Preparing for Off-Road Riding

Set your ATV trail ride up for success with some proactive planning. Preparing for your off-road adventure helps you avoid issues and enjoy a smooth, fun ride. We gathered up everything you need to do for a successful quad ride below. For all your 4-wheeler needs, visit Revel 42 Golf Carts & Powersports. We proudly serve those in Garner, Raleigh, Clayton, and Cary, North Carolina.

Know Your ATV

Before you ever hit the trail, you'll want a good understanding of how your quad functions. Spend some time practicing to develop a comfort with turning, accelerating, and braking. It's highly recommended that you take a class. It'll teach you all the basics you need to know, help you master the proper riding technique, and can even give you strategies for making the most of your 4-wheeler.

It's also important that you know the dimensions of your quad. These include the height, width, approach angle, and departure angle. That way, you'll know whether you can fit through tight areas (and avoid attempting to squeeze into too-tight of spots that can leave damage). Don't forget to pinpoint where your air intake and engine computer are located. You need that information to gauge the depth of water you can cross.

Getting Your ATV Ready

You don't want to take your quad straight from your garage to the trail. First, you should do a pre-ride inspection. This involves looking over your 4-wheeler trying to catch any red flags in the safety of your garage rather than in the backwoods.

The tires on an ATV tend to be the most commonly damaged parts, so start there. Measure your air pressure and tread levels and check that they are compliant with the owner's manual recommendations. Then you'll want to check your fluids and top off any that are low. Then you'll want to test your brakes and steering to ensure it's all running as it should.

Packing Your Quad

Trail riding requires the right supplies, which starts with emergency supplies. You'll want a mini toolkit with a wrench that fits your ATV's bolt size, a first aid kit, waterproof outer gear, one gallon of water, snacks, a knife, a flashlight, a fire starter, an extra gas can, a map, and a flat tire kit.

You'll want to be intentional as you pack your supplies. Make sure everything is securely on your 4-wheeler. You don't want something flying off while you zip down the trail. Be sure that you also stay within your vehicle's gross weight capacity.

While you load your supplies, try to place the weight evenly on your quad. If you put too much behind the rear axle, it can make your ATV's rear sag. This hurts your departure angle and clearance. If you put too much weight on the roof rack, it hurts your center of gravity. This makes the 4-wheeler less stable.

Plan Your Route

Now it's time to figure out where you are taking your ATV! Make sure you build a route that gets you off the trail before it gets dark. You'll also want to check that you have enough supplies (such as gas and water) for the ride you plan on taking. Don't forget that trails can become temporarily closed due to issues like a storm leaving behind debris. Look up the trail's site to see if there are any closures before you hit the road.

We hope you found our guide helpful! For all your 4-wheeler needs, visit Revel 42 Golf Carts & Powersports. We proudly serve those in Garner, Raleigh, Cayton, and Cary, North Carolina.