So You Just Bought an ATV…Here's the Gear and Accessories You Need

Simply put, a helmet is the most critical gear for any off-roader. You might think your UTV roll cage will protect you in the event of a crash, but we disagree. We can assure you that the metal roll cage is a good deal harder than your head, and at the very least, you will be hurting if you crack your noggin against it. Helmets save lives, and you should wear one every time you go for a ride.

While some helmets are better than others, it's much better to wear even the cheapest skid lid rather than nothing at all. The Troy Lee Designs GP helmet is on the lower end of the price spectrum yet still offers the protection you need, with DOT and ECE 22.05 certifications. It also has 16 intake and 12 exhaust ports for maximum ventilation, ensuring that you’ll keep a cool head while out on the trail.

While sunglasses can prevent UV rays from damaging your eyes, protecting your peepers from debris like mud, rocks, and sand requires a quality pair of ATV goggles. The good news is you can find goggles with tinted lenses that offer UV protection. Options like the 100% ARmatic goggles build on the Armega's molded lens technology to ensure the most accurate vision. And this base model offers a quick-release lens-changing system and a variety of lenses and styles to choose from.

When looking at riding gear, don't forget about your hands. While work gloves will work in a pinch, investing in proper ATV gloves can mean improved breathability and added protection. No matter what kind of gloves you use, they will all help provide a better grip and offer at least some abrasion resistance if you take a tumble. The Fox Bomber gloves offer an armored knuckle guard as well as Clarino palm to protect your hands from hits and abrasions. They are also comfortable, with finger gussets for improved airflow and dexterity, a Neoprene cuff, and a hook-and-loop closure for a secure fit.

The type of ATV boots you need depends on the type of riding you do. If you own a Sport ATV, a pair of motocross-style boots offers the most protection possible. For most people, an adventure boot like the Forma Adventure ( low top and high) offers much of the same protection but with the comfort and practicality of a hiking boot. This mid-calf boot is comfortable and easier to walk in, yet still has armor exactly where you need it, as well as the same strap-and-clamp system as a motocross boot to ensure it stays on securely.

A specific pair of ATV pants is not something we'd consider essential, but they have some benefits you won't get from a pair of jeans. Troy Lee Designs GP Mono pants offer improved abrasion resistance, with 600D and 320D mesh that also breathes to keep you cool when the sun is out. They also feature Articulated Knee Technology for ease of movement and inside knee leather panels for durability and protection. Check out these pants if you think it's time to upgrade from your Levi's.

Getting a flat tire on the trail can ruin your ride quickly. But just because something poked a hole in your tire doesn't necessarily mean it is a goner. Keeping a basic tire plug kit and an air compressor or hand pump on hand can save you hundreds of dollars in tire replacement costs. A good tire pressure gauge is If you do need to replace your tires, you can do that from the comfort of your garage with some tire levers, a high lift jack, or even the extremely handy BeadBuster, which we reviewed here.

Whether you have an ATV or not, you should have some basic hand tools in your garage for when things need fixing. Of course, those same tools will come in handy when it comes to keeping your ATV or UTV in proper working order. A metric/SAE wrench set and a T-handle hex key set are the bare minimum you should have. This 69-piece socket set comes in extremely handy as well. A torque wrench ensures that your bolts are tight, but not too tight. Depending on how serious you intend to get in your garage, you might consider a shock preload adjusting tool, a ratchet spark plug wrench, and an axle nut wrench. You may also consider a plastic rivet removal tool to make removing bodywork and interior panels much easier for maintenance and repair tasks.

Sometimes, you need tools that require a power source. A Cordless Drill/Impact Driver Kit and an Impact Wrench can make maintenance and repairs a whole lot easier. If you park your vehicle for an extended period of time, a Battery Tender 800mA Battery Charger will make sure it fires right up when it’s time to ride again.

A winch is something we'd consider a get-out-of-jail-free card. While your ATV can climb up and over some nasty terrain, we've found that the majority of riders will at least occasionally bite off a bit more than they can chew. Installing a winch on your machine can get you out of that mud hole a little deeper than expected or up and over that steep climb. The WARN 101145 Axon 45 is rated for 4500 pounds, making it a great choice for UTVs and larger ATVs. It includes 50 feet of ¼-inch steel rope, which should be enough to get you out of most sticky situations.

While a winch can pull out of some trouble, it is not designed for more extreme recovery situations or towing purposes. For this, you need to carry a simple tow strap. These are affordable and extremely useful, as you can apply much more force than with a winch and tow somebody home that breaks down on the trail. The Rhino USA Ultimate Recovery/Tow Strap is four inches wide, 30 feet long, and tested and certified for 40,320 pounds break strength. It’s plenty strong to get your machine out of a bind and tow it back to safety.

