Survival and Emergency Preparedness

When I went riding on the UTV with my brother we had to stop several times to discuss the route. These UTVs are very loud and you have to turn off the engine to be heard. Not to mention having to shout at your passenger to be heard while moving.

I bought some FRS radios that hook to my ear muffs

Update....Moved this to the communications thread

https://www.sepboard.us/viewtopic.php?p=11994#p11994

Sunday 6/21

Rode the UTV today and burned out a drive belt.

I had intended to change the oil and replace the belt when I bought this used Utv, just haven't got to it yet. Now I have to.

I've been up at the woods house for a week. Came up before the 4th and staying until next week. Family came up for the 4th of July weekend but went home either Sunday or Monday.

I did change the oil and belt on the utv before the 4th. It is sort of a convoluted process on these cheap Chinese crap (CCC) machines.

Took me several trips to youtube to figure it out. Then it was not an easy process but I got 'er done.

Just did a 74 mile Fun Fest ride in the county where my woods house is. See the fun fest post. Probably 50 miles were on back/dirt roads the other was on the state trail system. Since it had rained for two days before the trails were really, really muddy.

I was pleasantly surprised the CCC worked as well as it did. It zoomed along quite nicely on the back roads and went through every mud hole without a hiccup. When it started raining in the afternoon it was fairly dry inside the cab with the top, windshield and back window in place. Considering it was a used machine that sat outside the first three years of its life by its first owner it didn't break or have any problem whatsoever.

The only problem with it is that it so loud inside that it makes your ears ring. I wore shooting earmuffs while riding but am looking at putting sound deadening material under the engine cowling and around the muffler. You basically sit above and next to the engine and there is a plastic cowling between the passengers and the engine.

The other thing is the 471 cc engine is underpowered. it's rated at 24 hp. It''s okay most of the time since you're driving off road at slow speeds. You can put it in low gear. But road riding has a lot of be desired. It just doesn't go very fast. There were some dirt roads on the trail system where I had the pedal to the medal and was going 27 mph. Granted the roads were pretty slushy with mud. I could do about 37 on packed roads or blacktop which it fast enough for these machines.

Other than that I am happy with it. It worked really well.

Update...

Been using the UTV frequently to do chores around the property. In between morning an evening hunts I've been laying out and cutting trails through the woods. Lot of work but lots of fun riding the macines on the new trails.

I've had this property for 30 years and I'm seeing places on it I've never been before
I should have cut trails through it 20 years ago

Cut a couple more trails today. Weather was cool 37 degrees this morning but warmed up into the 50s. Nice weather for working outside.

The trails are fun to ride but I'm beating the hell out of my UTV. I will admit that I'm kinda impressed with the CCC. It kind of jeep crawls in 4wd low through the tough stuff.

I did take out the ATV once, its a little easier to ride since it's narrower. Going to have to dig out the mini bikes and give them a go.

My goal is to cut a trail all the way around the perimeter. Thats going to take some work and probably not done this year.

Now gearing up for the firearms deer season on Nov 15. My sons and brothers and a nephew will be up hunting. Got 3 new blinds up this year.

My wife went out with me for a ride yesterday and we ended up clearing more trails. I cut brush and sh followed in the UTV. when we got done she drove it back to the house on the trails. She said it was fun driving it on the trails. She had driven it before on the two track and dirt roads but not on narrow trails.