners gathered around what was still a relatively new form of organized off-road recreation.
Only a year earlier, the first Moab UTV Rally had attracted more than 100 side-by-sides and over 200 participants. Moving the second rally into town gave the event a more visible Moab presence. Police escorts helped participants travel from the event area to trailheads during the organized rides.
The trails quickly demonstrated how challenging Moab could be for the relatively narrow, short-wheelbase UTVs of the period. Winches and tow straps received plenty of use as early Yamaha Rhinos, Polaris RZRs and Kawasaki Teryx models tackled steep slickrock climbs and ledges.
An Early UTV-Specific Event in Moab
Moab was already internationally known among Jeep, four-wheel-drive and mountain-bike enthusiasts, but organized side-by-side events were still a new concept in 2008.
The UTV Rally gave owners an opportunity to experience the area with other vehicles of similar size and capability. It also created a place for manufacturers and aftermarket companies to test products in demanding real-world terrain.
Vehicles encountered steep climbs, abrupt ledges, loose rock and off-camber slickrock. These obstacles exposed limitations in the relatively basic suspension, tires, occupant protection and ground clearance offered by early factory UTVs.
Rhinos, RZRs and the New Kawasaki Teryx
The mix of vehicles at the rally reflected the changing UTV market in 2008.
The Yamaha Rhino remained the most established recreational side-by-side. Owners had already developed it into a capable trail platform with long-travel suspension, replacement cages, larger tires, winches and engine modifications.
The Polaris RZR brought a lower seating position and more sport-oriented chassis to the category. Its compact 50-inch width and short wheelbase made it maneuverable, although the original machine’s modest ground clearance presented challenges on large Moab ledges.
The 2008 rally also provided an important early showcase for the new Kawasaki Teryx 750. Kawasaki’s V-twin recreational side-by-side had only recently entered the market, but manufacturers were already developing long-travel suspension, cages, bumpers and other trail equipment for it.
This transition from a Rhino-dominated market to competition among the Rhino, RZR and Teryx is one of the central developments covered in UTV History 2008: The Year Sport Side-by-Sides Took Shape.
DragonFire Racing and Warn Kawasaki Teryx
One of the most significant vehicles at the rally was a Kawasaki Teryx equipped with DragonFire Racing long-travel suspension and Warn recovery equipment.
The build showed how quickly the aftermarket had responded to Kawasaki’s new platform. Increasing the Teryx’s track width and suspension travel improved stability and allowed it to negotiate larger terrain with greater control.
A winch was especially valuable in Moab, where a difficult ledge or poor line could leave an early UTV without enough traction or ground clearance to continue under its own power.
The vehicle represented an early stage of the project documented in our complete 2008 Kawasaki Teryx build.
Kawasaki Brings Factory Support
Kawasaki supported the rally with a factory transporter and multiple Teryx demonstration vehicles. That presence was notable because it showed the manufacturer actively introducing its new recreation UTV to enthusiasts in one of America’s most demanding trail destinations.
Testing Early UTVs on Moab Slickrock
Many of the machines participating in 2008 had considerably less suspension travel, ground clearance and tire size than modern recreation and sport UTVs. Drivers had to rely on careful tire placement, momentum and help from spotters.
The photographs show both the capabilities and limitations of these early machines. Even relatively stock-looking Rhinos were navigating steep slickrock descents and technical ledges that had traditionally been associated with Jeeps and dedicated rock crawlers.
Rancho Tests Long-Travel Rhino and RZR Suspension
The Rancho Suspension team used the event to test long-travel Yamaha Rhino and Polaris RZR suspension systems at White Wash Sand Dunes, Fins and Things and Hell’s Revenge.
This was exactly the type of real-world development environment the rapidly growing UTV aftermarket needed. The combination of dunes, high-traction slickrock, ledges and rough connecting trails placed very different demands on suspension components.
For a closer look at the trail and its major obstacles, visit our Hell’s Revenge trail guide.
A Community Takes Shape
The rally was about more than testing vehicles. It brought together owners, builders, manufacturers and accessory companies at a time when the UTV community was still taking shape.
Rows of customized Rhinos and RZRs demonstrated how quickly owners were adopting cages, doors, suspension, lighting, tires and recovery equipment. The event also allowed participants to compare modifications on the trail instead of only seeing them displayed at a trade show.
Why the 2008 Moab UTV Rally Matters
The second UTV Rally helped demonstrate that side-by-sides could become serious recreational trail vehicles rather than remaining primarily tools for farms, ranches and job sites.
Moab’s terrain encouraged the development of upgrades that remain important today: stronger occupant protection, increased ground clearance, better suspension, durable tires, recovery equipment and improved vehicle control.
The event also arrived at the right moment in UTV history. The Rhino had created a thriving customization culture, the RZR was redefining sport performance and the new Teryx was emerging as a versatile recreation platform. All three could be seen together on the trail in Moab.
The original UTV Rally would only continue for a few more years. By 2010, Rally on the Rocks emerged as a new UTV-specific Moab event, building upon the growing demand for organized side-by-side trail riding in the area.
Historical note: This article documents conditions and event arrangements from May 2008. Before planning a current trip, verify trail status, permits, vehicle requirements and street-use regulations with the appropriate Moab, Grand County and land-management authorities.
Continue exploring our 2008 UTV history, browse more UTV trip reports, or visit the complete histories of the Yamaha Rhino, Polaris RZR and Kawasaki Teryx.
