Author Topic: Long Distance Trekking? (Read 1242 times)

xnmr53 · « **on:** December 05, 2003, 05:32:22 PM »

Anyone done any back country trips of 150 miles or more, particularly in a self-contained manner? I am thinking about some trips around Nevada that could be that long, particularly if I have to return to my start point.

I am particularly concerned about the fuel situation. I can't come up with a realiable figure for the mileage from my 600cc Grizzly, and any thoughts would be appreciated.

Old Syko · « **Reply #1 on:** December 05, 2003, 06:14:34 PM »

150 or more miles sounds like fun. Right at 100 is as far as I've been. The flat aux tanks that mount on the rear rack are the way to go for extra fuel as they are stackable. If I remember right I think mine holds 3.7gal. I ride a Prairie 650 and have never tried to figure mileage persay but for trailing get around 60+ miles to a tank. Your Grizz is quite similar I'm sure. That means you would need at least 2 aux tanks. Seems like quite an adventure to go that far. I'll have to try that myself someday. Good Luck!

xnmr53 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 06, 2003, 07:11:50 AM »

Those flat tanks looked interesting until I saw the gold-plated price tags. I suspect that I will end up with a trailer and conventional jerry cans. Most of the terrain that I will be in is flat, with few obstacles, so the trailler should be viable.

Thanks for the comment on mileage. That's about what I was seeing, but couldn't believe that it was that low and hoped that I was wrong somewhere.

I'm upgrading my flat tire kit. I currently use a CO2 cartridge gun, but one can only carry so many cartridges, and it takes about four IIRC to inflate a tire. Does anyone make a good small hand pump for this purpose?

Old Syko · « **Reply #3 on:** December 06, 2003, 02:32:24 PM »

At $80ea. the tanks aren't cheap but as I say, they're stackable so you can put 2 or 3 of them on the rear rack and still stack junk on top them if need be. Have a trailer also and don't like pulling the thing when i'm out trailing. We have a tendency to run hard and fast a lot of the time and that trailer acts like it wants to be in front at speed.

The big bore bikes aren't exactly easy on gas but then they're not easy on the smaller competition either.

As far as an air supply goes, I went to a Dollar General Store we have here and picked up a portable compressor that's about the size of my fist for $10. It plugs into your aux power supply and works fine. Check your local discount houses and see if you can pick 1 up. That's about the price of a 3 pack of c02 cyl.s.

Will Bison · « **Reply #4 on:** December 21, 2003, 05:11:49 PM »

Several years ago we rode to Goodyear Lake in Nevada. About 200 miles as I recall for the one way trip. We did it all off road and self supported.

Started just North of Reno and stopped in Gerlach for fuel. Carried a five gallon "Jerry Can" in each trailer. Gerlach is about 110 miles from Reno by back road. We got about 80 miles to the four gallon tank.

Water was the more critical item.

xnmr53 · « **Reply #5 on:** December 27, 2003, 02:30:15 PM »

Will,

That sounds like an interesting trip. If I may, let me pick your brain a little.

Where is Goodyear Lake? My maps of that part of Nevada aren't too good.

What time of the year did you go, how long were you out, and how much water did you take?

Also, what size quads were you riding, and what did you use for trailers?

Thanks.

Iowahunter · « **Reply #6 on:** December 29, 2003, 04:01:52 AM »

A group of us went down to the Rocky Mountain ATV Jamboree in Utah last fall and we rode almost 400 miles in 5 days and a few members of the club I am in did what they call is the Mountain man challenge. which is leaving on tues morn and riding/camping in the mountains till fri. All self contained but they do go thru a few small towns for an hot meal/ gas ect a couple of times. I really enjoyed the rides but, a warm bed and hot shower at nite is more my style.
Planing on heading down that way again this fall.
I road a Honda Rancher 4x4 and longest single day ride we did was 87 miles and I never had to carry use the extra fuel I carried. I also have a AC 500 auto and 60 miles a tank is pretty much the norm for it.
I also like the flat packs but, the price is way out of line I feel.

qweeksdraw · « **Reply #7 on:** January 01, 2004, 06:40:09 AM »

Sell the atv and buy a horse and you will have a trip of a lifetime. or don't be so lazy and backpack.

xnmr53 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 03, 2004, 06:33:38 AM »

Quote from: qweeksdraw

Sell the atv and buy a horse and you will have a trip of a lifetime. or don't be so lazy and backpack.

I don't like shoveling horse crap the way that you obviously do, and it is difficult to carry enough water to backpack any great distance in the desert.

Any other questions?

Old Syko · « **Reply #9 on:** January 03, 2004, 11:26:26 AM »

My inlaws used to board a bunch of hay burners and even they wised up enough to get rid of them. If you don't get as much exercise riding an atv as you do hiking, you ain't doin' it right.