Running out of gas on the trail is a surefire way to ruin your day. Give yourself a little peace of mind by taking some extra fuel with you in a gas can designed for use on ATVs or UTVs. Strapping down an ATV gas can to your machine lets you extend your ride day without any range anxiety. We like the VP Racing 5 gal. fuel jug because it doesn’t have the fancy “anti-spill” nozzle that doesn’t fit and ends up spilling anyway that gas cans for on-road use are required to have these days. It’s just a fuel jug, a 14-inch hose, and that’s it.

Exploring new trails is a recipe for a great day, but not knowing where you are going or how to return to your truck can be a little stressful. It doesn't have to be if you use an ATV GPS. Made to work with off-road vehicles, these devices offer mapped guidance of thousands of trails and let you chart your own path. The Garmin Zumo XT2 is the latest version of Garmin’s GPS made specifically for powersports. It’s easier than ever to plan rides on the device or using the Tread app on your phone. Topographic maps and satellite imagery give you a better idea of what the trail ahead looks like. You can even use the Group Ride Radio accessory to track friends or other XT2-equipped riders, even without cellular coverage.

We prefer to ride off-road with friends, including people who are newer to ATVs. Keeping in contact with everybody in your party means you will know where they are and if they need help. The aftermarket is loaded with excellent helmet-to-helmet communication systems and handheld radios that make it easy to stay in contact. The Cardo PackTalk Edge and Sena 10R-01 are both simple helmet communicators that just plain work.

In addition to intercom functions, they can also connect to your smartphone, allowing you to listen to music, directions, or even take phone calls on the trail. For longer-range communications, the Cobra RX385 walkie talkies provide 40 FRS channels, with no license required. They also receive NOAA weather radio so you can keep up with sudden changes in the forecast.

Depending on how you transport your ATV or UTV, you either need a set of longer ramps to reach up to the bed of your truck or shorter ramps to ride onto your trailer. ATVs can make good use of the Black Widow IBF-9550 Aluminum 7' 11" Bi-Fold ATV Ramp. These grab onto the edge of your tailgate or trailer and let you ride your machine on board. For larger UTVs, consider Big Boy EZ Rizer MF2-12014-Folding Ramps, whose 6,000-pound capacity can handle anything you want to drive onto them. If you want a full list of options to browse, check out our article offering the " Best ATV Ramps for Loading onto Ramps & Trailers".

Once you have your ATV or UTV on your trailer or in the bed of your truck, you need to secure it so it doesn't go for a joyride without you on the highway. The best way to do this is with a set of ratchet tie-down straps. Rhino USA Heavy Duty Ratchet Tie-Down Straps are our favorites, priced reasonably and with a break strength of 5,208 pounds. When you use these straps you can confidently slap them and say, “That’s not going anywhere.”

To protect our machine against damage while it's being towed or against UV rays when it is sitting idle, a quality ATV cover is a must. You can find some really inexpensive covers out there, but covers that are trailer-able and won't flap around and tear in the wind do cost a little more, but are well worth investing in. The Budge Trailerable Waterproof ATV Cover hits a sweet spot between a good price and high enough quality to stand up to whatever elements will hit it, even when being towed down the highway.

All-terrain ATV tires are probably what came stock on your machine. These tires perform reasonably well everywhere but don't excel in any one place. If you like to explore all types of terrain, these are the tires for you. Some of our favorites are the Sedona Buck Snort, the Maxxis Bighorn, the Kenda Bear Claw, and the Tusk Terrabite.

Many ATV owners like to play in the mud. While your stock rubber will work in many situations, when the mud gets deeper and nastier, you need tires designed to claw their way through it. Some of the best mud tires we’ve tried are the ITP Mud Lite II, the ITP Mega Mayhem, and the Kenda Executioner.

Carving up dunes on your ATV is some of the best fun you can have on four wheels. Regular all-terrain tires can survive in the dunes and offer a pretty comfortable ride, but if you strive to climb the biggest hills and have the best acceleration, sand-specific tires are on the menu. Some of the best options available today are the Sedona Cyclone, the Skat-Trak Extreme, the ITP Sand Star, and the GMZ Sand Stripper.

ATV and UTV owners who like to put themselves to the test in the rocks require tires that are up to the task. Finding traction on slick rock faces is no easy feat, but some ATV tires are designed for just that. These include the Maxxis Roxxzilla, Sedona Rock-A-Billy, and the Pro Armor Crawler XG.

