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ATV Quiz

August 10, 2011

ATV Quiz

I received a copy of The Total Outdoorsman Manual a few weeks back and have almost made cover-to-cover. Usually, when I get into a book, it’s finished a just a few days, but I’m a little busy answering competitor questions and designing courses for the Finals. It’s edited by Eddie Nickens (who happens to be one of the hosts of the Total Outdoorsman Challenge) and is just a great read for anyone who enjoys all this outdoor stuff.

I’m going to “borrow” one of Eddie’s tips for this week’s quiz, and I’m pretty comfortable that Eddie won’t mind…he’s “borrowed” a little of my stuff for the show. And we are uber-close friends.

Scenario: The Yamaha ATV course winds through a dry creek bed, up slopes, with lots of sharp turns. Competitors will have remove obstacles blocking the trail with only the Yamaha Grizzly 550 EPS and a tow strap, on the loose gravel of the dry creek bed. The obstacles may be very large and heavy and both creek banks are too steep to ride the machine out. The competitors obviously cannot back out and complete the course, so they have to remove the obstacle(s) in the fastest time possible. During practice, they only get to walk the course and inspect all the tasks they must complete. They can ride the machine at another site to become familiar with how it handles and all the options.

Question: Two part, pretty simple, so make sure to answer it fully: When stopped by the obstacle (let’s say it’s a 20-inch diameter tree that’s fallen from the higher bank, broke the top off to where it’s setting slightly below the opposite, lower bank) how do you do you move it far enough to go around it? What’s the best way to handle the sharp, uphill turns?

Swag: Yamaha will provide, and like I said last week, Yamaha always gives great stuff.

August 10, 2011 in | Permalink

Comments (7)

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from sageyote wrote 39 weeks 1 day ago

If I'm following correctly how your describing it, then I would position my ATV as far to the upper (steeper side) of the road as I can get an attach the tow strap to the farthest part I can on the lower side (where the top broke off). Putting the ATV in four wheel drive, I'm going to back up and drag the tree out of the way just enough. The way you describe it leads me to believe the top is off the road below you and not the obstacle? The sharp uphill turns- make sure you are standing up and leaning opposite of the turn your making.

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from rangerrick123 wrote 39 weeks 1 day ago

As far as going up a steep hill- you will need to maintain enough speed to make the climb, but not enough to throw you out of control. Put your ATV in the appropriate gear and climb the hill while making sure your body weight is as far forward as possible just as long as you don't lose safe contact with your foot and hand controls. I would lean opposite of the direction you are turning with key here to not lose momentum! The tree in the way- You only need to move the obstacle far enough to be able to safely drive over it or around it preferably. A 20" diameter tree will not be totally removed from the road with an ATV, trust me. I would put the toe strap near the trunk where the top broke off and position the ATV at an angle towards the steep bank. Leaving the least amount of toe strap between the trunk and the ATV will give you more dragging room. Put it in 4 wheel drive and move it just enough to get by. If you try pulling the other side of the trunk down from the steep hill you will run the risk of the ATV becoming too close to the lower side of the road or the trunk ends up in the road making it harder to move. Plus, you will be pulling against the extra down force that the tree trunk has against the bank. I would use a Yamaha ATV for this if it were me.......

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from sageyote wrote 38 weeks 2 days ago

oh yeah....before going up that hill you should have the ATV in the lowest gear that will allow you to keep up enough speed and momentum, but not too high a gear which will cause you to bog down and forcing a gear change- that is not something you want to do in the middle of a steep hill. Make sure that you don't compromise the ability to use your foot brake or hand controls when you stand up and lean into the hill.

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from John Davis wrote 38 weeks 1 day ago

Sageyote, shoot me your shipping info and name to john@blue3productions and we'll get your prize out to ya. Congrats on getting it right, and not trying to sell me sneakers or a handbag.

