| Primitive tent camping has been a great outdoor | | | | person riding carelessly without the proper |
| activity for hundreds of years. ATVs have only been | | | | knowledge, safety gear, or respect for the |
| around for about eighty years. ATV stands for All | | | | environment, ruins the sport for everyone. And when |
| Terrain Vehicle and the first ATV was developed | | | | this same person gets hurt, they are usually blaming |
| back in the 1930's. It was a six-wheeled amphibious | | | | (suing) the manufacturer, the government or |
| vehicle with three tires on each side. These first | | | | someone else. Everyone need to take responsibility |
| ATVs had no suspension other than what the tires | | | | for his or her own actions! |
| offered and turned by disengaging the drive from | | | | This applies equally to camping, ATVing, and enjoying |
| one side or the other. The first utility 4 x 4 ATV | | | | our wilderness areas. Leave No Trace® and |
| was developed by Honda in 1986, the FourTrax TRX | | | | Tread Lightly!® means picking up after yourself |
| 350. The other manufacturers quickly followed suit, | | | | and others. Leave your camping site the way you |
| and the 4 x 4 utility ATV has remained the most | | | | found it preferably better. Respect private property |
| popular type of ATV ever since. People quickly | | | | as well as nature itself. The message is simple: |
| realized they could load their camping gear and | | | | conserve our environment! Doing this ensures |
| supplies on the attached racks and head into the | | | | everyone will be able to enjoy ATV camping and the |
| deep wilderness for an ATV camping adventure. First | | | | great outdoors for many years to come. |
| it was mainly hunters but soon others realized this | | | | Education on ATVs and the proper selection of |
| exciting new camping adventure. | | | | camping gear, supplies, and accessories for your |
| The first utility 4 x 4 ATVs had very harsh | | | | application means a trouble free and enjoyable ATV |
| suspensions by today's standards and very small load | | | | camping experience. Each trip is unique and should be |
| capacities. As technology improved, the suspensions | | | | prepared as such. Take only what is required to be |
| got better and with the ability to handle the machine | | | | prepared for the occasion. When loading an ATV for |
| better, the engine sizes started to increase. When | | | | a camping adventure pay close attention to the load |
| the 4 x 4 independent suspension was developed, | | | | capacities of the unit, load the unit effectively |
| the "Big Bore" engines quickly followed. The "Big | | | | between front and rear racks without exceeding the |
| Bore" utility 4 x 4 ATVs range from 500cc up to | | | | manufacturers rated load capacity. Overloading your |
| 960cc. These bigger ATVs have much larger load | | | | ATV can cause a tip hazard as well as possible |
| capacities than the original utility ATVs, enabling more | | | | damage to the unit. Try to keep your load as low as |
| camping gear and supplies including extra fuel. With | | | | possible as this will help keep the center of gravity of |
| the extra capacities, campers can go further into the | | | | the unit as low as possible. There are some nice |
| wilderness. As technology has improved, the side by | | | | aftermarket rack packs available that help keep |
| side UTVs (Utility Terrain Vehicle where the riders sit | | | | things organized and waterproof. |
| side by side) have improved and these allow even | | | | ATV camping gear and supplies needs to be as |
| more load capacity. | | | | lightweight as possible to minimize the wear and tear |
| One of the most obvious trends is the increased | | | | on the ATV, but most importantly for safety due to |
| interest in ATVs and primitive tent camping. So when | | | | the more weight on the ATV the more the |
| you combine the two you have ATV camping. With | | | | difference in handling the ATV is. The rider needs to |
| utility 4 x 4 ATVs people can get to deep wilderness | | | | understand the weight difference and the effect the |
| camping sites faster and easier than full size vehicles. | | | | extra weight has on handling, controlling and stopping |
| Utility 4 x 4 ATVs can carry more camping gear and | | | | the ATV. Freeze-dried food or MRE's (Meal Ready to |
| supplies than backpacking and properly equipped can | | | | EAT) are great for ATV camping, as they are light |
| go further distances. | | | | and compact (don't taste that bad either). ATV |
| With this increased interest in ATVs comes increased | | | | camping does not mean you cannot cook gourmet |
| carelessness. Statistics released by the Consumer | | | | meals. There are many lightweight stoves and |
| Product Safety Commission show that in 2005, there | | | | cooking utensils available along with several easy |
| were an estimated 136,700 injuries associated with | | | | great tasting camping recipes. |
| ATVs. According to these statistics, the risk of injury | | | | Along with camping gear and supplies each ATVer |
| in 2005 was 171.5 injuries per 10,000 four-wheel | | | | should have at least a basic survival kit and a basic |
| ATVs in use. The risk of death in 2004 was 1.1 | | | | tool kit that should be carried at all times when riding. |
| deaths per 10,000 four-wheel ATVs in use. | | | | It is amazing what can be fixed with basic tools |
| In 1988, the All-terrain Vehicle Safety Institute (ASI) | | | | (adjustable wrench, combo screwdriver, multi-tool, |
| was formed to provide proper training and education | | | | small Vise-grips, safety wire, tire plug kit, and |
| for ATV riders. The cost of attending the training is | | | | electrical tape). |
| minimal and most manufacturers offer the training | | | | ATV camping is really another version of primitive |
| with the purchase of new ATVs. Some states | | | | tent camping and one of the great things about ATV |
| require successful completion of this type of training | | | | camping is the campsite location because with an |
| by minor-age children before they are granted | | | | ATV you can really get into the deep wilderness |
| permission to ride on state land. Increased awareness | | | | quickly. No crowded campgrounds out there. Just |
| of helmets and safety gear has had a positive effect. | | | | remember you are a visitor to the area, so minimize |
| Wilderness areas are shrinking by approximately | | | | your impact on the environment and stay on existing |
| 100,000 acres every year by the unmitigated growth | | | | trails. Plan your trip in advance and have maps of the |
| of single-family housing and industry. Subsequently, | | | | area. Portable handheld GPS (Global Positioning |
| Environmentalists criticize that excessive use of | | | | System) units are great especially if you get lost. |
| ATVs in the remaining wilderness areas is causing | | | | Always travel with a group, never alone. |
| excessive erosion to the landscape. Others complain | | | | Breakdowns, flat tires, getting stuck, and accidents |
| that ATVs produce excessive noise. ATV advocacy | | | | are all possibilities with this sport and having the extra |
| groups have been organized to purchase property or | | | | help is a comforting feeling. Also there is always |
| obtain permission of landowners, or both. Many US | | | | someone to tell the story. |
| states now work with clubs to build and maintain | | | | Once you find the perfect wilderness campsite |
| trails suitable for ATV riding and educate ATV riders | | | | unload your camping gear and supplies. Setup your |
| about responsible riding, safety gear and maintenance | | | | camp on durable surfaces and cooking areas on a |
| of their machines. Many states require ATVs to be | | | | non-vegetated area. Make sure you are aware of |
| registered and display proof of registration on the | | | | any fire restrictions for the area. Be aware of the |
| ATV. The income generated from gas taxes and | | | | wildlife that may be in the area. Make note of any |
| registrations are used to develop more trails and to | | | | landmarks around the campsite so you can find the |
| perform grooming and maintenance of existing trails. | | | | campsite again after a ride or hike. With your |
| Like everything else, people have to take | | | | campsite setup, you are free to ride your ATV, hike, |
| responsibility for their own actions and not rely on | | | | fish, hunt (if in season), or just relax, after all this is |
| the government and others to pick up after them. It | | | | camping, ATV style. |
| only takes one bad apple to ruin the bunch. One | | | | |