Hey TS gang,
If your a new ATV rider, READ THIS!
If your a forgetful old timer, READ THIS!
Found a great write-up from a riding group out of Wisconsin for all riders.
173 Tips To Improve Your ATV Riding experience.
Riding smarter, trip planning, machine upgrades and a host of hunting, hauling and hard working tips to make you an ATV expert.
Learning things the hard way is always interesting. Whether its getting yourself lost or stuck, upsetting a fellow trail user, failing to dress right in cold or wet weather, sucking in dust on a long summer’s day or accidentally damaging your quad, there are unlimited ways to make mistakes while riding.
We’ve made plenty of gaffes and faux pas in our day, some in the privacy of solitude and others in front of a laughing audience of riding buddies. Save yourself the embarrassment, expense or trouble by doing things right the first time. Aside from preserving precious cash or time, you just might save a life or unlock the secrets to consistently having more fun on the trail.
Here are ATV Magazine’s 173 most useful tips from years of learning many lessons the hard way.
Ride Right
Buy the ATV that best fit your needs, not your ego.
Learn how you quad really works and how to use it to your best advantage. Don’t be afraid to use four-wheel drive before you get stuck. Low gear and differential lock are there for a reason, so use them when needed. Engine breaking vary by model, so get familiar with how much of it you can expect from you ATV.
Always ride with a buddy. In case of a breakdown, or other problem, you will have help.
Remember to lean forward for hill climbing, backwards for descents and into the hill for when traversing a slope sideways.
Stand up over the rough stuff to absorb the shock with you legs, not your back.
Wait at intersections for riding partners who are behind you. That way your group won’t get split up.
Use hand signals to inform those you meet of other riders behind you.
Stay hydrated to improve your stamina.
Ride straight and sober. Save the adult beverages for after the ride is over.
Sure, spinning donuts in parking lots and trailheads can be fun, but they are destructive, cause ruts and erosion, seriously hack off other riders and can get us banned. Don’t give in to temptation.
Avoid areas that are off-limits to ATV’s. Remember you represent all of us every time you ride.
Personal Preperation
Dress correctly to avoid injury. Always wear a helmet, eye protection, gloves, long sleeves, long pants, and over-the-ankle boots when you ride.
Baby powder, cornstarch or Anti Monkey Butt powder prevents uncomfortable chafing.
Chest protectors are excellent added protection for aggressive riders.
Lightly tinted goggles can help you read the terrain so use an appropriate tint for the riding conditions: green or gray for bright sun, brown or rose for light overcast, yellow or peach for heavy overcast.
Don’t forget to wear sunscreen, especially when riding multiple days.
Positive Public Relations
Smile often, give a friendly wave and slow way down when meeting pedestrians, cyclists and other trail users. Your actions definitely what others think of ATV users, and that certainly affect where we can ride.
For the same reason, slow down when going through town and past houses on the trail.
Take your helmet off when you stop to talk with public officials, landowners, and other trail users. Removing your helmet makes us more human and removes a major barrier to communications and understanding.
Remember to say “Thank You” to people who allow us to use their land.
Carry a litterbag and pack all your litter (candy and gum wrappers, water bottles, broken parts, etc) out with you. For extra credit points, pick up garbage left behind by other riders.
If you use an aftermarket exhaust, make it a quiet one with an approved spark arrestor. Remember, less sound means more ground to ride on.
Work with local public safety officials and other riders to establish a volunteer ATV search and rescue team in your area, and publicize it through local media.
Organize your club to engage in visible community projects, like Adopt-A-Highway, local parades and fund raisers for charity.
Help those who help us
Join and support local ATV clubs and state and national organization that are working to create more areas to ride and keep existing area open.
Support businesses that support ATV riding even if it means paying a little more. If one gas station or restaurant in town supports the trails and the other doesn’t, spend your money strategically.
Support public officials who support ATV riding, particularly at election time. Ask for their support in writing and thank them personally. This makes all the difference in the world.
Make It Work Better
Upgrade shocks for better ride quality and handling.
Properly adjust the pre-load on you shock/spring assemblies for your weight and riding conditions.
Upgrade tires for better grip on your most –ridden surface. If you go to heavier tires, use lighter weight wheels to offset the weight change and minimize the effect on the ATV’s suspension.
Monitor your tire pressure frequently. It can have a significant effect on ride, handling and tire life.
Beadlock wheels are a worthwhile investment for tough trail conditions.
Fender extensions and mud flaps reduce accumulation of mud and debris, especially on machines with oversized or extra-wide tires.
