Mudding With Your Four Wheeler
If you’re a fan of mudding, you’ll have the time of your life doing so with a four wheeler. However, you’ll want to take a few important steps to prepare your ATV for this type of riding. After all, you want your machine to still be functioning and performing properly when all is said and done. Harold Implement Company, Inc. has created this guide to mudding with 4-wheelers to help you get ready. If you’re still shopping for the perfect quad, visit our dealership. We’ve got a wide range of ATVs for sale in Corning, AR. We also proudly welcome our customers from Paragould.
Seal Your Airbox
There are many things you can do to protect your ATV’s internal components, including sealing the airbox. Start by checking all of the joints from the engine intake to the very top of the airbox. This is crucial to ensure that nothing will get inside and cause issues. The airbox should have a lid on top without any holes in it. Some riders will even invest in a snorkel kit if they know they’ll be riding deep in the mud. These come with extended CVT inlets, outlet exhausts, and extended air intakes. All of these features will help keep the key components dry.
Relocate the Radiator
Speaking of key components, don’t forget to tend to your radiator. Typically, an ATV’s radiator is mounted above the front rack. If you intend to get deep in the mud, you should relocate it up and away from all the muddy water that you’ll be riding through. When you take the time to relocate your radiator, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that your 4-wheeler engine will be safe.
Even if you don’t go through with relocation, there are other precautions you can take to protect your radiator. For instance, you can use tape to modify the body so moisture doesn’t get in. This is crucial because a clogged radiator will lead to an overheated engine. Your mudding days won’t last very long if your radiator isn’t protected.
Install a Winch
Winches are very useful, so there’s a chance you may already have one installed on your ATV if you’re a regular rider. If you don’t have a winch or you haven’t bought a quad yet, you should consider investing in one. It’s not uncommon to get stuck when mudding with your 4-wheeler. A trusty winch will help pull you out.
When it comes time to prepare your winch for the mud, you can start by putting it in free-spool and pulling the entire line out. Next, inspect the line for any damage that needs to be replaced. Apply pressure to the cable when you’re ready to spool the winch line back in. This may call for a second set of hands. Otherwise, you can hook the line around an object to get it done.
Grease it Up
Your ATV has several electrical connections and, when they’re going to be subjected to moisture, you should apply a substantial coat of dielectric grease. First, you’ll need to unplug the connector, then add the grease. When you’re done, you can carefully reconnect it.
You’ll be happy to know that dielectric grease is usually pretty cheap. More importantly, this step isn’t too much of a hassle. Best of all? It’s going to protect your electrical connections that are necessary for your 4-wheeler to run. You can go a step further and buy marine-grade dielectric grease. Not only is it water-resistant but it’ll allow your bearings and pivot points to last longer.
On the topic of grease, you may want to get yourself some WD-40 while you’re at it. This is ideal for when you need to lubricate moving parts, but it has other uses as well. It can help prevent mud from sticking and it’ll repel moisture from the nooks and crannies of your machine. You can even spray certain areas of your ATV prior to riding, such as the handgrips, throttle, and brake levers. It’ll keep mud off and make your cleanup process much easier.
You’re officially prepared to go mudding with your 4-wheeler. If you have additional questions or if you’d like to browse ATVs for sale in Corning, AR, stop in and see us at Harold Implement Company, Inc. We also serve our friends in Jonesboro and Pocahontas.