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from diegfris wrote 37 weeks 6 days ago

go around tree via lower bank, attach tow rope and pull angling toward higher bank....for uphill turns lean in toward turn direction

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from Davidkingsbury wrote 6 weeks 4 days ago

Take the tow strap wrap it around the tree put the grizzly into four wheel drive pull the tree out just far enough for me to get through and u lean into the direction you are turning

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from ghost_riderx91 wrote 3 weeks 6 days ago

I would put the atv at the upper side of the bank. Put my strap around that end of the tree and move it to where I know I will have enough room, approx. 5-8 Ft., to get by the obstacle. As far as the up hill and sharp turns- take them slow and steady. Safer is always better. When you come up to a steep up hill slope, Stop, engage four-wheel drive (if applicable), and lean forward on the machine, start up the hill slow but steady not to start spinning the wheels, keep a steady hand on the front brake handle, just in case something goes wrong. and the sharp turns- make sure four-wheel drve is no engaged, lean slightly towards the inside of the turn turn sharp enough but slow enough not to hit the outside of the turn such as trees and debris. Never use the front brake when going into a turn, as you will lose steering and slide into debris. take the turns slow and steady dont stop in middle of turn. ALSO, NEVER use rear brake when going up hill, the machine could flip backwards and cause major damage.

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from sageyote wrote 39 weeks 1 day ago

If I'm following correctly how your describing it, then I would position my ATV as far to the upper (steeper side) of the road as I can get an attach the tow strap to the farthest part I can on the lower side (where the top broke off). Putting the ATV in four wheel drive, I'm going to back up and drag the tree out of the way just enough. The way you describe it leads me to believe the top is off the road below you and not the obstacle? The sharp uphill turns- make sure you are standing up and leaning opposite of the turn your making.

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from rangerrick123 wrote 39 weeks 1 day ago

As far as going up a steep hill- you will need to maintain enough speed to make the climb, but not enough to throw you out of control. Put your ATV in the appropriate gear and climb the hill while making sure your body weight is as far forward as possible just as long as you don't lose safe contact with your foot and hand controls. I would lean opposite of the direction you are turning with key here to not lose momentum! The tree in the way- You only need to move the obstacle far enough to be able to safely drive over it or around it preferably. A 20" diameter tree will not be totally removed from the road with an ATV, trust me. I would put the toe strap near the trunk where the top broke off and position the ATV at an angle towards the steep bank. Leaving the least amount of toe strap between the trunk and the ATV will give you more dragging room. Put it in 4 wheel drive and move it just enough to get by. If you try pulling the other side of the trunk down from the steep hill you will run the risk of the ATV becoming too close to the lower side of the road or the trunk ends up in the road making it harder to move. Plus, you will be pulling against the extra down force that the tree trunk has against the bank. I would use a Yamaha ATV for this if it were me.......

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from sageyote wrote 38 weeks 2 days ago

oh yeah....before going up that hill you should have the ATV in the lowest gear that will allow you to keep up enough speed and momentum, but not too high a gear which will cause you to bog down and forcing a gear change- that is not something you want to do in the middle of a steep hill. Make sure that you don't compromise the ability to use your foot brake or hand controls when you stand up and lean into the hill.

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from John Davis wrote 38 weeks 1 day ago

Sageyote, shoot me your shipping info and name to john@blue3productions and we'll get your prize out to ya. Congrats on getting it right, and not trying to sell me sneakers or a handbag.

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from diegfris wrote 37 weeks 6 days ago

go around tree via lower bank, attach tow rope and pull angling toward higher bank....for uphill turns lean in toward turn direction

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from Davidkingsbury wrote 6 weeks 4 days ago

Take the tow strap wrap it around the tree put the grizzly into four wheel drive pull the tree out just far enough for me to get through and u lean into the direction you are turning

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from ghost_riderx91 wrote 3 weeks 6 days ago

I would put the atv at the upper side of the bank. Put my strap around that end of the tree and move it to where I know I will have enough room, approx. 5-8 Ft., to get by the obstacle. As far as the up hill and sharp turns- take them slow and steady. Safer is always better. When you come up to a steep up hill slope, Stop, engage four-wheel drive (if applicable), and lean forward on the machine, start up the hill slow but steady not to start spinning the wheels, keep a steady hand on the front brake handle, just in case something goes wrong. and the sharp turns- make sure four-wheel drve is no engaged, lean slightly towards the inside of the turn turn sharp enough but slow enough not to hit the outside of the turn such as trees and debris. Never use the front brake when going into a turn, as you will lose steering and slide into debris. take the turns slow and steady dont stop in middle of turn. ALSO, NEVER use rear brake when going up hill, the machine could flip backwards and cause major damage.

0 Good Comment? | | Report

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