ATV Mudding
As an outdoor enthusiast, you undoubtedly take your ATV out as often as you can for a variety of different adventures. One of the most popular activities that powersports vehicle fans like to participate in is going mudding. However, it’s important that you make sure you and your ATV are both ready to go before you embark on a mudding adventure, as being unprepared can land you in some real hot water.
Road Track & Trail, located in Big Bend, Wisconsin, is your 4-wheeler dealer. As such, we’ve provided some tips for preparing yourself and your quad for your first mudding trip so that it goes off without a hitch.
Seal Up Your Airbox
The internal components of your ATV are at risk of being clogged with mud and water if you don’t take the time to protect them. This can cost you a fortune in repairs, which no one wants. Seal up your airbox before you head out to help prevent this from happening. This will involve inspecting all the joints to make sure that nothing can get in your airbox, which should have a lid on it for more protection. In fact, some riders even choose to invest in special ATV snorkel kits for riding in deeper puddles. These kits have extended air intakes and CVT inlets as well as outlet exhausts to keep the crucial components of your quad dry and intact.
Move The Radiator
Your ATV’s radiator is likely mounted above the front rack, but if you’re going to be hitting some deep mud puddles, then you should move the radiator up further and out of the way from water. This ensures that your engine won’t overheat due to a clogged radiator. You can also use tape or modify the body in order to prevent water from seeping in.
Add a Winch
A very handy addition to your quad is a winch, which will allow you to pull and be pulled in your ATV. Some quads already come with winches installed, but if yours doesn’t have one, it’s worth considering the investment. Make sure that you prepare your winch for mudding by putting it in free-spool and pulling out the line. Inspect the line for signs of damage before you apply pressure to the cable in order to spool the line back into your winch, which may require someone else’s assistance.
Grease Up Your Quad
There are a number of vital electrical connections on your four-wheeler that need to be protected from moisture at all costs. You should apply a thick coat of dielectric grease to these components after unplugging the connector. Dielectric grease is cheap and easy to apply, so there’s no reason not to perform this important step. You could even use marine-grade grease which is water-resistant to help your pivot points and bearings last longer.
You should also apply some WD-40 to your ATV’s moving parts. Spray the throttle, hand grips and brake levers to prevent mud from getting into the vehicle and sticking in places that will be very hard to clean out later on. This trusty substance has long been used to lubricate many different mechanical parts on all kinds of machines, and it’s just as useful on your quad as anything else.
We hope these tips ensure you have a great time mudding without doing any damage to your ATV. Searching for a four-wheeler in Wisconsin? Come see us at our Big Bend location to check out our current stock of new and used ATVs for sale. We have financing options to help you get the right quad. Road Track & Trail welcomes our customers coming from Milwaukee and Waukesha, Wisconsin, as well as greater Chicago, Illinois.
