How to Ride in the Mud and Prepare Your Mudding Quad
If you have ever been planning on taking your 4-wheeler on a trip through the mud, you’re not alone. However, it’s extremely important that before you just go all in, you must know how to ride in the mud and prepare your mudding quad so you can avoid getting stuck or causing injury to yourself, others, or your ATV. We’ll teach you how to ride an ATV in the mud and transform your ATV into a mud quad.
![girl rides atv in mud girl rides atv in mud](/upload/medialibrary/53c/62g4le1z4k2q1looqrxl6js6vf32y9j1.jpg)
How to Convert and Prepare Mudding Quads
There’s a good chance that if you haven’t gone mudding before (or if you haven’t on your current ATV or UTV), then you probably don’t have a mud-ready ATV. It requires some work, but there are some things that you definitely need to invest in and install so you can go quad-mudding.
-
Be sure you have a winch installed. If you don’t, you will have a harder time getting out of a jam.
-
Get some snorkel attachments for important parts of your ATV – or be prepared to overheat and clean it out regularly.
-
Mud-ready ATVs need some excellent mud tires, so your regular tires won’t do. You can get some all-terrain tires if you plan on wading through deep water spots as well.
-
Take care to properly cover the electronics and interior parts that are under the hood
-
Have the safety gear that you need in order to ride safely.
-
Grease your ATV up well with waterproof grease.
-
Ask friends and peers who have mud-ready ATVs about anything else they’ve installed to prepare their mudding quad.
How to Ride an ATV in the Mud
Once you are done planning and preparing your mud quad, you’re almost ready to plan a quad mudding trip. Before you get too far ahead of yourself though, here are some quad-mudding tips so you can stay safe and still have fun!
-
Pay attention to the areas around you – see what spots other riders are avoiding and favoring.
-
Relax yourself. What do we mean? If you’re too tense, you’re going to have a rougher ride. Take it easy and remember that you’re driving your ATV – it’s not driving you.
-
When you’re going to hit a big mud bog, make sure that you go at the right speed. If you’re going too fast you may get ejected – too slow and you will get stuck. Paying attention to others is the best way to avoid either scenario.
-
Keep it steady by not trying to go too fast or too slow. Be consistent with your throttle to avoid spinouts or getting stuck.
-
You’re going to probably get stuck at least once. Be prepared by knowing this and not fighting your handlebars too much.
-
Don’t repeat your or others’ mistakes. If you have gotten stuck in your mudding ATV already, or see a place where many riders are getting stuck, then steer clear of that path. There are better places where you won’t get stuck.
-
Make sure you use your winch and practice safety and common sense together.
-
One thing is certain – mudding quads get everything dirty. That’s the point! Be sure that you bring an extra pair of clothes (or a few) for when you are done. You can bring a good storage bag with you for throwing your muddy clothes in when you’re done wallowing.
By following these tips, you should be able to take your quad mudding without as much worry! Don’t forget to maximize your safety by getting the best ATV gear to turn your 4-wheeler into an off-roading, mud-smashing, dirt-ripping beast!