Although some types of ATVs are set to push in deep mud, the path to the other side is still the same. When crossing obstacles like mud, the greatest danger is getting stuck, which means stopping. Because of this, speed is your friend, though you can hit a mudhole very quickly. However, hitting the mud at a high speed will usually give you the impression to slide over the mud pit and get out the other side, even if your tires are not very sticky. In some cases, you may want to keep at least one wheel in a tight place, if possible, so that your quad has something to hold on to. You can do this by paddling and sitting on high ground, or by leaving one wheel in the mud. However, if the mudhole is too deep, you can put your ATV in the mud.
Some say that you have to stand on your own two feet when you go into a ditch to prepare to face an uneven terrain. Keep in mind, though, that you may encounter a lot of opposition when you hit the mud, causing you to come close to standing abruptly. If you stand still when this happens, you might as well sink into a quagmire. Although posture may work for some people, you need to be relaxed and balanced enough to prepare yourself for the invisible rocks and roots in the mud, as well as the possibility of nasal immersion, or abrupt catching with an open throttle.
One mistake that many new passengers make is giving their ATV too much gas when they start to lose mobility. When mud starts to fly, extra gas is not always the solution, as flying mud means that your tires do not hold anything solid. Sometimes a slow-moving wheel will catch the object, just riding it with more pressure. This is especially true if you come to a complete stand in the mud. If your quad moves again, it's easier to do, because a lot of gas means nothing more than mud. However, to get out of most places after a stop, wheel rotation is required, but extra speed usually does not mean pulling more.
When you get into the mud, keep in mind that the tires that have the heaviest load on them are the ones that are most likely to pull. So, if your quad pulls with two wheels, you’ll want to keep some of your weight on the rear axle, which will drive those rear tires into the slippery mud up and down to something I can hold on to. Moving your weight side to side can also help one of your wheels get the pull it needs to get you out of the mud.
Driving on four wheels does a short amount of mud work, which gives the two quad wheels a big problem, but four wheels is by no means a deep mud solution. Some mudholes may be too deep to be set, and a snorkel kit and exhaust extension may be needed to ensure that your engine does not absorb a lot of mud and debris. In the mud this is extreme, a four-wheel drive is a must, and a set of rear tires with a very aggressive pattern will also help get you out of the mud.
No matter what type of ATV you take in the mud, keep in mind that you may have only one shotgun to pass without pulling. The more you know about a certain mudhole, the better, but an experienced rider can say a lot about a mud pit for its appearance and how soft the entire trail is. However, a hole you can dig in one day may swallow your quad after a good rain, or it may change dramatically after other people have ridden. The key to overcoming mud is to stay cool and have a few ways to make your tires grip instead of slippery.
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