Our club is trying to negotiate with private land owners to extend trails. At our last club meeting, there was some discussion about land owners repeatedly pointing to potential damage as a reason for not allowing trails across their land. They don't like the idea of seeing ugly ruts on their property.

One club member suggested that if ATV's had front and rear differentials, they wouldn't cut ruts on turns, and landowners would be more likely to allow them. That seems so logical to me that I'm wondering if there aren't ATV's available that have differentials, possibly ones that could be locked out if the going gets tough off road?

 

I do not think Diffs are the answer. Although there may be some churning of dirt being caused by locked diffs front and rear, I think the throttle is the real culprit here... Riding style is more to blame than putting the onus on the machines. You see it everywhere. You get some guy on a top of the line Grizzly trying to "get some air" with it. Come on.. that is plain nutz. Why buy a ute when you want to ride it like a sport machine? I do not get it.

So Deeplaker, have you and your buddies done any more bridge work lately?

 

Polaris came out with the turf mode, but they specifly say not to use it on the trail, just on turf. Its probably got to do with it being a one wheel wonder, while in turf mode. It would be unrealistic to ban, locked diff quads from a trail, 98% of the quads are solid axle in back, and cant be unlocked.
Locked diffs, do tear up the ground, even when you arent playing boy racer. You can minimize it by not being hard on the throttle, and trying to round the corners gradually, and not make sharp 90 corners.

 

heck some of the trails I ride have almost 180 degree turns