Draw an Off-Road Side-by-Side with Roll Cage and Suspension

Object Drawing Lessons

This lesson teaches a repeatable method for drawing an off-road side-by-side vehicle, often called a UTV or RZR-style machine. You will build the body from a box, add a roll cage with visible tubes, place four wheels with suspension arms, and finish with simple details. The method uses a defined drawing convention: x-height is measured from the baseline to the midline of lowercase letters, and letter styles vary, so your proportions may differ from the examples while still being valid. All measurements are hypothetical examples; measure your own paper and tools. No downloads or files are required.

Practice materials: Printable downloads are not available for this lesson yet. Use the instructions and four exercises below.

Reference illustration

Use the stated measurements and conventions for each exercise.

Set Up the Body Box and Ground Line

Start with a light ground line and a rectangular body box. The box represents the main chassis and cabin volume. Keep the box wider than it is tall for a side-by-side stance. Use a pencil and ruler if you want straight edges, but freehand is acceptable if the box stays readable.

Define a drawing convention before you begin: x-height is the distance from the baseline to the midline of lowercase letters. This helps you compare small details consistently. Letter styles vary, so do not treat any single letter shape as a universal standard. For this lesson, use a simple lowercase x as a height reference for small features such as bolt heads or cage joints.

1. Draw a horizontal ground line across the lower third of the page.
2. Sketch a rectangular body box above the ground line, leaving space for wheels below.
3. Mark a centerline on the box to keep left and right features balanced.
4. Lightly label the front and rear of the vehicle so your cage and suspension stay oriented.

Build the Roll Cage from Tubes

The roll cage is a frame of tubes around the cabin. Draw it as a series of connected lines rather than a solid shape. Start with the main hoop behind the seats, then add the front hoop and the connecting roof tubes. Keep tube spacing even so the cage reads as a structure.

Use the x-height convention to size small cage joints consistently. Because letter styles vary, a joint drawn as a small circle or a short overlap is both acceptable. The goal is a clear, readable cage, not a single universal answer.

1. Draw the rear main hoop as an inverted U shape above the body box.
2. Add the front hoop forward of the rear hoop, matching its height.
3. Connect the hoops with two roof tubes and two lower side tubes.
4. Add diagonal braces at the rear and label tube intersections lightly.

Place Wheels and Suspension

Place four wheels at the corners of the body box. Front and rear wheels should sit on the ground line. Draw each wheel as a circle with a smaller hub circle. For a side-by-side, the wheels are relatively large and the suspension arms connect the hub to the chassis.

Draw suspension as a pair of arms from the chassis to each wheel hub. Use simple straight lines and a small coil spring shape. Keep the arms symmetrical left and right. If you choose numerical values, label them as hypothetical examples, such as a wheel diameter of 60 units and a suspension arm length of 40 units.

1. Draw four wheel circles with hubs, keeping them on the ground line.
2. Connect each hub to the chassis with two suspension arms.
3. Add a small coil spring between the chassis and each lower arm.
4. Check that left and right suspension arms mirror each other.

Add Details and Check Proportions

Add a seat, steering wheel, headlights, and a simple front bumper. Keep details light so the cage and suspension remain the focus. Use the x-height convention for small features and accept variation in letter styles and hand-drawn shapes.

Check proportions by comparing the body box to the wheels. A common hypothetical example is a body box 120 units long and 50 units tall, with wheels 60 units in diameter. These numbers are examples only; measure your own drawing and adjust as needed.

1. Draw a seat inside the cage and a steering wheel in front of it.
2. Add headlights and a front bumper using short, simple lines.
3. Compare wheel size to body height and adjust if the stance looks unstable.
4. Erase construction lines lightly and darken the final cage and suspension.

Worked example

Draw a side-by-side with a body box 100 units long and 40 units tall, wheels 50 units in diameter, and a roll cage with two hoops connected by two roof tubes. Use a ground line and show suspension arms from each hub to the chassis.

Four practice exercises

Common mistakes

• Drawing the roll cage as a solid block instead of separate tubes. Break the cage into connected tube lines and leave gaps between tubes so the frame reads clearly.
• Placing wheels off the ground line or at uneven heights. Draw the ground line first and keep all four wheel bottoms touching it.
• Making suspension arms different lengths on left and right. Mirror the arms across the centerline and check each pair with a ruler or by eye.
• Using tiny details that disappear at the drawing scale. Use the x-height convention to keep small features consistent and large enough to read.

Self-check rubric

• Body box is rectangular and clearly represents the chassis and cabin.
• Roll cage is drawn as separate connected tubes with at least two hoops and roof tubes.
• Four wheels touch the ground line and have visible hubs.
• Suspension arms connect each hub to the chassis and mirror left to right.
• Small details follow the x-height convention, and valid alternative letter styles are accepted.
• Construction lines are light or erased, and the final cage and suspension are readable.

Questions and answers