ATV, UTV, side by side…Offroad vehicles have been around for more than sixty years. While some people ride their vehicles on the snow-covered trails, others put them up for the winter.Â
It’s not as easy as pulling it into a garage to hibernate for the season and jumping back on it in the spring. There’s some prep involved.Â
When extreme weather conditions come along, how should you prepare your side by side for the winter? Keep reading to learn more about side by side care.Â
What is Winterizing?Â
Winterizing is the act of preparing something like a house, a boat, or a vehicle for winter weather. Winterizing is necessary to prevent damage to important parts and accessories.Â
Winterizing Guide: Winterizing ExplainedÂ
Let’s take a look at how to prepare your side by side for winter. You can do the job yourself or find a local service center.Â
Clean It Up
Your first step is to use a water sprayer with high pressure to remove all mud and dirt. Be sure to get everything off the undercarriage and any other hidden spots.Â
Carefully clean the engine, air intake, and exhaust without allowing water to get in.Â
Drain FluidsÂ
It’s important to drain the fuel from your vehicle. As gasoline breaks down, it can cause problems like clogged fuel lines and will end up costing a lot of money in repairs.Â
You can run your vehicle until it runs out of gas or add a fuel additive and turn the fuel selector to ‘off’ and allow the engine to run until it stops.Â
Remove the Battery
You want to keep your battery in good working condition. Take it out of the vehicle and keep it on a trickle charger. It will be all ready to start up your side by side come spring.Â
Air FilterÂ
Critters may look for a cozy place to nest and stay warm during the winter. Your air filter may be just the place. For this reason, it’s important to block the inlet ports to the airbox. When it’s time to take it out of storage, don’t forget to unblock these ports!Â
Lessen Pressure on TiresÂ
As your vehicle sits in storage for a period of time, it puts a lot of pressure on the tires. If you can, elevate the vehicle to lessen this pressure. This will help your tires to last longer as well.Â
Winterizing Your UTV
Owning a UTV isn’t only about the fun. It comes with responsibility. You have to take the time to prepare your vehicle for the winter so it’s ready to go when the spring riding season comes along. Remember once it’s winterized, it’s best to store it inside to keep it free from moisture.Â
Contact us at Offroad Armor if you have any questions or need clarification on any of the steps to winterizing your side by side or want to order any offroad accessories.Â