Knowing how to properly prepare your all-terrain vehicle (ATV) for winter storage is one of the best ways to prolong their life and keep them in top shape the moment you take them out and go for a ride. Take care of your ATVs during the winter months by following these simple steps in ATV winter storage.
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How Do I Store My ATV For Winter?
All-terrain vehicles are made to be tough and sturdy, but this does not exempt them from the effect of extreme temperatures of winter. By making these necessary steps in properly storing your ATVs during winter you will be surprised how many benefits it can do to your off-road vehicles.
1. Clean The Vehicle
Start by cleaning your ATVs, this means removing any sort of dirt, grease, and debris left on your vehicles. By doing so, you will be minimizing the chances of erosion and damage to your ATVs. This step is also important to protect the paint of your vehicle.
Cleaning your vehicle also includes getting rid of dirt and lubricating any parts that need it like chain, sprockets, cables, and lug nuts, these will prevent rust formation.
2. Change Fluids In Your ATVs
Any fluids in your vehicle like oils and gas will need to be replaced with new ones. Dirty oils contain debris and acids that can cause erosion to certain parts of the engine. These fluids thicken during cold weather that can lead to engine damage. Don’t forget to change dirty oil filters as well before storing your ATVs for the winter.
For gas plastic tanks, you will need to drain all of the fuel out including the tank, fuel lines, and carburetor. For metal tanks, fill the tank up full and add a stabilizer to prevent moisture build-up in humid places that can lead to rust formation. Filling up your gas tanks is also necessary to help prevent any condensation from forming. If there is water present on your fuel line it can freeze enabling your ATVs to start.
Run your ATV for about 10 minutes to warm it up and to allow the fuel with the stabilizer to get distributed throughout the motor.
3. Tire Check
Even in storage, tires cannot maintain a perfect pressure that’s why you need to check on your ATV tires and inflate them to their proper pressure before storing them for the winter. You may still need to inflate your tires when you take them out again for use but it’s better than dealing with the damages caused by a fully flat tire.
4. Battery Check
Cold weather is especially hard on your ATV battery draining it before you even know it. To prevent this from happening, remove the battery and charge it up to 100%. Store it in a warm area and you can also attach a smart charger or a trickle charger to prevent your battery from quickly losing charge.
5. Seal Open Areas
Another tip for ATV winter storage is to seal the open areas. This is done to block any entry points where critters or small animals can crawl. Open areas and pipes should be checked and blocked. Good duct tapes will do the trick as well as paper and any other material at hand sturdy enough to block these entry points.
6. Put A Good Quality Cover
Even if you’re storing your ATV indoors, a waterproof and breathable cover is also a must. Look for these qualities because these will prevent moisture build-up which could lead to rust formation. A cover also prevents dust, debris, and animals from getting inside.
7. Choose A Good Location
As much as possible it’s best to pick out a good storage area like a garage or shed that will protect your ATVs against harsh winter conditions. You can also use blocks or a lift to keep the ATV off the ground to protect the tires and suspension.
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