atving almost bit the dust 2 days ago

[cookiedough]

wife and me took my can am 800cc outlander 2-up way up north in WI for 3 days of atving.  1st day fine, 2nd day went fine until 15 miles from all way back told wife to get off me going over uneven 5ft wide trail 2 foot dip on left side with 3 foot wide tall boulder in the middle and other rightside 3 feet up NO way around trees all around close together.  Wanted to have left tires up on left embackment with right side in 2 ft. ditch right next to HUGE boulder in middle of ATV trail.  Well,  did not get over to the left far enough my left tires went down into ditch hit boulder going forward 1 mph with my forward downward momentum accidentally stabbed throttle with right hand and right tires hit 3 ft. right embackment and up and over big ATV went resting on my legs sideways LUCKILY NOT fully flipping over on top of me otherwise a gonner no way lifting my 800lb. machine off of me.  I crawled my legs out under ATV luckily rear crash bar resting on HUGE boulder with OIL spilling out all over front rack area so shut it down ASAP.

Wife was freaking out I was fine just bruised up knees and left elbow and bruised lower left back landing on my left rear back pretty hard.  Just darn glad ATV rested on it's side but then what?  We tried 5xs to upright the ATV pushing up on both ATV front/rear racks.   Finally 6th time was the charm but I pulled my left chest muscle and legs somehow so am gimpy today for sure.  

I had to get a ride from a ATV camper 15 miles to my truck/trailer,  get 2 quarts of oil since engine near out of oil, wiped down oil all over, fired it up and went back up the boulder area NO problems.  60 yards uphill to truck/trailer.   ATV guy said accidents happen but been ATVing 15 years not one problem or accident.  He said he has rolled his ATV and when his wife confided in us taking us back to my truck/trailer,  he also nearly killed a 4 year old on back of his ATV hitting a tree.  

Question:  besides checking/pulling spark plugs,  am sure oil went into air cleaner box up top checking that tomorrow and check radiator and clean up oil residue all over engine, etc.  what is the best way to remove oil on metal ATV parts besides mopping it up and hosing it down with water/rags.   Also not so sure oil did not get into the CVT belt area as well since almost all 2 quarts was drained out resting on it's left side (CVT belt side)and most oil was coming out up top by front rack where air cleaner box is for about 15 minutes before getting it upright nearly killing us trying to bench upward 800lb. 2-up BIG ATV.  

I do not think any damage internally since was smart enough to shut engine off after about 15 seconds on its side running after I crawled out,  seeing oil coming out up top front rack area where oil guessing spilled out of top air filter box laying on it's left side

I had to start it removing it off my ATV trailer tonight and the left side exhaust was smoking of burnt oil  residue pretty badly.   seemed to run fine no body damage either except broke the windshield is all.

I guess consider myself lucky I guess but accidents do happen and if ONLY I had that left side up on the left embackment steep angle downard right side I could have easily made it that 4-5 feet or so.    I did tell the park ranger guy and he confessed that County park ATV trail needs some maintenance done to it and he knows exactly where I am talking about.  NO way should an ATV trail in a County park no less fully knowing 2-3 other areas on that same 200 yard ATV trail inside the park be neglected.  He said he was going to get the smaller rocks put in that hole around that big boulder after I told him what happened to me 2 days ago.  A little too late for me but hopefully not to others in the future.  

If wife was not there to help with 200lb. lift or so I would have had to flag down vehicles going by sometime in boonie land way up in northern WI.  Very rare and dropped cell phone service up there and NO internet so basically were on our own.    I took a wrong turn up by Dunbar WI wanted to go to Goodman WI 20 miles due west but ended up heading north into Florence County some 40 miles away from the Michigan border.  Luckily brought 3 extra gallons of gas along since that mistake was a 40 mile one.

[Serk]

Sorry to be "that guy" but wear a helmet, be very careful on those things.....

I know, I'm on a motorcycle forum, we take calculated risks, but ATV's have a very dark spot in my family.....

My mom's twin sister's only son (Came along late in life, biggest momma's boy you've ever seen) got his DVM (Doctor of veterinarian madicide), got his first real job, bought an ATV, went out riding with his girlfriend around their country home, flipped it over, crushed his skull.....

Few days later we were deciding when to pull the plug for organ donation...

Sorry, sincerely, to be a downer, but those have gotten a very dark space in my family.....

Be safe.....

Also sincerely....

If you're bored and/or interested, some info about my cousin: (Video, with some of his music, and lots of pictures of him with Kali in the video)

https://www.drlansetfox.com/about

(Sorry to be a Debbie Downer..... )

[sandy]

I’m still rehabbing from a broken wrist in April. My surgeon said his most common patient is from ATVs.
I fell off a ladder. The Valk is fine.

