Let me present a very simple equation that I feel everyone can get behind and agree on. Springtime brings us rain showers, rain showers create mud, and if you have an ATV, mud equals fun.
Now is the perfect time of the year to pull out the four-wheelers for a mud flying adventure! However, there are some things you need to take into consideration in order to awaken your hibernating vehicle and bring it back to life. Although these vehicles are a blast to ride on, they’re also very dangerous if some component isn’t properly functioning.
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Thankfully, we’re here to help provide the necessary tips to help you prepare for riding season. Check out these handy ATV maintenance tips for spring!
ATV Maintenance Checklist
The last thing you want to happen on your first ride is for your ATV to break down in the middle of nowhere, leaving you stranded or causing serious injury. To prevent this from happening, you need to carry out a quick safety inspection.
1. Check Your Battery
First, check your ATV battery and determine if it needs to be replaced or repaired. Like motorcycles and other smaller, single passenger vehicles, winter conditions and non-use can also create issues with your bike’s battery. If you didn’t take any pre-winter storage measures, then you’ll definitely need to inspect its ability to start your engine.
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2. Inspect ATV Air Box
You’ll also want to inspect your ATV air box for any signs of obstruction from rodents. Sometimes, small critters such as mice will take shelter within your bike and will chew through wires and other important components.
3. Check Your Throttle and Brakes
Cold weather can also impair your cables, so make sure that your throttle and brake cables are working efficiently before setting out. Failure of these cables can lead to a crash and risk serious injury.
4. Make Sure You Have The Right Coolant Level
The ATV coolant levels will also undoubtedly be affected by exposure to cold temperatures so be sure to refresh your fluid levels.
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5. Inspect Your Tires
While in winter storage, there are other factors that can compromise certain elements of your ATV other than the low temperatures. Time and weight pressure from sitting still for months can have a negative affect on your tires. Having functional tires is essential to ensuring your safety off road and on backwoods trails.
Riding an ATV off road requires driving over rocks, holes and other obstructions, so make sure that your tire pressure is replenished so that you’re able to safely navigate these hazards. This is especially true if you’re traveling through wet muddy fields. The last thing you want is to get stuck in a pile of mud!
6. Let The Expert Does The Work
After carefully inspecting your ATV for any problems, it would be wise to take it into an auto specialist for one final checkup. They can give you a tune-up and spot any minor areas that you may have missed. There’s nothing more reassuring than a professional giving you the affirmation of a clean bill of health for your vehicle!
It’s about you
Remember, not only does the ATV need to be prepared for its return to the road, so does the rider. If you haven’t ridden in a while, it would be wise to ease back into things instead of hitting the ground running.
Operating an ATV takes enormous care and concentration, so you need to get back into the mental state of riding to make sure you’re not a threat to yourself or others on the road. Also, be sure to take the time to put together a safety kit.
Be covered
ATV accidents are common and you want to make sure that you’re prepared for anything. We hope you always remember to wear a helmet and drive safely!
Before getting your ATV ready to ride, now is a great time to make sure that all of your ATV insurance needs are up-to-date. Give us a call at 1-800-Thanks-Al to have an agent review your policy to confirm that your auto insurance has the right amount of coverage for your family and your needs.
We can also ensure that you are getting the best rate for your policy. You might even qualify for additional discounts, especially if you have your home insured through us!
Enjoy the ride!