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Buying an ATV: what equipment do I really need?
Winch, power steering, four-wheel drive, differential lock, cases or skid plate? We explain what really makes sense and what suits your intended use.
Buying an ATV: what equipment do I really need?
When buying an ATV there are countless equipment options. A winch, power steering, differential lock, skid plates, a storage box or extra lighting all sound useful at first, but not every rider actually needs them.
Which equipment makes sense depends above all on whether the ATV will be used for leisure, touring, off-road riding or as a work vehicle.
Four-wheel drive, useful for many jobs
If you regularly ride off-road, on forest tracks, on hunting grounds or on difficult surfaces, you should look for selectable four-wheel drive.
Four-wheel drive is also particularly useful for working jobs, towing a trailer or snow clearing.
If, on the other hand, you mainly ride on paved roads, you will need four-wheel drive far less often.
Power steering, more than just comfort
Electric power steering makes steering easier and can make a clear difference, especially at low speeds, off-road and during longer working sessions.
On larger and heavier ATVs in particular, we would therefore rather not do without power steering.
Depending on the manufacturer, it is offered as DPS, EPS or under a similar name, for example.
Differential lock, when do I need one?
A differential lock can help when traction off-road becomes difficult.
It is particularly worthwhile for:
- mud
- snow
- steep inclines
- difficult terrain
- forestry and work jobs
How each four-wheel-drive and differential system works does, however, differ between manufacturers and models.
Winch, for work and off-road
For many ATV riders, a winch is one of the most useful accessories.
It can be used, for example, to recover the vehicle or for certain working jobs. With various snow plough systems, a winch can also be used to operate the blade.
If you regularly use your ATV off-road, in forestry, on hunting grounds or for snow clearing, you should therefore factor in a winch right when you buy the vehicle.
Storage box and transport box, useful for touring and work
An ATV's luggage racks already provide ways to carry things. If you want to carry tools, hunting gear, clothing or other luggage protected from the elements, you can also fit a storage box or transport box.
A storage box can be particularly useful for touring, hunting and work.
Before buying, make sure the size and mounting system suit the specific ATV and the intended use.
Skid plates, worth considering for regular off-road use
If you often ride over stones, branches or heavily rutted tracks, you should look into skid plates.
Additional skid plates can better protect sensitive areas on the underside of the vehicle from external impacts.
For a vehicle used almost exclusively on paved roads, on the other hand, this investment is less important.
Front and rear bumpers
Bumpers can give extra protection to parts of the vehicle on contact with branches, undergrowth or other obstacles.
They can be particularly useful for regular use in the woods, on hunting grounds or off-road. On a leisure ATV used mainly on the road, on the other hand, they are more a question of preferred equipment and looks.
Extra lighting, useful or just for looks?
Additional LED lighting can add real value when working in the dark.
This applies, for example, to:
- snow clearing
- agriculture
- forestry work
- hunting ground patrols
- work in poor lighting conditions
However, you should check whether, and under what conditions, the extra lighting in question may be used on public roads.
Snow plough and spreader
If you want to use the ATV for snow clearing, you should already check when buying the vehicle which snow plough systems are available for that particular model.
For larger areas, a spreader can also be worth considering.
It is important not just to look at the accessories themselves. The engine, four-wheel drive, tyres and the vehicle as a whole should also suit the planned snow clearing work.
What equipment do I need for leisure and touring?
For leisure riders, different things are often important than for a pure work vehicle.
Depending on your personal requirements, the following are particularly worth considering:
- power steering
- storage box or transport box
- a comfortable seating position
- a genuine two-seater if you regularly ride with a passenger
- enough luggage space
A winch or extensive skid plates can be useful if you regularly ride off-road, but are not automatically necessary for pure touring riders.
What equipment do I need for hunting, forestry and agriculture?
For a work ATV, we would set different priorities.
Particularly relevant are:
- Four-wheel drive
- power steering
- suitable tyres
- Winch
- Towing capability
- sufficient towing capacity
- luggage rack or transport box
- skid plates, depending on the terrain
- additional work lights if needed
Here, function should come before looks.
Do I have to order everything straight away when I buy?
No. Many accessories can also be fitted later.
Even so, it pays to think before buying the vehicle about which equipment you will need in the long term. Not every accessory is available for every model, and some trim levels already come more extensively equipped from the factory.
That's why a model that is more expensive at first can make more sense in the end if important equipment is already included as standard.
Conclusion
The best equipment is not the ATV with as many add-ons as possible, but the vehicle that is properly equipped for how it will actually be used.
For touring, power steering, storage space and comfort can be decisive. For hunting and estate work, four-wheel drive, a winch and ways to carry things become more important. For forestry, agriculture and snow clearing, towing capacity, tyres, protection and work accessories also play a bigger role.
So first decide what the ATV will be used for, and only then which equipment you really need.