[cookiedough]

Serk,  sorry to hear about your family member very tragic life cut short so soon.  Yes,  I wear an ATV helmet luckily when tipped over on me on it's left side (oil filler and oil filter, etc. on right side) my noggin did not get knocked but to be honest, it all happened in 1 split second who knows my helmet could have hit the ground first but pretty sure my left side lower back hit first since very sore.  I think I tore a tittie (pec) left side muscle attempting to push 800lbs. upright 5-6x's. 

The next day I thought about how to lift a cycle laying on it's side with back to seat/side area bending down grabbing both front/rear racks walking it back up,  but doubt my arms are long enough to reach both atv racks since is a 2-up machine 10 inches longer than a normal 1-up ATV.  Plus,  my right knee was banged up doubt I could bend down 5 inches off the ground to grab at least the rear ATV rack and push upward too far of a bend and do not have gorilla LONG arms to reach down that far and still be able to bend knees that low and still able to push upward. 

I am very careful on that thing since is a monster beast 800cc around 70hp able to do 73 mph just picked the WRONG line that trail section looked worse than it really was.  IF the left tires did NOT slip into that ditch in the trail and NO fricking HUGE boulder sticking up right in the middle of ATV Trail plus me accidentally blipping the throttle for a split second causing the ATV to go up that 3 foot embackment right side which caused the flippage would have been an easy go of it. 

l let the county park ranger know about it and going to email the ATV clubs up there as well informing both so it does not happen to someone else soon.  NO way should those trails be that badly maintained could tell has been like that for a very long time no excuse to not fill in that section with rocks and from what the park ranger told me who is in charge of that county park he knows of 2-3 other areas in that 200 yard park ATV access trail that need care as well.   Especially considering the other 160 miles we did were nearly buttery smooth EXCEPT one washboard section I got off the ATV trails and traveled forest county road and that 1 section of the county park not maintained properly.  Walking into that trail 40 yards or so where it happened I also noticed a sharp 6 inch sticking up metal fence post which could very easily POP an ATV tire if hitting it about 1 foot on the ATV trail as well.  LIke said, NO excuse to have such poor trail conditions especially in a county park.

I thought NO way a 2-up ATV being more stable could flip over not doing anything stupid but I guess even the careful ones can be stupid doing stupid stuff.   

I think even in over 6000 ATV miles or so in past 15 years that is the first time I even got 2 wheels off the ground at once.  Just too bad was 2 wheels over 4 feet off the ground on it's side all at once.

Still sore today both legs, arms, chest,  and lower back.  Yesterday now noticed my left inside right leg up by my crotch area gives out is gimpy as well when walking but got better the more I walked on it yesterday not giving out as much.  Never had that before either very odd place in the joint bone in the leg/upper crotch area being weak and giving out on me.  I think I did more damage to my body trying to lift that ATV upright than the 4 foot fall on my left side lower back which is tender to the touch.  Luckily I got a LOT of fat on me to absorb the impact.....  I guess?   

[cookiedough]

the worse thing that scares me on the ATV trails are the other ATVer's zipping around not staying on the ATV trails or rthey are on MY side of the trail since most ATV trails I have been on are NOT wide enough needing 9 feet wide to comfortably accept two 48-56 inch ATV/UTV's on at once.  I have once on a blind sharp corner come across an idiot on a LARGE FAST UTV hogging the entire ATV trail coming at me forcing me to run off the ATV trail me doing say 20 mph at the time tops vs. him 35 mph way too fast around that blind corner.

10 years ago only would see 1 UTV and 10 ATV's now is totally different see 10 HUGE UTV's vs. only 1 ATV on the ATV trails.  These 900-1000cc UTV's are MONSTER HUGE and super fast some with turbo's on them just way too dangerous and big for me and for most others since is obvious is dangerous on too narrow of ATV trails if encountering one coming at me.   Here in WI UTV's are being allowed more so on ATV trails but unfortunately the 5-6 WI ATV trails I have been on the WI ATV trails are not even close to being wide enough to share use with the much wider/bigger UTV's.    I NEVER go on weekends anymore just way too dangerous and busy so take off work to go weekdays much less use less chance of a head on collision with mostly UTV's going around a blind corner way too fast and not on his side either.