Skid plates are a worthwhile addition to almost any ATV.
Add nerf bars to a sport quad for safety, protection and better looks.
Add a rack to a sport quad for some handy carrying capacity.
A front rack bag with a clear top pouch makes using a map much easier.
A handlebar-mounted GPS unit can make getting home a lot easier and less stressful in unfamiliar territory. You can also mark your favorites spots along the way.
Use specialized grip glue to secure replacement handgrips. You don’t want to find yourself holding a grip that’s not attached to anything.
Mirrors make group rides a lot easier because you don’t have to constantly twist around to keep track of the rider behind you. Several types are available for machine and hand mounting.
Auxiliary lighting helps when snowplowing, heading out to the hunting blind before dawn or scouting after dark. Xenon or HID lighting makes a dramatic difference.
Add appropriate product-specific tool carriers for easier and safer transportation of items like buckets, shovels, weed whackers, chain saws, ice augers, fishing tackle, tree stand or firearms on your quad.
Low-restriction aftermarket air cleaners let your engine breathe better for more power.
Check for possible jetting and clutching changes when riding at different elevations.
Extend your riding range with properly mounted auxiliary fuel supply.
Deal With The Dust
Wear desert goggles with high-density foam to keep dust out of eyes, and use petroleum jelly on the foam for extra dust protection.
Tear-off goggle lenses can help you see better in very dusty conditions, but don’t treat the forest or desert like a garbage can.
Wear a bandana or painter’s mask to keep dust out of your nose and mouth.
Clean your air filter frequently, maybe even after every ride, to prolong engine life.
Add a pre-filter to you stock air filter to help your engine last longer.
Keep a small bottle of eyewash handy.
Increase following distances as dust begins to obscure vision.
Slow down to kick up less dust, especially when others are in the area.
Winching Weaponry
Add a winch to your quad. No other accessory can help you in so many ways, from getting you out of sticky situations to clearing blow downs on trails to operate your plow. Learn to use it safely in advance.
Always wear heavy-duty winching gloves, and always handle the cable by the loop strap to prevent injury.
A duel battery control kit with a second battery provides maximum power for everything whem plowing with a winch.
Consider synthetic rope for your winch, particularly for plowing. Its lighter , more flexible and more durable in most applications than steel cable, and also reduces fairlead wear. A sliding cover, often provided with the rope, is necessary to protect the rope from abrasions over rocks and logs during trail use.
Help Your Hunting
Use specialized implements to plant food plots to attract more game.
Add convenience and safety by equipping your quad with specialized carriers for tree stands and your weapon of choice.
A spotlight can be very handy before dawn, during repairs or for emergencies.
A stealth exhaust will keep game—and people—guessing as to your whereabouts.
A cameo ATV cover can come in handy to conceal your quad when you park it.
A powered front-end loader will help you handle big game much more easily.
Use a trailer behind your ATV for heavy hauling. Many quads have trailer hitches or ready accept installation of a hitch.
Make It Work Harder
Maintain your property by using your ATV or UTV for mowing, rolling, de-thatching, hauling flowers and fill, and other landscaping work. Turf tires are a great upgrade for these uses.
Ease your farm and ranch chores by using your ATV or UTV for herding and feeding livestock, rounding up strays, fixing fences, weed and insect spraying, soil sampling and commuting to equipment in distant fields.
Improve your fishing by utilizing your ATV or UTV for accessing remote waters, carrying a canoe or towing your ice fishing equipment.
Hauling In/On Your Truck Tips
Use safety straps to secure ramps to your truck while loading or unloading, and good tie-down straps for your ATV.
Recognize that carrying quads on a deck atop the box will seriously alter the handling characteristics of the vehicle, and drive accordingly.
Ride In The Rain
Carry a quality rain suit that’s in good condition and easy to put on.
Light yellow sunglasses (like shooter’s lenses) improve contrast in overcast or rain for better visibility.
Rain-X or Pledge on goggles and shields (inside and out) stops fogging and helps rain run off.
Dedicated anti-fog compounds like Cat Crap or Snake Oil also improve vision though goggles and shields.
Wear Gore-Tex (or equivalent) boots and gloves to stay dry.
Pack gear stored in rack bags in plastic.
Gear like gloves and boots can be dried off quickly with hot exhaust, but be careful not to melt them.
Go In The Snow
Deep lug tires provide better traction in the snow.
Tire chains work well for snow plowing, but are not a good choice for trail riding.
A track kit takes an ATV from helpless to happy in deep snow.
