One of the best features of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) is that they’re designed to get dirty and to handle mud with ease. Riding a quad through the mud is an exhilarating and fun, if messy, way to spend a sunny afternoon. That’s why so many powersports enthusiasts take their four-wheelers out to mudding areas.
However, you can’t just go out there without any prep work whatsoever unless you want to be mired for hours without necessary supplies or do serious damage to your quad without realizing it.
Bright Power Sports is your local ATV dealer, so we’ve prepared this quick how-to guide to help you get yourself and your four-wheeler ready for your next mudding adventure. If you want more information or want to shop ATVs for sale near Detroit, Michigan, head over to our dealership in Lincoln Park. We also proudly serve those throughout Wayne County.
It’s important to protect the internal components of your ATV so that they aren’t damaged by mud and water. You can seal the airbox before you go mudding pretty easily. Make sure to check the whole system, from the engine’s intake to the top of the airbox, just to make sure that no water can leak inside. You can even invest in a snorkel kit for your quad if you know that you’re going to do a lot of mudding in deeper puddles. A snorkel kit will come with extended CVT inlets, air intakes and outlet exhausts to help protect your internal components.
You should also take this opportunity to move your four-wheeler’s radiator from above the front rack, where it would otherwise encounter all that water and mud. Move the radiator elsewhere on your quad so that it will continue to function and prevent your engine from overheating. You can also tape up or modify the body to prevent water from getting into it or mud from clogging up the radiator.
When you’re out mudding in slippery conditions, a winch is a very handy tool to have with you. If your ATV doesn’t already have a winch installed, now is the perfect time to put one on. You can help pull out a friend whose quad gets stuck in the mud or someone can use the winch to pull your vehicle out.
Of course, you also need to get your winch ready for muddy riding conditions. Put your winch in free-spool and pull out all of the line, inspecting it as you go for signs of damage. Apply pressure to the cable so that you can easily spool the line back into the winch, which could require the help of someone else.
There are a number of electrical components on your quad that will need a healthy coating of dielectric grease applied to them to prevent damage caused by moisture. Unplug your connector, add grease and then reconnect it. The grease is cheap and easy to find; you can even invest in marine-grade dielectric grease that will resist water and help your pivot points and bearings to avoid corrosion.
WD-40 is an excellent lubricant for moving parts and it can also repel moisture from those little nooks on your four-wheeler. This substance can also keep mud from sticking, so you can spray it onto areas that might otherwise be harder to clean to save yourself more work later.
It may seem obvious, but you’re going to get really dirty when you go mudding and the grime could ruin your clothes. Now is not the time to wear your brand-new jeans unless you want them to be destroyed. Wear protective clothing that you’re okay with getting dirty, along with your boots, gloves and helmet.
You should also bring your usual supplies to ensure that you’re ready for any emergencies, such as a first-aid kit, snacks, water, a hand-crank radio, towels, trash bags (for dirty clothes when you’re done riding), extra clothing, an ATV repair kit and anything else you think you may need.
Seeking ATVs for sale near Detroit, Michigan? Check our website to view the wide variety of new and used ATVs available. Bright Power Sports is based in Lincoln Park, Michigan. We also proudly serve Detroit and Wayne County, Michigan.
