The Do's and Don'ts Of Riding on Off-Road Trails

Tips and Tricks For Trail Riding With Your ATV or UTV

Earlier this week we told you about all the best things to bring along with you on the trails, and today we're gonna be expanding on that a bit further - today, we're running through all the do's and don'ts of the trail. Obviously, there's a lot of stuff that you need to know when you're going out riding, so we've got a few things that you'll want to keep in mind when you head out for a day solo or with your buds. Let's jump right in!

Table Of Contents

-DO: Bring Tools and Spare Parts For Your Machine

-DO: Bring Food and Other Supplies

-DON'T: Disrespect Private Property

-DO: Bring Extra Fuel Along

-DO: Use a Buddy System and Plan Routes Ahead of Time

Read More: What Should You Bring Along With You For ATV and UTV Riding?

DO: Bring Tools and Spare Parts For Your Machine

So, one of the biggest issues when it comes to riding on the trails is not having what you need while you're out there. Obviously, we're running miles and miles into the woods, and there just won't be a Shell that you can just stop at and grab what you need if you run out of something. You'll want to make sure that you pack your rig with whatever you're gonna need for the trail ride you're going on.

First up, we're gonna talk about tools and spare parts. The worst case scenario is that something on the machine actually breaks when you're out there - you could throw a belt, you could break a bead on a tire, and anything like that can really throw a damper on the day of riding you had planned. So, make sure that if you're gonna be out riding, you bring a spare belt, but you also bring the tools needed to change them, and familiarize yourself with the maintenance process before going out. If the first time you change a belt is when the circumstances are dire, you'll have a lot of headaches and towing that can be avoided by learning what to do before you have to.

Also, make sure you bring a jack along with you, whether that's a UTV jack or a farm-style jack, just make sure that you have some way to lift the machine up if it's necessary. Say you have to swap a tire and you have a spare - that's awesome that you have the spare, but it's a whole lot easier to get it replaced if you have a way of getting your machine off the ground. A cordless impact drill and tire patch kit will also work wonders.

DO: Bring Food and Other Supplies

Next on our list will play more into you and your personal self. When you're out riding, you're gonna need food, possibly, and you're absolutely gonna need water. Now, if you eat beforehand and you're planning on going for a few-hour ride, it's probably not a big deal, especially if you're planning to meet up at a bar or a lunch spot that's further down the trail. But if you're planning on a full day out, pack a lunch, pack some snacks, and pack some hydration - it's way better to be overprepared in this instance.

Now, on the other side of that, what happens after you eat? Make sure to bring some toilet paper or paper towels or something - we shouldn't have to explain why, but we'll just say that you don't want to be that guy who didn't bring "supplies" along for the ride and had to use a leaf. And also, pick up your trash - we ride these trails and they're well-maintained, but if you're littering and throwing all your stuff into the woods, that's a great way to catch some serious flack from fellow riders and pressure from people to shut that trail down.

Read More: Do New ATVs and UTVs Need A Break-In Period?

DON'T: Disrespect Private Property

Speaking of getting trails shut down in that sense - say you're riding on a trail and there's private property that's connecting you from one part of the trail to another part of that trail. That person is allowing you to ride on that part of the property so you can get from one part of the trail to the other part of the trail and make it an easy access. This way, you're not doing weird routes, and you're not blocked off from that trail, and all told, it's just a much more efficient way to get around.

The big thing here is that this is still someone's personal property - don't go venturing off onto their land that isn't marked. That isn't the trail system that you're allowed to ride on, and when you do that, you can damage their land, and a lot of times you'll catch a lot of flack. All they have to say is "no, you can't come on this part of our property," and all of a sudden, the entire trail is disconnected. So stay on the designated trail, and you'll be good.

Read More: What Are The Best ATV/UTV Events In The US?

DO: Bring Extra Fuel Along

Depending on how long you're planning on being out there, make sure to bring an extra can of fuel along with you too. You don't want to run out of fuel at the end of, like, three-quarters of the way through the day. If you're gonna be near gas stations the whole time, and you're not getting too far off the trail, then you shouldn't need to worry about it. But if you're planning on spending all day out on the trails, that's a long ride, and the last thing you want is to run out of gas.

DO: Use a Buddy System and Plan Routes Ahead of Time

It's all about where you're going when you're out riding - one of the best ways to do it is just to GPS your route, so you know the route that you need to take. At the same time, you'll want to let someone know where you're going, especially if you're riding alone - let them know where you're planning to be, and if something were to happen to you, people will know where to look. If you broke down and there was nobody else out on the trail that day, you're pretty much stranded, and a lot of the places that we ride in don't have cell service - so, if someone knows where you are, where to look for you, and how to get there, you'll save yourself a lot of time and a long walk back home.

Read More: What Are The Best Performance Mods For Your ATV or UTV?

Shop Wheels, Tires and Suspension For Your ATV or UTV at Function Powersports

So that wraps it up for today, but as always, if you need to get your machine a nice new upgrade, check out our store today, where we have plenty of high-quality wheels, tires, suspension kits, accessories, performance parts, and many more to help you get the most out of every ride. Shop aftermarket wheels, tires, suspension, and much more online now and we'll help you get just what you need!