Add heated grips and a thumb warmer or handlebar muffs to keep hands warm.
Add a windshield for improved facial and upper body comfort.
A heated seat is a great addition for any kind of winter use because it helps keep your whole body warm.
Backup lights area great safety upgrade for snowplowing on long winter nights.
Check you anti-freeze (liquid cooled engines only) before the first frost.
An engine block heater will help guarantee starts on even the coldest mornings.
Snowmobile or hunting gear will keep you warm when the temperature bottoms out.
Wear a facemask or a full-face helmet to keep snow and cold winds off your face.
Beware of frostbite or hypothermia. They are dangerous conditions that can have negative long-term consequences.
Ice Fishing Imperatives
Traction on glare ice can be a problem, so consider studding your new tires with ice screws or ITP’s pre-studded TundraCross tires. Tire chains are OK for shorter distances.
A specialized ice auger carrier eliminates awkward transport and protects this valuable piece of equipment.
Don’t over load your racks. Use a tow sled to skid your heavier equipment to your preferred tip-up location.
Storm The Sand
Dedicated sand tires provide greatly improved traction on this very difficult surface.
A warning flags improves visibility near the ops of dunes and is required in many areas.
A portable hydration pack lets you maintain body fluid levels without fooling around with bottles or cans while riding.
Keep your gas tank full. Top it off when you come in for lunch or a bathroom break.
Make it more fun
Join an ATV club to find like-minded people and more places to ride.
Do a trail exchange. Invite your ATV-riding family and friends from other areas to ride your trails, and you go ride their trails with them.
Consider taking a serious ATV vacation to another state or province this year.
Attend a major ATV event somewhere this year.
Take photos on rides and at events.
Put a video camera on your helmet and record your rides to relive them later on.
Make it a point to test ride at least one new ATV sometime this season.
Subscribe to ATV Magazine to keep up on the latest in the sport.
Mastering The Mud
Big, aggressive tires on lightweight wheels (to minimize the weight increase) provide much better bite for serious mudding.
A clutch kit can reduce CVT belt slippage to improve low-end response with big tires.
A lift kit and heavy-duty axels definitely help.
Use dielectric grease on spark plug boots and other electrical connections to keep the juice flowing.
Relocate your radiator to the front rack for improved engine cooling.
A snorkel kit on your air intake keeps deep water out of your engine.
Wear fishing waders so you don’t have to worry about how dirty you get.
Let someone else go first. Watch what happens to them and learn from it.
In competition, be aware that the bottom of the mud pit may not be what you think it is. Watch closely and learn from lines that others run.
When entering deep muddy water, lean backwards and in the opposite direction from where you want to go. Essentially you are steering with your back tires by assisting one of them to hook up better.
Wash your ATV thoroughly after every mud ride, but avoid shots at the radiator with a pressure washer.
Long Term Care
Keep your quad out of the sun as much as possible, and especially when not in use because UV rays fade paint and accelerate degradation of plastics and rubber.
Check the rubber parts (hoses, drive belt, valve stems, etc.) for wear and normal deterioration when placing the vehicle in storage, and especially when putting it back into service.
Use a quality gasoline stabilizer for long term or off-season storage to prevent fuel phase separation and carb/fuel injection problems.
Store your ATV indoors in a weather-tight building that keeps out mice, birds, bats and other potentially damaging wildlife. Mice can be incredibly damaging to wiring harnesses.
Cover your ATV with a lightweight storage cover to minimize accumulation of dust and grime during the off- season.
Regular Maintenance Minimizes Problems
Consider using a low-amp battery charger if you don’t ride at least every two weeks.
Check the tire pressures regularly.
Check brakes and cables periodically for pinching, hanging up and premature pad wear.
Check the throttle cable routing and condition regularly.
Check coolant level before every ride (liquid cooled engines only).
Check the engine oil at frequent intervals and change at least as often as the manufacturer recommends, Make sure that you use an oil developed for power sports equipment that meets your machine’s requirements. Many automotive oil do not have the same necessary components.
Check wheel bearings and all other bearings regularly.
On chain drive quads, check chain tension and lubricate with chain lube occasionally.
Consider adding an hour meter to help with scheduled maintenance.
Field Fixes
Carry CO2 cartridges, a muscle-powered pump or small electric pump (battery & 12 volt port required) to re-inflate a repaired tire, because it is worthless without air.
Duct tape can work wonders on broken quads or apparel. Small rolls (from auto parts store) 0r flat packs (available in paint supply department) store conveniently in small spaces under you ATV’s seat.