I hate the smell of horse exhaust!

xnmr53 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 04, 2004, 08:50:45 AM »

Old Syko,

I rode horses as a kid, and might ride them again for fun. However, owning horses is not just having transportation. It is a way of life. They are a 24/7 responsibility, one that I am not willing to accept. Anyone who makes the flip suggestion "buy a horse" is an idiot!

I don't ride ATVs strictly for fun. They are primarily a means of getting into places that I want to examine, and are easier on my back than a 4X4, plus they can carry the equipment that I need.

INresponse · « **Reply #11 on:** January 04, 2004, 08:48:37 PM »

xnmr53,

I just used my new fancy GPS on my quad a couple months ago on the trails in southwest Utah. The same terain as we have here in Nevada. I Rode from Gunlock to Enterprise and back, on the back roads and trails, mostly at cruising speeds but about 25% were at higher speeds. On my Polaris 325 Magnum, with a round trip of 73 miles I still had fuel when we got back to the trucks, even pulling another quad that died for about 5 miles. The others filled up in Enterprise but I had extra fuel in the Flat-Pak tank Old Syko is talking about so I purposely tried to run out to see what my mileage would be. Normally when riding mine always ran into reserve first and the others hadn't even got into reserve before we got back at the end of the ride. I would think that with one extra tank of fuel you should have no problems riding up to 150 miles, ok, maybe up to 140 miles, just to be safe. but if you don't ride all out full throttle all day you should get better mileage and have no problem. My Magnum has a 3.2 gallon tank. I think your Grizzley has about a 6 gallon tank. My uncle has a Yamaha 600, I think it is a Grizzley, and his has a 6 gallon tank and gets the same mileage I get.

As far as the water for summer time rides, I have taken many summer rides and found that the water bottles I carry on the bike are plenty. I usually carry 3 or 4 liter size bottles and they tend to last me for about 5 hours. If I was planning on taking a ful day ride I would just take a couple gallon jugs of water and not worry about it. Fill them half way and freeze them, then before you head out fill them with water and they will stay cold most the day.

Hope this helps,
Micheal

Dana Hillen · « **Reply #12 on:** January 26, 2004, 06:44:34 AM »

"Anyone who makes the flip suggestion "buy a horse" is an idiot! "
I'm looking to SELL horses and BUY a 4-wheeler. Horses= 4-H's ...hay,hernia's,headaches,horsesh*t. Saturday,the young gelding stepped on the wife's little dog....2 hour drive to the vet,$25 office call,pain killer pills,antibiotics but she will be OK..so i didn't have to sleep in the barn anyway.
I'm looking at a '01 Grizzly with a winch and plow,1 owner,780 miles for $4750....good price?

comments and suggestions SOLICITED!!
Thanks!

264 WIN MAG · « **Reply #13 on:** January 27, 2004, 07:23:55 AM »

The '01 is a 600 I take it. If I was you I would stick it out and buy the 660. I have had both and the 660 is a much better machine. Given the first 2 years were not very great machines but the '04 is a monster and has very little problems that I can see. Some people will tell you that the power difference is not that much between the two but when I raced the 600 against the 660 it was an embarrassment. You get the 660 and you have fully independent suspension, the ability to go fully locked 4wd, lot nicer set up, better suspension for a smoother ride, and man that thing has some power.

Dogshooter · « **Reply #14 on:** January 27, 2004, 05:55:36 PM »

Old Syko,
I found a few (4) of those flat tanks you vouch for at a local pawn shop for $20 each so I went ahead and bought all of 'em. They ARE sturdy and now that I have 'em, I agree with you that they are the way to go. Just would have hated to pay $80 apiece for 'em.

Old Syko · « **Reply #15 on:** January 28, 2004, 01:51:14 AM »

Cool! Sounds like a find to me and it didn't cut into the gun budget that bad either. Little advice. A wrap of duct tape in the right place around the caps keeps them from working loose. Never had 1 come loose anyway but it can't hurt.

Dogshooter · « **Reply #16 on:** January 30, 2004, 04:12:20 PM »

Good idea. Thanx for the tip

darrell8937 · « **Reply #17 on:** August 15, 2005, 12:19:57 PM »

This is a Atv Forumn.. Not Horses.com..or 4h club.com...I like horses but they are exspensive and a lot of work. If you stop feeding you horse you will be in big trouble.. Not so with a ATV.. They guy that brought this up is probaly a Eco-Terrorist. He likes gorp and hummice... We all know the type. I bet they are plenty of forumn for the likes of him.. I like a good steak... even Horse..

darrell8937 · « **Reply #18 on:** August 15, 2005, 12:26:51 PM »

This is anothere post from the horse lover.. copied from another forumn.. He seemes to be a hunter/archer but hates atv.. Yet he is here.. Humm,, I hate hippies.. (well dislike) but you wont find me at a greatful dead concert..

below is his words'

Listen up ATV's are not a tool for hunting they are a nuisance!
I've been hunting for 45 yrs. and have never needed or disired an atv. Get a horse or a backpack and see the country like it was suppo ...