Camping with Your ATV
ATV camping allows you to enjoy blazing new trails without having to make the long trek back home each night. Simply go to sleep in your tent and wake up the next day ready to ride! Below we cover our favorite tips for planning a smooth experience. If you have any questions or want to look at four wheelers for sale, visit McKibben Powersports Honda. We proudly serve those in Lakeland, Kissimmee, and Plant City, Florida.
Plan Your Trip
Your next great ATV adventure starts with a little planning. Think about where you want to go. Some people enjoy picking the destination first and finding stopping points along the way. Other travelers start with their stops and then find a campsite nearby. Either approach works! Whatever strategy you use, try to book your campsite as far in advance as possible. Many of the most popular spots book up fast. Plus, you may even get an early bird's discount by making your reservation farther out.
As you are planning, don't forget to check the weather forecast. After all, you will be spending plenty of time on your four wheeler outside. You want to avoid planning your trip when there's going to be a large amount of snow, rain, ice, or heat. All of these can make riding less enjoyable - and in some cases, less safe!
Get Your ATV Ready
When you are planning a camping trip around your four wheeler, you will want to be sure that it is up and ready for the ride! It'd be a shame to get all the way to your destination and realize there is a maintenance or performance issue that could have been resolved before you went. That's why a pre-ride inspection is key.
Here you are looking for any red flags for how your ATV will handle out on the trail. Spot any issues you can and get them repaired before your trip. Do your lights work? Are your brakes functioning as normal? Do your tires have enough tread and are adjusted to the right air pressure? A visual inspection paired with a short test drive will help give you the information you need.
Strategize Your Packing
You'll be heading out into the wilderness, likely far from a grocery store, so it can be tempting to bring along anything and everything you might need. But try to resist the urge! You really only need a handful of essentials: clothing, shelter, medications, toiletries, food, water, and supplies to build a fire. Be picky about bringing much beyond that.
Another strategy is to use travel-size versions of your products whenever possible. After all, you don't need a whopping big bottle of shampoo when you'll only be gone a few days. You can either buy the products already in a travel size container or buy travel size containers and fill them up with your necessities.
A final packing strategy is to utilize backpacking gear whenever possible. These items are made to be packed up into tight spaces. They also are designed to be lightweight, making them easy to pack along and take out on the trail.
Finding a Campsite
When you're making the reservation for your four-wheeler camping adventure, think about what amenities you need. Some people require water and electricity, while others prefer "roughing it".
When you arrive, try to find a flat site if possible. It'll be much more comfortable than sleeping on a slope. You'll also want to be close enough to people that you won't have as high of a risk of an animal encounter. But avoid being too close to camp because you might get bothered by the excess lights and noise. Aim for a good balance.
If your ATV needs some repair before your camping adventure, visit McKibben Powersports Honda. Our parts replacement and service department can get your four wheeler ready to ride in no time. We proudly serve those in Lakeland, Kissimmee, and Plant City, Florida. Stop by and visit today!