Knowing What To Look For In a Used ATV
Posted by admin at 8 October 2020, at 07 : 06 AM
An ATV or All Terrain Vehicle is an essential investment when you live, work or operate a business in an area where off-road driving is necessitated. If your home, business premises or workplace is located in a hilly area or you need to traverse rugged terrain on a regular basis, you may find that your existing vehicle just won’t cut the mustard. Especially in adverse weather conditions. What’s more, attempting to traverse rugged landscapes without an ATV can result in serious damage to your vehicle’s suspension to say nothing of potential collision damage. The need for speed, strength and an unerring sense of adventure are often what attracts people to buying an ATV.
But whether you’re buying for your own personal use or a company car for your workplace, you need to balance the same considerations when choosing an ATV. While a company like TCS Upfitting can help to make your vehicle more fit for purpose, you still need to build on a strong foundation. And if you’re buying a used ATV it’s essential that you know where to look to ensure that you get years’ worth of great value for money.
Get to know the ATV market
The ATV market is a broad church, encompassing everything from humble workhorses for agrarian businesses to quad bikes (essentially racing bikes on four wheels). You want to look for a performance oriented Utility Task Vehicle (UTV) that will give you performance and protection where you need them most. If you’re buying something for professional use, it’s unlikely that you’ll need to reach particularly high speeds, so your focus should be on durability, comfort and protection from the elements.
Know how much you should expect to pay
The price of used turnkey ATVs can vary enormously from $2,000-$3,000 to upwards of $10,000. There are even some ATVs that cost about as much as a well equipped new car. Which is why it’s important to establish a set budget. Whatever your needs, you should be able to find a decent used vehicle in the $3,000-$3,500 range.
What to look for when inspecting your vehicle
Hopefully it goes without saying that you shouldn’t put money down on an ATV (or any other vehicle for that matter) without taking her out for a test drive first. But getting in the seat of an ATV isn’t like buying a new car.
You need to know what to look for when inspecting and driving the vehicle. If possible, take a seasoned ATV driver along with you to help gut check your prospective purchase.
ATVs commonly have a 2-stroke engine. These are very high strung, responsive and powerful. Unfortunately, they can also be unreliable. Ensure that it has been well maintained. Ask the seller or dealer of whatever service records or maintenance history they have. It should include things like regular fluid changes. This includes oil, coolant and transmission and differential fluids. Especially when investing in an all-wheel drive.
Take a good look at the frame and check for signs of rust or distress. If the vehicle has been jumped over hills and ramps, there may be evidence of damage and cracking, especially where the suspension meets the frame.
Finally, take a look over the chain and sprockets. Some users change these out to get faster acceleration. Look out for worn or bent sprockets that can create problems throughout your drivetrain.