Tips for Riding Your ATV Through Mud

Ride your ATV long enough, and the allure of mud will become irresistible. Mud is more than just the elements it's made of: It adds to the thrill of an ATV ride. Whether you've been hanging back and are tentatively finding your way to the mud pit, or you're new but ready to go into the deep, reading these quick tips will keep the fun times rolling while minimizing wear and tear on your all-terrain vehicle. For more information on mud-ready ATVs, get in touch with Moroney's Motorsports in New Windsor, New York, also serving the Newburgh area.

Go With Experienced Riders

Sure, mud looks like all fun and games until you're stuck in muck and can't get out. Using your winch or tow strap will probably be inevitable at some point, but you can learn what to avoid by watching experienced mud riders. If you're riding a stock quad, you're probably not ready for the real deep stuff. Watch the lines other riders pick and stick to those as you learn what you and your ATV can do.

Downshift Early

Kicking it into low gear when you get your first taste of trouble is a recipe for getting stuck in a hole. You're much better off going to your lowest gear and four-wheel drive before you hit the rough patch, then letting momentum be your friend. If you delay until you're halfway through, the loss of momentum may just be what gets you stuck for good.

Watch Your Gauges

A water-cooled quad ridden through mud is eventually going to give you a "hot" signal. Be sure to carry a pump kit or another method to clean your radiator, so you're not stuck waiting for the reading to go down on its own. Even better, install a coolant temp gauge so you can head problems off at the pass. 

Outfit Your ATV Right

If you're going to become an avid mud rider, you'll have to put some work into your ATV. You'll want specialized mud tires with deep treads. To install those, you'll most likely need a lift kit to get adequate ground clearance for deep mud and the kind of fender clearance big mud tires need. A lift kit will raise the belly of your ATV the requisite 2 or 3 inches, which can make all the difference in a gnarly mud pit.

With just a little foresight and work, you can set yourself up for hours of muddy fun on your ATV. Stop by Moroney's Motorsports for all your ATV needs. Located in New Windsor, New York, we also serve the Newburgh area.