With the amount of questions that pop up here from first time sand duners I thought it may be a good idea to post a thread that gives everyone a chance to give their best advice for someone going to the dunes. There are hundreds of little things that can help someone out on a first time trip. One of the things that I think is really important is check your filters! K&Ns require cleaning and oiling and not many people do this on a regular basis. Paper filters should be checked if not replaced before a dune trip and adding an outter wrap is always a good idea. Nothing will kill your quad faster than a bad air filter out in the sand. If you have a good tip then post it here, I'm sure there are alot of great ideas for sand vets to.

 

Definately wash your atv when yer done! Nothin worse than havin all that sand on your movin parts grindin away the metal. I always wash mine after a good sand day and mud bath.

 

Good idea and with my 25+ years of sand riding experience i would say that one of the most important things i can think of is if you can carry your phone with you for emergencies and a piece of strong rope or tow strap is a good idea.I would like to remind everyone that a helmet is always is always a good idea even though you are "only riding in the sand".

 

Look before you leap.

 

Sand tires: If you are going to the dunes 1 time and probably not return, not with your present machine anyway, you can get away with knobbies. A good sand paddle will ensure that you don't spend half your visit to the dunes pulling the rear tires out of 2 big holes you just dug. Find the lightest sand tire your buget allows and put them on the lightest wheel you can find. The thick .190 wheels are not what you want, the cheaper .125 wheels will be plenty tough enough and be less weight. I always mount 10-11" wide paddles on 8" wide wheels, it gives them a round profile that IMO works much better than a square tire. Not many machines need more than an 8 paddle and some light 2 strokes will do even better with fewer paddles. Front sand tires are not needed if you only dune a couple times a year but they do make a difference and they are much lighter than knobbies. They also float over the sand much better as well. Am I missing anything?

 

You can play with pressure on your paddles to get the right amount of hook. If you bog too much, pump them up some for extra spin.

Those over 35 or 40 might find it helpful to take about 5 ibuprofins in the morning before a long ride.

 

Watch out for the other guy! he is really drunk and stupid, just when you think there is no way he could be dumb enough to try or do that, guess what...... he does!

 

Always have a spotter while jumping or dragging up hills
Give Sand Rails/other large vehicals plenty of space

 

Watch for ladies with their bikini off!![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img] jk oIL YOUR CHAIN BEFORE YOU LEAVE AND AFTER YOUR DONE WASHING IT WHEN YOU GET HOME. Never ride alone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

always be extra careful when coming over the top of a dune for the first time. you don't know who or what is on the other side. you could easily be looking at a backside that is as steep and tall as the side you just rode up, or there could be somebody gettin ready to start riding down.

the taller the flag, the better.