If you’re reading this publication, chances are you own or ride a street bike. Based on booming sales in recent years, you also either own or are thinking about buying an ATV. Approximately 40% of motorcycle owners also own ATV’s. And if you’re riding an ATV in the desert southwest, chances are you’re going to be taking it to the Dunes. Here’s a brief rundown on some tips and tricks that’ll help make your Dune trip safer and more enjoyable. 

Let’s start at the beginning of the trip. You’ll most likely be hauling your new toys on a trailer. Safety check: All lights are working, tires properly inflated, and safety chain connected. You should carry a spare tire for your trailer, being forced to leave a trailer loaded with expensive toys on the road while you head back to town for a tire is not a good feeling! Once you’ve got the trailer squared away, make sure you’ve got your ATV’s properly secured. A couple of sets of ratchet-type tie-downs to secure both ends of the machines are all you need. Although I’ve never seen any specific instructions or guidelines from any government agencies regarding tie-down regulations. I was once pulled over leaving the dunes and “Counseled” by a CHP Officer who claimed the law states a minimum of four tie-downs per ATV. When asked, he was unable to reference that specific statute or law for me, but better safe than sorry.

As far as ATV prep, there are a couple of things you should look at. Soft sand is a unique surface to ride on, the key here is floatation. Make sure your tires are not over inflated. ATV tires are designed to run at extremely low pressure, most manufacturers recommend 3-5 PSI. Car type tire gauges don’t read below 20PSI so use the low pressure tire gauge in your ATV’s toolkit. Because if you run your tires at much more than the manufacturers recommended pressure, you’ll spend more time digging holes than moving forward. Take it from me; moving forward is a lot more fun. Also, make sure your tire pressures are even side to side; it doesn’t take much of a difference to make an ATV pull to one direction. A decent set of knobby tires, properly inflated, will get you just about anywhere you want to go at the Dunes, but for maximum speed and traction, invest in a set of paddle tires, the difference is dramatic. Next, check your air filter. Dune sand can get everywhere; a dry or dirty filter can spell disaster for an engine. Air filters need to be serviced after every Dune trip. Some riders bring spare air filters with them to the Dunes a little prevention goes a long way. You’ll also need a fiberglass whip antenna on your ATV, not only is it required in most Dune areas, it makes it a whole lot easier for other Duners to spot you coming over that rise. Finally, make sure your ATV’s drive chain is properly lubricated and adjusted. Sand makes a great abrasive; a dry, loose chain can grind itself to destruction in a very short time.

Now let’s talk riding gear and safety. Helmets are required at most Dune areas, and for good reason. That “soft” sand isn’t so soft when you face plant in it. Just wear one. You should also have decent goggles to keep blowing sand out of your eyes, gloves to prevent blisters and over the ankle boots to provide some support. You can ride in shorts, which aren’t as much protection as riding pants, but as hot as it gets out there, lots of people do it. Something else to consider is a Camelback hydration pack, there’s really not much shade at the Dunes, it’s refreshing to take a break and get a cool drink of water without heading back to camp. Stay hydrated, but stay hydrated the right way. Many people think of ATV’s as just toys, and think nothing of drinking beer all weekend while riding. Not only is this an almost guaranteed way to get hurt, it’s also a pretty good way to become familiar with local law enforcement. Rangers patrolling the Dunes can and will arrest ATV riders for DUI!

As far as riding the Dunes goes, just a couple simple things will help keep you safe while having fun.  Never ride straight over the top of a Dune without knowing what’s on the other side. It could slope away gradually, or it could be a sharp drop-off. The time to find that out is not while you’re in the air wondering how much it’ll hurt when you land. Approach the crests of the Dunes at an angle, look over the other side, and then decide whether to go over it or not. Never assume that a particular hill or section of Dunes will be the same from one weekend to the next. The wind is constantly reshaping the Dunes this week’s smooth gradual crest can easily be next week’s straight down drop off. When climbing a steep hill, if it looks like you’re not going to make it to the top, turn around and head back down while you still have enough momentum to get the front of the quad pointed back down the hill. You don’t want to get stuck while headed up the hill, or worse, when turned sideways. On your first couple of trips, ride with someone with Dune experience. It’s a lot easier for a beginner to enjoy the Dunes when they’re not worried about which way to go, where they are, or even how to get back to camp. There’s a lot of Dunes out there, after a while they start looking the same, even some experienced riders now take GPS devices to keep track of where they are, and more importantly, to keep track of where they started out from.

These are just a few tips to help make your Dune trips safer and more enjoyable, hope to see you out there this season! For more information and updates on the Dunes visit www.glamisonline.org.

Bill Marx … RideNow Powersports Management Group
RideNow Powersports of Surprise, Town & Country Motorsports, Metro Motorsports, USA Motorsports & YSA Motorsports and www.ridenow.com