Supplement your stock tool kit with a high quality multi-tool like a leatherman and or a CRUZTools Outbak’r. A 6-inch vise-Grip is another good addition.
Extra tie-wraps and some wire require very little space and are frequently useful.
Carry a spare hose clamp around a frame rail.
Extra electrical fuses take minimal space but can save a lot of time and trouble.
A set of powersports-sized jumper cables can come in very handy if someone has a dead or dying battery.
Go Prepared Check List
Registration and proof of insurance should be on your person, not left in your truck or at home.
Take a basic first aid kit for cuts, scrapes headaches, upset stomach, burns and bites. Know how to use the contents.
Always carry a towrope or strap. It could save your whole day.
Include a mini flashlight for use at night or to see into shaded areas.
Don’t forget your water bottle for hydration, some trail snacks for fast energy and a litter bag for the wrappers.
Check your machine over thoroughly prior to leaving for a ride. Don’t get to the trailhead only to discover you have a problem.
Ramble Over Rocks
Let the experienced rock crawlers go first so they can show you the best line through.
Have other riders stand by and act as spotters, particularly for steep climbs or decents.
Have patience. Lots of it .Learning body positioning and balance take time and practice.
Wash It With Care
Wash your quad when the dirt or mud is fresh. Delaying doubles the work.
If you use a pressure washer, be careful not push water into bushings, bearings, and other places it doesn’t belong. Avoid direct shots at muddy radiators that can clog them up with dirt and grime. And be careful not blow off trail permit stickers, graphics and other elements.
Use only mild soap-like automotive products or simple green.
Close off the air intake system with plastic and tape to prevent water getting into the air/fuel system. Plastic plugs are available to keep water out of the exhaust system.
Remove everything from non-waterproof storage compartments.
Wash in a shady area and chamois dry to prevent water spotting.
Work from top to bottom as you wash.
Stand the ATV on its back end to do a thorough wash underneath.
Don’t forget areas like inside of the wheels, top of the muffler and storage compartment and the top of your skid plate. They get filthy too.
Rinse your sponge often and thoroughly to prevent scratching. Better yet, use a brush on a handle.
Finish with anon-stick material like cooking spray to prevent mud from accumulating on body panels.
Trailering Tips
Tow vehicles must be rated to handle loaded weight of trailer plus weight of people and cargo in the tow vehicle.
Consider using a small, economical car for daily commuting to keep miles off your big tow vehicle.
Proper trailer equipment eliminates problems: correct hitch type for load, correct size and load rating of hitch ball, brakes if required, sway control if required, etc.
Avoid tickets: know and observe home state legal requirements. Check your license plate before every trip to make sure its still there, and check the hitch and all lights to make sure everything is working properly.
Use a tongue jack to save your back. It prevents back strain during hook up and unhooking, and make moving trailer around a lot easier, even on one place ATV trailers.
Maintain your trailer to prevent problems: wheel bearing, tire pressure (including spare), lights, coupler and safety chains/cables are key areas to watch. Walk around and check them all before every road trip.
Load trailer properly with approximately 60 percent of weight forward of the axle centerline and balanced side-to-side to prevent poor handling on the road.
Secure quads with multiple high quality tie-downs straps (not rope or rubber shock cords) on angles to multiple attachment points. Attach to ATV frame rather than tires or racks. Ratchet straps provide more secure attachment than cam locks types. And initial all your straps so your buddies don’t end up them by mistake.
Covering your ATV will prevent accumulation of road debris, slop and slime on your machines. Use only a trailer-able cover because other covers will blow out and shred themselves.
Secure ramps to prevent theft or loss on the road.
Add lockable storage (for tie-down straps, jack and wheel chocks, covers, etc.) to open trailers with an aftermarket tongue box.
Be prepared for repairs on the road, spare taillight bulbs, wheel chocks, jack that can lift the trailer, lug wrench that fits the trailer tire nuts, a good spare tire, maybe even a hub with new bearings. Clean up materials like a tube of heavy duty hand cleaner and paper towels are good to have, too.
Keep Your Quad Yours
Never leave you key in your unattended ATV.
Lock it up all the time when not in use.
Run the security cable or chain through the frame, not just a rack or a suspension arm.
Lock your quad to your truck or trailer.
Lock your trailer to your tow vehicle.
Lock your draw bar to your receiver.
Use locking lug nuts to protect expensive wheels.
Don’t forget to insure your ATV for both liability and loss.
We all learn the hard way, and with these tips you could avoid some of those "Hard way" Lessons!
Ga-Shoe.