How to Safely Go Quading
For people who grew up with four-wheelers, it’s easy to think of quading as a fun pastime.
But make no mistake: four-wheeling can be a very serious sport. Last year, 335 fatalities were documented due to off-road vehicles.
This is up 10% from last year. And with those sorts of statistics, it’s important to us that you know how to stay safe as the weather gets warmer and the four-wheelers come out.
So here are some safety tips when it comes to quading.
Have the right gear.
Motorcyclists need to wear helmets, and so do you.
In fact, there’s a lot of gear you need to make sure you’re staying safe. Just some of this gear includes:
- Helmet
- Protective clothing
- A toolkit
- Cell phone and charger
- Air pump
- Tire plugs
- Water
- First aid kit
- Tow strap
- Winch
- Extra gas
With these things, you can make sure that you’re prepared no matter what happens.
No matter how careful you’re trying to be, an accident can still happen. Or you could get lost, or there could be a technical error.
It’s incredibly important that you’re prepared if you’re going to go quading. Even if it feels like you know what you’re doing, there’s always something out there that can catch you by surprise.
Pick the right time.
While the prospect of riding at night might seem fun, it can also be incredibly dangerous.
At night, your vision is incredibly limited. ATVs don’t have the same headlight powers as cars and so you won’t be able to see as well.
Also, quading is usually done in a very different setting than driving.
At any moment, you can turn a corner and find yourself face to face with a fallen tree or something similar.
If it’s night, you won’t be able to see it in advance and prepare yourself.
Quading is definitely safer during the day. You’ll have full vision and won’t have to worry about any unsuspected surprises in your way.
Riding at night is very little reward for a lot of risks. Riding during the day gives you the same exhilaration and fun that comes from four-wheeling, but without the added worries about night vision.
When you go out on an ATV, make sure you take note of what time of year it is.
That way, you’ll know when the sun is going to set and will be able to plan accordingly. Plan to have your four-wheelers parked and packed up before it gets dark.
Use the buddy system.
Even other ATV riders warn you against riding alone.
“Every time I ride alone I always get stuck or crash!” One commenter said. And this isn’t a unique experience. Countless people have shared stories about disasters that have happened when they rode alone.
Quading alone can be even more dangerous because when you ride alone, you don’t have anyone to help you if you get seriously hurt.
That’s why you should always use the buddy system while on a four-wheeler. That way, even if the worst happens, you can have someone else there to minimize the damage.
If you must go out alone, at least make sure that people know where you are and when you plan to be back. That way, they’ll be able to keep an eye out for you.
Quading can be a fun activity, and it’s even more fun when you can share it with other people!
So make it a group activity.
Of course, when you’re riding with other people, you do have to be careful. Make sure that you aren’t getting in each other’s ways, and keep an eye on your friends at all times.
When riding together, it’s very important that everyone look out for each other.
Always inspect your vehicle.
When you’re excited to go quading, you just want to get going.
But having a pre-ride checklist is incredibly important to make sure that everything’s running like it should be.
So before you hit the ground, make sure you check:
- Fuel is fresh and full enough
- Tire pressure
- Brakes are still working like they should
- Your oil level
- Steering connections to the wheel
- Wheels lug nuts are still attached well
- Chain is oiled and tight
- Battery life
- Coolant levels
- Grips are in place
Making sure that everything is running smoothly is a very important part of staying safe.
Having even a quad in poor quality is a sure way to make an accident happen. Everything needs to be working well for the four-wheeler to run like its supposed to.
Four-wheelers don’t have to be dangerous if you know how to drive them and take care of them properly.
We suggest writing down a checklist and using it every time you get ready to go out. Keep it in the same place that you store your four-wheelers so that you don’t forget it.
That way, you’re always sure that you’ve checked everything.
Don’t drink and drive.
Everyone knows not to drink and drive a car.
But for some reason, four-wheelers seem a lot less harmless to some people. Maybe it’s because you’re usually not on the road with other people, or maybe it’s because you don’t technically need a license to ride one.
Whatever the reason, drunk driving is a fairly common cause of ATV accidents.
Think of all the reasons that you don’t drink and drive cars. Those exact same reasons apply to quading.
When you’re drunk, your judgment is impaired. Your ability to react to things is incredibly slowed down.
You cannot operate any sort of vehicle in this state, and it includes a four-wheeler.
You should take riding an ATV as seriously as you take driving. Not only is your life at stake, but when you’re riding with friends, other lives are at stake as well.
No ride is worth dying over.
So if you’re going to go out on your four-wheeler, make sure you wait until you sober up to do it.
That way, you don’t have to worry about hurting yourself or anyone else because of one stupid mistake.
It only takes one time to get into an accident. Don’t let that one time happen.
Don’t try to show off.
So, you’ve taken our advice so far.
You’re out with friends, during the daytime. You’re all having a good time, and probably joking around. You decide that you want to take the joking to a next level.
So you cut off your friend to startle them.
Or maybe you pop a wheelie, trying to impress them.
It’s all harmless fun, right?
Actually, that’s wrong. Using your ATV for something other than its intended purpose is a great way to cause an accident.
Quading is fun enough without trying to add in things that the vehicles weren’t meant to do.
An ATV is not a bumper car, a motorcycle, or a bike. It isn’t a toy. It shouldn’t be treated like one. You should treat it the same way you do a car.
Keep things simple and you’ll reduce the risk of any sort of accident happening. Be careful and treat the vehicle with the respect it deserves.
When you try to show off, you’ll probably wind up embarrassed — or worse, injured. Is trying to be cool really worth that?
Your friends will be much happier if you just stayed safe.
Stay aware.
When you’re riding, it’s easy to get lost in thought.
For a lot of people, riding an ATV can be a fun, even stress-relieving experience. You want to take it all in and live in the moment, without having to worry about anything.
We appreciate that. We know how much fun it can be.
But that’s no excuse for not being safe.
When you’re on an ATV, it’s the same as if you were driving a car. You need to be aware of your surroundings at all times.
It only takes a second of not paying attention to cause an accident. And as statistics show, that accident could very well wind up being fatal.
When you’re riding with friends (and you should be!), you have to be aware of them as well.
Make sure you know what’s happening around you so that you don’t get caught unaware.
Get the right product.
This is a step that many people overlook. They keep ATVs that are far too old to be running well, or they just buy any old vehicle without knowing the condition it’s in.
If you’re going to be safe, you have to be riding a vehicle that you can trust.
Make sure that you’re buying from a reputable person or dealer who knows what they are doing.
And if you need a place to start, you can check our inventory of ATVs. We’re always showing the best that we have in our inventory, and there’s sure to be one that you love.
With our vehicles and these tips, you’ll be on your way to safe quading in no time!