Moab Off-Road, courtesy FourWheeler.com
The multi-billion dollar off-road industry covers a broad range of internet as well as “brick and mortar” business specialization and niche opportunities. There is great diversity in off-road vehicle types, parts, accessories, and equipment. The off-road industry includes vehicle and part manufacturers, dealers, distributors, wholesalers, re-sellers, and retailers. The possibilities are almost endless for specialized installation, customization, modification, and repair and service businesses.
Off-Road Vehicles
The term Off-Road Vehicle (Increasingly referred to as Off-Highway Vehicle, or OHV) means different vehicles to different people. Each type of vehicle can have a dedicated following of devotees. This has been the drive for the development of niche opportunities for businesses catering to specific vehicle types. Some companies are essentially dealerships which offer only the vehicles, parts, accessories and services pertaining to the products of specific makers, while other businesses may be more generally serving the overall off-road industry.
There is a giant market in the field of off-road Motorcycles, which are generally thought of as dirt bikes, as opposed to street bikes. These transformed into the world of All Terrain Vehicles or ATVs, including the three and four- wheeled machines one sits astride like a dirt bike, although the three-wheelers, sometimes called “trikes,” have been basically discontinued, and even outlawed in some jurisdictions, due to the rollover or flipping potential inherent in their design. This essentially leaves only the 4-Wheelers, causing many to now refer to the entire vehicle type as “Quads”
Demand for bigger and more capable machines lead to development of the Utility Vehicles or UTVs, which are the slightly larger cousins of the “four-wheeler” ATVs. Usually having seats for two to four passengers, they are also called “Side by Sides”. These are sometimes called “utes,” although not only is “Ute” the name of a southwestern Native American tribe(Utah was named for them), but it is also a common name in Australia for the most well-known segment of off-road vehicles which is the full-sized Four Wheel Drive or 4WD, or 4×4 passenger vehicles. New advances in traction control and driveline power distribution have recently brought some of the formerly road-bound All Wheel Drive or AWD passenger vehicles off the beaten path.
The crossover Sport Utility Vehicles or SUVs continue to grow in sales and variety, and occupy an ever more dominant share of the off-road market. Off-road Trucks are a massive genre encompassing the 4X4 Mini, Mid-Size, and Full-Size Pick-ups and Vans and has blossomed into the incredible world of Monster Trucks. The national defense needs of various countries around the globe have led to numerous off-road Military Vehicles which have found a substantial civilian following in the Military Surplus market.
There are numerous types of Hybrids and Conversions of road vehicles into off-roaders, and many complete Kits have found a market niche by transplanting road vehicle engines and drivelines into proven off-road platforms such as the famous Dune buggies, Frame Buggies, and Sand-rails. There are innumerable variations of super-specialized custom off-road vehicles including Swampers, also known as Mud-Boggers, Rock-Crawlers, Hill-Climbers, Sand-Draggers, and Dune-Bashers.
Off-Road Parts, Accessories, and Equipment
From automaker mass production of original equipment of manufacturer, or OEM replacements, to replacement parts from Aftermarket manufacturers, to the products of limited in-house Tuning Divisions, to modification parts and off-road accessory makers, or even one-of-a-kind Fabricators, the Off-Road Parts industry is an expanding universe of potential commercial prospects. More often than not, Distributors, Wholesalers, Jobbers, Re-sellers and Retailers are combination outlets for off-road parts, accessories, and equipment. The production of interchangeable replacements or “spare” parts, innovative development of new systems and improvements in the state of the art of existing systems will continue, in order to satisfy the huge off-road parts market.
Accessories for off-road use can cover much of the same territory as off-road parts. Accessories can include performance parts and safety gear, consequently many items such as tires and wheels, lights, winches, roll bars and cages, brush guards, skid plates, and body armor can be difficult to place squarely in only one category.
A gargantuan market exists in the field of Off-Road Equipment which can refer to any product sold either exclusively or primarily to off-road consumers. This can include items such as clothing, tools, jacking, towing or hauling equipment, extra fuel carrier or cargo storage equipment, and communication and navigation electronics.
Many serious off-road vehicle owners (particularly the full-size 4WD vehicle owners) develop a high personal value attachment to their vehicles. Resulting from the common tendency to continuously upgrade their vehicles and maintain them for long periods of ownership, there is a great demand for non-current model parts including Used Parts. An entire field has sprung up of off-road vehicle Parts Finders, including Internet Parts Brokers to meet this market need.
Off-Road Shops
Service businesses specializing in meeting the demands of off-road customers include, Fabricators, Installers, Custom Shops, Race Builders, and Service and Repair Establishments.
Off-Road Recreational Business
Many successful businesses haves found a niche in providing off-roaders with recreational opportunities. The internet has provided the platform for online travel planners that specialize in off-road events. Companies have developed which essentially are off-road outfitters, specializing in the rental of vehicles and equipment and the sales of provisions. There are off-road vehicle play-parks which charge a usage fee. There are multitudes of sponsored events, some of which are overseen by official sanctioning entities. Many off road manufacturers and local retailers have gotten valuable advertising exposure by sponsoring events in return for brand label publicity which is often displayed, for example, on track markings and barrier signage.
The desires of off-roaders to go everywhere and anywhere will continue to push the development of new advances in off-road technology, equipment and accessories, as well as new business models that successfully bring off-road enthusiasts together with the products and services they seek.
