How to Prepare Your ATV or SxS for Winter Riding

How to Prepare Your ATV or SxS for Winter Riding

Winter months can be among the best months of the year. There are various activities to choose from, such as building snowmen, snowball fights, and sledding. However, nothing beats snow riding on ATVs and SxS. The amazing part is that you don't have to worry about getting stuck since these off-road quads are designed for all seasons and terrain.

If you plan to go ice fishing, plow snow, or ride for fun, an All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) or a Side-by-Side (SxS) is your best bet. But first, you need to prepare your ATV and SxS before hopping onto the rides. Here are four tips to help you have an enjoyable ride in your ATV or SxS.

Tips for Riding ATVs or SxS in The Snow

Routine maintenance and wearing warm clothes and protective gear before hopping on any winter rides is a must. You should also check a few things to ensure your ATV or SxS is in the right condition before riding in the coldest months. They include:

Adding a Fuel Stabilizer

The worst thing that could happen to your ATV’s or SxS’ fuel system is for the fuel to get in contact with water. Although it might seem impossible, this is a common issue due to the temperature. Water forms inside the tank through condensation.

The water freezes in the fuel lines preventing gas from getting into the ATV or SxS engine. This prevents your ATV or SxS engine from starting.

To avoid such situations, ensure you have a fuel stabilizer. Add the fuel stabilizer to your fuel tank and run your ATV or SxS engine to get the stabilizer in all fuel lines. The fuel stabilizer keeps the gas fresh, making your engine run smoothly.

You can also opt for your gas tank to stay topped off, preventing water condensation in the tank.

Storing Your Battery Properly

To be safe, you shouldn't leave your battery in the ATV or SxS out in the cold without a smart charger. We recommend you get a high-quality smart charger since it stops charging once your quad's battery is full. Trickle chargers, on the other hand, are good, but they won't stop charging once the battery is full. This will damage your battery forcing you to buy another one.

If you don't want the option of getting smart chargers, remove the battery and store it in the house once you're done riding. The cold weather ruins the batteries. 

Also, remember to replace spark plugs to ensure your engine runs smoothly throughout the winter season.

Clean The ATV's and UTV's Air Filter

Before the winter months, it's summer. During this time, your quad has dust and dirt buildup. When the snow comes in contact with this dust, it turns into mud, clogging the air filter. Once the air filter is clogged, your engine will not run smoothly, preventing you from enjoying winter rides. Aim to clean the four-wheeler before winter and blow out any dust in the air filter. If the filter is old, replace it with a new one.

Ensure the Engine Oil is Fresh

Oil change ensures your winter ATV or SxS runs smoothly; what better way to ensure you enjoy your winter rides than keeping your powersport’s engine oil fresh? Old oils make the ATV or SxS start roughly and make weird noises. Like you'd change spark plugs and air filters yearly, do the same for the quad's engine oil.

Lastly, remember to check your tire pressure and get tire chains if need be.

Where to Get ATVs and UTVs

Enjoy your winter rides from our selection of various UTVs and ATVs. We also offer scheduled maintenance and new accessories for any product you buy from us. Contact us to get started.