So yah,  I take it easy and besides,  if I get going too fast the wife on back slaps me on the shoulder telling me to slow down.  ONLY happened once in 160 miles of ATVing last few days so guess I am getting older and slower.  Age 50 things start slowing down and easy to break/bruise bones I guess?  Sort of like motorcycle riding,  I am never the fastest but never the slowest either in the middle.    One guy on a dinky 1000cc small UTV which I would not fit into easily came flying up behind me catching up to me on the twisties me pulling over seeing him in my rearview mirror I let him pass me and not long after letting him go I lost his dust trail as well so he was flying doing well above my comfort level.  25-35 mph around blind corners is plenty fast enough for me especially since almost all WI ATV trails are not wide enough to accomadate 2 ATV's let alone another wider/larger UTV. 

Even came up 2 days ago with a full sized truck on the ATV trail coming at me where he should not have been had to get totally off the ATV trail to allow him to pass on by.  Bunch of rednecks in trucks I saw on the trails stopped all over pretty sure they were bear hunters.  I guess in way northern WI anything goes?

[Jersey mike]

Sounds like you had a learning experience, glad you’re ok. It just shows that you’re never too old to file some new safety lessons into the ole memory bank.

I doubt there will be any mechanical issue that spring up, those machines are built to take some punishment and I’d have to believe some rollover tests and designs went into production.

Stay safe

[Challenger]

Glad all are OK but, as an avid offroader I have to comment on this.

(l let the county park ranger know about it and going to email the ATV clubs up there as well informing both so it does not happen to someone else soon.  NO way should those trails be that badly maintained could tell has been like that for a very long time no excuse to not fill in that section with rocks and from what the park ranger told me who is in charge of that county park he knows of 2-3 other areas in that 200 yard park ATV access trail that need care as well.)

It is an ATV trail and meant to be an adventure, Unless it was designated a class 1 trail for beginners, Changing it for as you call safety reasons would negate the the fun. There are gravel roads around if you just want to ride around.

[cookiedough]

no wrong, atv trails are to be maintained that is what the park rangers in charge of the county park are for as well as the ATV clubs.    If an ATVer or walker or whomever on the trails see a dangerous condition,  it is meant to be brought up to someone.   ATV clubs are there to help maintain a safe trail system.  Is not an adventure if dropoffs and dangerous conditions exist that can easily be filled in with by using crushed rock or small 4-5 inch round rocks.  I saw at that park a pile of 4-5 inch round rocks that would only use up 1/3 of what was there to fill in both sides of that dangerous condition.  Not an adventure if someone can get killed over something that can easily be fixed.   If you have to go OFF the ATV trail to traverse that dropoff on each side of the boulder ON the trail, it needs to be fixed.  

NO ONE could go ON that 6 foot section of that ATV Trail in that park had to go OFF the ATV trail on left one side since the HUGE boulder stuck up over 12 inches tall and took up near 1/2 the 5-6 foot wide ATV Trail in the middle of it.  If not safe and not able to go ON the ATV trail, it needs fixing.

[Challenger]

My mistake,(Sorry)  Assumed it was an adventure type trail and not a just a hiking trail. ATV's can be dangerous on any terrain. 17 year old killed here riding down a blacktop road. Can't make every activity perfectly safe. Hope they get the trail fixed for you.   

[cookiedough]

My mistake,(Sorry)  Assumed it was an adventure type trail and not a just a hiking trail. ATV's can be dangerous on any terrain. 17 year old killed here riding down a blacktop road. Can't make every activity perfectly safe. Hope they get the trail fixed for you.   

NO problems I understand.  I like a challenge from time to time, but to go OFF the ATV trail to be safe is not right.  Today I contacted both ATV clubs up there and told them exactly where that location (and another one) need fixing ASAP.  If I did not stab the throttle by accident falling into the ATV trail dropoffs ATV would not have flipped over on its side but would have been hung up maybe with the boulder underneath the frame of the ATV, maybe?  or busted the frame up due to the boulder hitting/resting on it, maybe?

Next time also bringing a jug of oil along on our trip since had to put non called for oil at local mom/pop gas station in my ATV 2 quarts to ride it out of the ATV trail and onto my trailer.  Now have to change oil again and only had 160 miles and 2 days use on the new oil I just put in before going on this northland adventure. 

