The Beginner’s Guide to ATV Mudding
Essential Tips to Consider Before Taking Your Quad Through the Mud
Mudding season is officially around the corner as we approach the best time of year to get your ATV out on the trails.
Hitting the muddy trails after a good rainfall is serious fun. But before you take a nasty spill, here are some tips to keep you safe whilst mudding with your ATV.
What is Mudding?
Summer riding usually means dry trails. ATV tires can easily cut through the dirt particles and grip into the earth, propelling you forward. Going mudding, however, is far different.
When water sinks into that same dirt, the water acts as a bonding agent. The dry dirt becomes much less permeable. You can lose traction in the mud because the coarse particles are now both slippery and bonding to each other, making a terrain that’s much harder to penetrate.
Essential Mudding Tips
If you’re planning on doing some mudding, you will definitely want to invest in mud tires. The long treads do a great job of digging down into the earth for those coarse particles to grip on to, giving you better throttle response.
Below, we explore some other essentials to prepare you for mudding.
Prep Your ATV
Being prepared is the most important thing you need to worry about. You don’t know what you’re going to encounter out there. Without the proper equipment and planning, you’re not going to get the most out of your mud season.
Prepare for Getting Stuck
Imagine heading out, full of adrenaline for the day’s mudding adventures, only to have yourself get stuck 5 minutes into a ride without any way of getting yourself out. Because these trails are sometimes in remote areas, cell signals are often weak or non-existent as well. If you’re going to be doing any mudding, you need to be prepared to get yourself out of a sticky situation.
Scope Out the Area
Before you head out to take on your adventures, check out the trails. You may find that nature has taken its toll at times and set up some natural blockades that you won’t be able to get through. Nothing would be more frustrating than heading out and finding you can’t finish your ride and have to turn around because you can’t get through an area.
Shift Ahead of Time
When you’re coming up to a challenging spot, it’s important to shift into the proper gear beforehand. Shifting once you’re in a tight spot will make it far more difficult to get out of. Prepare your gears ahead of time for what’s about to come.
Keep Your Momentum Steady
Steady momentum is so important to get you through mudding. The right gear plus a consistent speed and focus will be key to ensuring your ride is as thrilling as you want it to be when you plough into a mud bog. Maintaining momentum is what will get you through it.
Be Cautious
At times, the mud is thick, and you can’t see what lies underneath. This can post a risk for your safety. It can also cause damage to your ATV, if, for example, you can’t see a large rock lying underneath all of that mud. Be safe – always – and know what you’re getting yourself into. Pull over and check things out before running through it on your ATV if you need to.
Must-Have Accessories for Mudding
There are many accessories that you should be adding to your ATV if you’re going to be taking up mudding. These accessories will protect you, protect your ATV, and allow you to navigate the muddy terrain with far greater ease – and fun! Below, we list the essentials for A+ mudding adventures.
Mud Tires and Guards
Mud tires are a must if you’re going to be mudding a whole lot. The differences in tread between all-terrain and mudding tires, specifically, is massive. The treads are much longer, allowing you to really dig into the earth and get a better grip.
Winch
A wing is another essential accessory. If you’re planning on taking your ATV out for some off-roading, getting stuck is part of the fun. A winch will help get you out of a tight spot and will help you pull friends out when needed, too.
Performance Belt
Dirt is one of your CVT system’s worst enemies. Performance belts are definitely something you want to invest in if you’re going to be mudding.
Radiators Washer Kit
This goes without saying. You definitely want to keep your radiator clean if you’re going to be mudding. Not doing so could cause significant damage and result in expensive repairs.
The best way to clean your radiator is to get a radiator wash kid, which is specifically designed to get into all of the areas you need to get into to keep things running smoothly.
Snorkel Kit
Your ATV will encounter the same problem as you would if you stuck your head underwater in a pool – it won’t be able to breathe. A snorkel will keep your intake air clean and dry, which helps keep your engine repair bills down.
Other Types of Kits
One of the simplest, least expensive, and best performance modifications you can add to your mudding ATV is a clutch kid. It’s typically comprised of heavier springs and tiny clutch weights, which provide your ATV with quicker revs.
Thrilling Adventures Await
There is nothing quite like hopping on your ATV and going mudding. The smells, the thrills, the adrenaline, the open air, and, of course, the filth! But it’s important to be properly equipped if you’re going to take up this incredible sport. Stay safe, bring loads of common sense with you and a willingness to learn the ropes. Being careless can result in some serious damage, both physically and to your ATV and others. Reach out to your local ATV dealer to get the best info and tips on the sport.