We're looking at buying a 4WD utility quad mainly for hunting and a little trail riding. We live in Michigan, so we were thniking about taking it to the Silver Lake Sand dunes too. We've never owned a quad before, so forgive me if this is a dumb question, but do those types machines do OK in the sand, or do the high performance 4WD machines work better for that?

Thanks

Moonlitin

 

In the sand, you want to be light as possible and float along on the top (look at a dune buggy...its all stripped down and as light as possible), not dig in and try to grapple for traction like in typical 4X4 riding (all you will do is dig 4 big holes!).

I have seen pics of Silver Lake, and I don't recall seeing any big hills or bowls or anything at all like you would find at a place like Glamis. So, if you need a 4X4 the rest of the time and only go to the sand now and then, it's no big deal....you can have fun on anything.

But, if you really want to ride the "real dunes", ditch the utility idea completely and do it right on a sport quad.

 

There is nothing real challenging at Silver Lake, so most utility 4x4 quads don't have a problem getting around. Although a 250 or 300cc machine might have a hard time climbing Test Hill. I have never had a hard time climbing anything at Silver Lake with my Wolverine, but I don't consider it a utility quad.

 

My Wolverine 350 had no problems the 2 times I took it to Silver Lake,had lots of fun, and no problems climbing the dunes. Of course,it is a lot lighter than a bigger utility quad, but I have seen plenty of big Polaris and Yamaha 4x4 quads out there.

 

You can get away with a utility quad @ silver lake... just dont go launching it over any razorbacks (watched a guy do it a couple years ago and shatter his chin on the handle bars on landing) they dont have the suspension for it.

 

my wife rides my 700 grizzly at glamis and it goes everywhere the only thing it cant do is go straight up the giant walls like china wall and a few others but to go in the huge dunes and ride the bowls you wont believe how good it works

 

I think the best type of machine for you all around would be a Can-Am Renegade 500 or 800. They are fast, powerful, and have a decent 4x4 system. But either way a Ute will work just fine at Silver Lake. The only dunes Ute's struggle in are big Dunes and walls, which Silver Lake does not have so you should be good. Good luck.