Update,  I took the air filter box off expecting the worse since knew oil would be in the housing, but the air filter was pretty much NOT saturated with oil just a smidge on lower side but did drain/suck out with turkey baster below air filter 10 ounces of my fresh oil sitting in a pool in the air box housing.  Plus, cleaned up dry the rest of the oil all over the frame/hoses, etc.  I did find out though I need a new rubber housing coupler going into the drive belt casing area is cracked now pretty bad needing a new rubber gasket held on by 2 hose clamps.  (basically a 6 inch rubber gasket connecting seal)

Am also going to buy some exhaust fiberglass 2 inch wide heat tape to wrap around the HOT exhaust on left side of ATV by my left leg that has 2nd degree burns and 2 heat blisters ready to burst from the excessive heat that engine throws out.  I might change antifreeze as well some use ENGINE ICE coolant not cheap but if it keeps the exhaust temps down 10-15 degrees does not hurt one bit.  HEAT exhaust tape is suppose to keep in near 50% of the heat which would be nice not to burn my left leg anymore about 1 foot away from the HOT exhaust. 

[f6john]

I’ve had my Honda Rincon for 17 years and have had it out in the woods only a few times, using it almost exclusively for pulling a 60” trail mower. I can see why so many have switched to the side by sides, just the seating position and steering wheel versus a handlebar would be reason enough for me to make the change if not for the cost. But as others have said, there is an inherent risk is such activities. The wife of my next door neighbor from a few years ago died in a accident within a mile of her home piloting a side by side in an unsafe manner.

[cookiedough]

I’ve had my Honda Rincon for 17 years and have had it out in the woods only a few times, using it almost exclusively for pulling a 60” trail mower. I can see why so many have switched to the side by sides, just the seating position and steering wheel versus a handlebar would be reason enough for me to make the change if not for the cost. But as others have said, there is an inherent risk is such activities. The wife of my next door neighbor from a few years ago died in a accident within a mile of her home piloting a side by side in an unsafe manner.

I personally do not get all the RAVE about the UTV's (side by sides) vs. a 2-up ATV, UNLESS needing a 4 seater for the entire family to go out.  3x's the cost, sit lower in a UTV,  not able to see the surroundings all over as much, less openness/freedom/movement,  too big on ATV trails almost all of them except the 50 inch wide ones,  way too skinny/cramped for anyone over 220lbs.,  much like driving a car.   UTV's are now 10x's more popular in my area though everyone has one vs. normal ATV's.  10 years ago was just the opposite UTV's were very few unlike now.   

I like sitting up higher,  more freedom of movement,  more manageable/driveable by far in tight ATV trails with an ATV vs. a UTV.     I do think though UTV's absord the bumps/whoops better though and steering wheels less fatigue at the end of 100 miles per day vs. handlebars.   A lot of older people have UTV's as well but that is changing the past few years with a lot more UTV's being faster and more agile than say a Polaris Ranger.    Still, I cannot get over the price tag and bigness of them.  When UTV's came out say 10 years or so ago a lot of WI ATV trails would not allow the larger/wider UTVS on ATV trails.  Now, due to popular demand of UTV's with more revenue to generate,  they allow UTVs almost on all WI ATV trails even though the WI ATV trails are NOT wide enough  to accomadate both an ATV and UTV around corners and some straightaways even.    ATVs are 46 inches wide vs. most UTVs are 60 inches wide when most WI ATV trails are not over 8 feet wide is a problem of DANGER for sure.  Thus the reason I go ONLY now on weekdays since weekends are just too dangerous encountering UTVS on the trails here in WI.  I have been run off the ATV trail system once in WI on a weekend by a UTV going way way too fast around a blind corner.  I saw it coming thus I ran off the trail ASAP for he was coming at me around that corner super fast and took up both sides of the ATV trail.   3 days ago a 1000cc small UTV came up on me from behind me doing 35 mph him hammering it doing 50 mph around the super blind corners power sliding all over taking up entire trail system.  Am surprised every weekend in WI someone does not have a head on collision.  I pulled over seeing him in my rearview mirrors catching up to me so pulled over and waived him on by me when it was safe for me to pull over on a somewhat more straightaway.     Could I do 50 mph, sure, but not likely with the wife on back of my 2-up and not that reckless on my ATV.   Plus,  I value not falling off again or hitting another ATV/UTV coming at me for no way could I control my ATV on my own side of the ATV trail around corners much over 30-35 mph.

My hometown has just the past month allowed UTV/ATV use on all roadways in town similar to another nearby small town just have to get the DNR on board opening up 2 ONLY bicycle trails for ATV use during summer and winter both to connect all 4 towns all 12-15 miles away from each other.    If the local ATV clubs provide the maintenance and drag the trails every month or so ,  NO good reason besides the tree huggers to not allow ATV with bicycle use on the same trail system, especially the 2 state bicycle trails are old railroad train tracks and VERY VERY boring and straight NO blind corners anywhere so can see walkers or bicyclists or atvers coming from at least 50 yards up ahead.