First ATV -- Essential Gear?

If you’re going several miles back, I’d opt for a SXS or small pickup truck/ SUV that’s kitted out.

ATV’s are great but they cannot store much and anything on it will get bounced around. Even with front & back racks, you can only hold so much gear. The more weight you add, the more maneuverability you lose. This will bite you on steep hills, intricate trails, sharp turns etc..

Winch, First Aid kit, Small tool pouch and a tire plug kit with a small portable pump to fill tires. Maybe a small portable battery jumper as well. Aside from that, I wouldn’t get too carried away.

My .02
 
It's kind of trip dependent, but I have two Outlander 6x6's and can carry more oh shit stuff than a regular atv. For me, machines should be equipped with winches with synthetic line and all tires filled with either tireject or the Polaris version of it. In addition to that, I carry basic tools for general field repair, tree saver strap, winch line extension, two soft shackles, a rope retention pulley, Agawa saw, mid-sized axe, and machete for clearing paths as needed, spare belt, colby valves, basic plug / sidewall repair kit, and a tire inflator / jump pack (doubles as battery bank for headlamps and such). I also carry a spare for long trips.
 
It's kind of trip dependent, but I have two Outlander 6x6's and can carry more oh shit stuff than a regular atv. For me, machines should be equipped with winches with synthetic line and all tires filled with either tireject or the Polaris version of it. In addition to that, I carry basic tools for general field repair, tree saver strap, winch line extension, two soft shackles, a rope retention pulley, Agawa saw, mid-sized axe, and machete for clearing paths as needed, spare belt, colby valves, basic plug / sidewall repair kit, and a tire inflator / jump pack (doubles as battery bank for headlamps and such). I also carry a spare for long trips.
Great tips, thanks for sharing
 
It's all in how you plan to use it, like JHM2023 stated in his post. Are you hunting, are you adventure trail riding, are you using it like a "normal" person, or someone that doesn't care if he makes it to work on Monday?

Are you going up steep hills, you definitely do not want anything on the back, you want the weight on the front of the machine.

Don't let young kids use grown-up machines!!!!!!!!!! There have been way too many kids seriously injured or killed here in Bama running grown up machines. I've known or known of close to 20 or so, myself. Parents think it's cool watching them run those big machines wide open. Then, the kids get on the machine while parents aren't home or aren't supervising, trees suddenly jump out in the middle of the trail or dirt road, cars get in the way, etc. Yeah, they make inexpensive 50cc, 90cc, or 150cc for them for a reason.

It looks cool loading a big bike in the back of a truck, until you have to do it in the rain, in the dark, mud all over the place. Yeah, buy the small trailer, learn to back it up using your mirrors. Learn the wiring and how to fix your lights. Buy a big enough trailer to maybe add a second atv for kids.

Lots of good info in the thread, very good guys.

A little about me, I've been running an ATV since the first days of "Big Red," and if you don't know Honda's "Big Red," do a google search on him and the injuries. I grew into a Kodiak Big Bear 350 (what an awesome machine in it's time and still today for hunting and chore work), then to a Can Am SXS.
 
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