Purchasing an All-Terrain Vehicle, otherwise known as an ATV, is becoming increasingly popular, especially as the seasons change. ATVs can be used for work and play. For this reason, many people have lifted their ATVs to make them more well-suited to the specific work or activity they need them for.
Lifting an ATV can bring the benefits of added ground clearance, which is great for those who need to drive over rocky or rugged terrain. Lifting an ATV can also bring negative consequences, such as a higher center of gravity, making it easier to roll or flip your ATV.
There are other consequences, both positive and negative that can be brought on by lifting your ATV. Continue reading to learn more about lifting ATVs so you can make a more informed decision about whether this is a good option for your vehicle.
Why You Should Lift Your ATV
For many people, their All-Terrain Vehicle is more than a fun toy to enjoy on the weekends. There are serious uses for an ATV. Some use their ATVs for snow plowing during the winter or as a weed-killing assistant during the summer. There are also the obvious uses for an ATV, such as camping and hunting. You can use one for both a fun toy and a helpful vehicle to move things and people around. ATVs are great for pulling, winching, and hauling.
Lifting an ATV can be useful for fun things like pulling someone on a sled in the snow, but also work well as a helpful piece of equipment on the farm, the yard, or anywhere else you may need it. The power and versatility of an ATV are some of its greatest selling points. There are plenty of farmers and regular homeowners who have an ATV as their all-in-one vehicle. With add-ons such as a lawnmower piece, plowing tool, rakes, and seeder, ATVs are a huge help for those who allow this tool to live up to its potential.
With many of an ATV’s uses listed, it may be obvious to some why lifting an ATV could be a great adaptation to help with the yard and farm labor alike. Adding more ground clearance is a huge draw for those who love ATVs. For those who live in areas where snow packs up really high, or where they will have to drive their ATV through mud or water, having extra ground clearance can really help.
Many also like the idea of having more traction on the ground due to bigger wheels. Larger wheels and tires can only be placed on a lifted ATV because the extra height creates more room. Extra traction can help in many different ways, both during work and play.
As previously mentioned, there are drawbacks to lifting an ATV too. For many, these drawbacks are holding them back from lifting their ATV. One of the biggest drawbacks is the raised center of gravity. This causes disproportion while driving that is felt most strongly while turning or going off-roading. If you’re not careful, this higher center of gravity can cause the ATV to more easily roll.
Aside from the consequences it could potentially cause to your ATV, lifting any vehicle is expensive. To save money, some will choose to install the lift kit on their own, which can take a lot of time.
Benefits to Lifting an ATV
Higher Body Clearance
Higher body clearance allows ATVs to travel easier through rougher terrain. Especially for those who use ATVs for work around the yard or farm, having higher ground clearance can allow the ATV to travel over more land. A lifted ATV also helps with snow as the clearance gets you higher up over the snow.
Larger Tires
Larger tires have so many benefits that can be applied to ATVs. It helps when driving over rougher terrain by giving more surface area to touch the ground. This allows for safer driving during rough weather and enhanced climbing ability.
Negative Consequences to Lifting an ATV
While there are many benefits to lifting your ATV, there are still a few reasons why you might not want to do it.
May Compromise the Warranty
Depending on the specific brand of your ATV, the warranty may end if you do something such as changing your ATV by installing a lift kit. Before you consider applying a lift kit to your ATV, check the warranty. If the warranty is still in use and active, it is wise to call the company who made the ATV so you can ask whether applying a lift kit to the ATV will compromise or end the warranty. For some, this may be something that will stop them from applying a lift kit.
Stress on Internal Bearings and Axles
You also may worry about the impact a lift kit can have on the rest of your ATV parts. Adding a lift kit to an ATV may cause extra stress on the bearings and axles of the vehicle. This could potentially cause serious and permanent damage. On an older ATV, or one that already has issues with the bearings and axles, applying a lift kit could be detrimental to the vehicle.
Lift Kits
Now that we have discussed some of the pros and cons of lifting an ATV, we can begin to look at some great lift kits! One thing to do before applying a lift kit is to consult your local mechanic. Your mechanic will be able to tell you some of the best kits to consider, as well as offer services to apply them. Of course, they will charge for those services, but for some, it can save so much time and money. Plus it will help you avoid any potential installation mistakes.
If you are comfortable doing the lift yourself, our two favorite lift kits are offered by High Lifter or Extreme.
To find more personal and first-hand experience about lifting an ATV, consider viewing some of the following forums where people have shared their experiences, tips, and tricks with ATVs and applying lift kits to them.