When you find yourself needing more space on your ATV for all your gear, the Koplin ATV Gear Basket has you covered. Designed for versatility, this durable basket fits securely on any tubular rack, providing ample room to transport everything from tools to supplies. With the capacity to hold up to three 5-gallon buckets, it’s a solid choice. Alternatively, you might consider the Black Widow Rear ATV Rack, which offers a lightweight, steel construction that's perfect for hauling larger loads while keeping your gear secure on rough terrain.

While cargo baskets are great, they will not protect your stuff from the elements or prying eyes. Fortunately, the aftermarket is loaded with locking cargo boxes that do a great job of keeping the weather outside and your stuff safe. The QuadBoss Expedition Box provides convenient cargo storage in the bed of the UTV. Larger items can be strapped to the top of the box. Another option is the Tusk UTV Cargo Box, made of 0.1-inch aluminum rather than plastic for extra durability in the elements.

Some other ATV and UTV storage solutions are worth looking into for things that don't fit neatly into cargo boxes, namely, the outstanding Kolpin family of Rhino Grips. These act as extra hands that can hold onto things like fishing rods, rifles, shovels, etc. We've used Rhino Grips on various machines, and they have proven exceptionally useful. They come in ratcheting and pro varieties, among others.

A quality LED light bar will dwarf the amount of light your stock headlights provide. Sizes range from 10 to 50 inches, though a 20- or 30-inch bar works great for most ATV applications. Look for light bars with a combination of spot and flood lights, which provide great lighting close up and at a distance. The Rigid E-Series 20" Spot/Flood Combo LED Light Bar is a good all-around choice, featuring several different types of lenses in the same unit.

The Baja Designs OnX6 20" Combo LED Light Bar has fewer individual LEDs and lenses, but each is much brighter, featuring both spot and flood patterns. The Baja Designs S8 30" Combo LED Light Bar is similar but has amber lenses, which are better for poor visibility conditions. The Tusk 12-inch LED Light Bar includes spot and flood beams in a smaller 12-inch package, suitable for small ATVs.

Pod lights are handy when working outside your vehicle or for extra lighting that complements your stock headlights. They won't flood the entire area in light like a light bar will, but they're an affordable way to get a better view of where you are going. The KC HiLiTES 283 The small and mighty FLEX ERA 3 pair is small but mighty, with a spot pattern to light your way far down the trail. The Baja Designs Clear Lens Driving Combo Pattern S2 offers both spot and flood lenses, and don’t draw much power, either, only 24 watts total. The Rigid D-Series Pro Pod Lights cast a flood pattern all around the general area, making them great work lights. Finally, the NiLight 60W Triple Row Flood Spot Combo offers four combo lights in one very affordable package.

To take advantage of many of the work-specific implements for ATVs, you must ensure you have a hitch installed in your machine's receiver. The Black Boar ATV/UTV Ballmount is rather inexpensive, simple to set up, and provides several different ways to attach a trailer, all in one package. If your machine doesn’t have a 2” receiver, the Coleman ATV 3-Way 2" Receiver Hitch can convert it into a ball hitch, pinned hitch, and tow loop hitch.

The Camco Black Boar Snow Plow Kit is one of the most useful implements you can add to your machine. It is great for clearing snow from a driveway or spreading soil and gravel. The 48-inch wide blade pivots up to 30 degrees left or right to help you move material wherever needed. Its universal fit should work with most ATV models with round or square tubular frames.

Your ATV or UTV can also help you with mowing duties. The Swisher Classic 11.5 HP 44-Inch Finish Cut Trail tow-behind mower is a solid choice for ATV owners looking to maintain a clean, precise lawn with ease, thanks to its powerful Briggs & Stratton engine, adjustable cutting height, and universal hitch for versatile towing..

An ATV spreader allows you to use your vehicle to distribute media like seed, fertilizer, or salt quickly and easily. These are reasonably affordable implements that can make your life a whole lot easier. The Moultrie Manual Gate Spreader mounts to the back of your ATV and has a 100-pound capacity and a heavy-duty 12-volt motor, making it unnecessary to power it from your machine. Alternately, the Agri-Fab, Inc. Tow Behind Broadcast Spreader has an 85-pound capacity and uses the power of your forward motion to spread material up to 10 feet. This combination can cover about ¼ acre per load.

Strapping a sprayer to the back of your ATV or UTV, such as the Chapin 15 gal. with 1.0 GPM Pump, lets you easily spray fertilizer or pesticide wherever needed. Alternately, you can tow the Master Manufacturing 25 Gallon Deluxe Lawn Trailer Broadcast Sprayer behind your machine for greater capacity and coverage.