5 Tips for On-the-Go ATV Repairs
Riding through dirty mud, kicking up sand, and swerving between rocks and trees, riding your four-wheeler is an off-road adventure every time you go out for a session. When you’re ready to ride, bring some of the supplies you need for regular ATV maintenance that can fit on your vehicle, and have a backup plan so you’re not stuck trailside. ATV Trader is giving you five tips for on-the-go ATV repairs so you’re able to manage any sudden vehicle problem that comes your way.
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1. Flat Tire
One of the most common on-the-go problems off-road riders encounter, a flat tire can leave you at an immediate standstill depending on the severity of the damage. Thankfully, you can make a fix on your own. If it’s minor tire damage, see if you can spot the leak, puncture, or rip in the tread that’s causing the flat. With an air compressor and tire gauge in hand, add some tire pressure, bring a bottle with a mixture of soapy water, spray the tire, and see where bubbles form around the tire to identify the cause of the flat. After removing the debris causing the damage with your tire repair kit tools, see if you can patch up the tire using a plug strip, insertion tool, and sealing cement. If it’s a bigger problem, keep your jack and a spare on your vehicle, make a temporary tire change and replace the spare once you’re back in your home garage.
2. Broken Axle
After rough riding over rocks, scraping around boulders, or landing dirt jumps, there’s a chance you might break an axle, but doesn’t immediately mean you’re finished four-wheeling for the day. While you probably shouldn’t keep joyriding before making a replacement, you can bring a spare axle to see if you can make an on-the-go repair. On some older model off-roaders, you might have a Constant Velocity (CV) axle covering a gearcase. If so, use a vehicle jack to remove the wheel, disconnect the shock, lower the A-arm, and remove the axle with the CV on the hub to keep parts in place. From here, you can go a short distance in three-wheel drive, then follow these tips for hiring a trustworthy ATV/UTV mechanic.
3. No Winch, No Problem
We’d advise you to always bring a vehicle winch along with these top gear you need for your ATV/UTV. However, if you’re stranded somewhere, stuck in a ditch, or waist-deep in thick mud and standing water without one, it’s not the end of the world. Solo riders know you can anchor a winch onto a tree to pull your vehicle out with throttle and horsepower. If you don’t have a big heavy tree to help, that’s one more reason to travel with a group of off-road riders. If you haven’t spent the money yet on a winch, have a back-up plan and bring a sturdy rope that’s got some length to tie to a tree or another vehicle. Anchor it around the wheel receiving power that’s facing the direction you’d like to move, then give your quad some throttle.
4. Fender Bender
A dislocated, bent, or damaged fender is commonplace for the most serious of off-road riders. If you’re tumbling in the dirt, riding on rough suspension, covering bumpy tracks, or landing a jump, have a plan ready for this broken part. For a quick remedy, you can use a plastic welder kit that comes with a battery powered welding gun and staples that you heat up for a repair, along with pliers to get things back into shape. While it’s not a permanent solution, it can help when you’re in a pinch before taking it into a shop for a fix-up or ordering a replacement part.
5. Best Practices for Repairs
If possible, move your vehicle out of the way and off to the side of a trail when you need to make an on-the-go repair to ensure your safety and avoid a collision with another rider. Before you do a fix-up job, read your owner’s manual to see if it offers any solutions and for more insight on how your vehicle’s various components work. You also want to check with the OEM to make sure your repair job won’t void a warranty. Pack a tool box or storage bags to easily transport on-the-go repair supplies with your vehicle.
It’s a good idea to get in the practice of bringing an extra canister of fuel with you in case you run out while you’re on the run, along with a winch and jumper cables if your vehicle runs out of juice. You should take up group riding so you can seek help from a buddy for any vehicle issues. If you make a fix, keep track of your parts and clean up after yourself to protect the trails you love riding on.
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Don’t let the terrain stop you from off-roading. Follow these tips for on-the-go repairs for quick solutions, then do your part and take your vehicle in for regular maintenance, repairs. If you’re ready to find your next off-roader, check out all the new and used listings from the nation’s leading marketplace at ATVTrader.com.
Ryan Miller
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