ATV Terminology (A – L)

A-Arm – A pivoting support in the shape of an “A” that connects the wheel/hub assembly to the frame of the ATV.

Air/Fuel Ratio – Proportions in which air and fuel are mixed to form a combustible gas.

API – American Petroleum Industry

ATV – All Terrain Vehicle

ATV Camping – Loading an utility ATV with camping gear and riding to a remote campsite to camp.

Axle – The shaft(s) used to transmit power and torque from the differential to the wheels.

Backfire – Explosion of fuel in the intake manifold or carburetor or the explosion of unburnt fuel in the exhaust.

Balaclava – A head or neck sock with opening for eyes and mouth.

Ball & Groove Joint – A type of CV joint used primarily on axle shafts. Also called the Rzeppa type CV joint.

Ball Joint – A steel bearing stud and socket enclosed in a steel casing. Ball joints are used in several locations on an ATV. Most commonly on the tie rod ends and where the A-arm connects to the hub assembly.

Bead Lock – A Metal ring that holds (locks) the bead of the tire to the rim.

Belt, Drive – Flexible fabric belt used for power transmission in a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Bottom End – The bottom part of a four stroke engine; case, crankshaft, connecting rod, clutch, ignition assembly and transmission.

Brakes – Disc Brakes use a stationary caliper that squeeze pads against the disc on the wheel. Drum brakes use horseshoe shaped pads that expand against the inner surface of the drum on the wheel.

Camber – The relative position of the top of the front tire to the bottom of the front tire.

Camshaft – A shaft in the engine that has machined cams or lobes. These lobes open and close the valves as the shaft rotates. Also called the Cam.

Caster – The angle of steering pivot in degrees.

CC – Cubic Centimeters – Method of measuring engine size, ie: A 700cc engine has 700 cubic centimeters of piston displacement in the cylinder.

Clutch – Engages and disengages the engine from the transmission.

Continuously Variable Transmission -  A fully automatic transmission consisting of two variable width pulleys and a belt. Different gear ratios are achieved when the pulleys automatically change width and the belt rides high or low. Serves as both the clutch and the gear system.

Crankshaft – The output shaft of the engine which converts the up & down reciprocating motion of the piston(s) into rotation. Also called the Crank.

CV Joint – Constant Velocity Joint – Flexible joint used on axles and drive shafts.

CVT – Continuously Variable Transmission.

Cylinder – The combustion chamber of the engine that houses the movement of the piston.

Differential – A gearbox that transmits power and torque from the drive shaft to the axles. Typically the axles will rotate at a lower speed than the drive shaft. ATV differentials can be of the Locking or Limited Slip type.

Drive Shaft – The shaft used to transmit engine power and torque to the front and rear differentials.

EBS – Engine Braking System

ECU – Electronic Control Unit or Engine Control Unit

EFI – Electronic Fuel Injection

EPS – Electric Power Steering

EUV – Electric Utility Vehicle

Four-Stroke - A type of engine with valves and cam(s) that produces combustion every four piston strokes.

GPS – Global Positioning System

Ground Clearance – The distance from the ground to the chassis of the ATV.

IRS – Independent Rear Suspension

Lean – Condition where too much air and not enough fuel are being fed into the engine. Opposite of Rich

Limited Slip – A type of differential which allows both wheels (front or rear) to spin at different speeds.

Locking, Differential – A type of differential which allows both wheels (front or rear) to spin at the same speeds.

You can find the next section ATV Terminology (M – Z) in my next post. This list is a “work in progress” meaning I will be adding to it as I come across new words. If you know of a word, term or acronym I have missed, leave me a comment below with your suggestions.

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Nature

When camping in the back country you are at the mercy of Nature because you are a guest in her back yard. Most of the time Nature will leave you alone to experience all of her wonders and majesty. Each time you visit her back yard she amazes you with more of her beauty.

But other times Nature will challenge you to see what you are made of. She can change the weather in an instant from warm calm sunshine to cold high winds, rain, hale and even snow. She will send visitors to your campsite in the middle of the night in the form of insects, raccoons, coyotes, deer, bears and other forms of back country wildlife. Each trip she treats you a little different.

People

Even if you camp with the same people every trip someone does something to make it memorable. Whether its catching a big fish, forgetting their tent, finding something interesting or telling a new campfire story about what you did on the last trip. The comradely of your camping group whether its friends, family or both is always special and unique to each trip.

Location

I try to camp at a different spot each camping trip but even if you camp in the same spot the experience is always different based on the other variables listed here. Because I enjoy ATV camping, I like to ride and camp in new areas if possible. Each new location offers new experiences and areas to explore.

I am trying to get better at photography so I like new scenery and landscapes. But even if I am at the same campsite I am still able to capture the familiar landscapes differently. It’s like taking pictures of your kids, each pose is different.

Equipment

I enjoy trying new stuff when camping which makes the experience unique. But even when camping with the same equipment sometimes things just don’t work right. Such as a tent zipper that won’t work, an ATV has a flat tire, your stove runs out of fuel or the leg on your camping chair folds under while you are sitting on it. Things happen!

Activities

It seems there are different activities for every trip. Activities like a new hike, ATV trail riding, fishing, hunting, swimming, horseshoes or my favorite all-terrain bocce ball. The camping activities are endless and always a different experience than before. It’s the results of the camping activities that usually generate memories and stories for the next trip.

So there you have it the five reasons why each camping trip is different and it is these differences that becomes the topics of discussion as we all sit around the campfire. Take a moment and look back at your past trips and the reasons why they were different. I will bet they are unique also. Leave a comment I would like to hear about them.

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I had the opportunity to interview Meg for the ATV Camping Blog about her exciting life. So here is the interview:

Meg Allen

What or who influenced you to become such an outdoorsy type of woman? My Dad. He loved to camp and fish. I spent my summers growing up in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho fishing lakes and streams.

What was your first dirtbike? When I was 10, I got a Honda 70 for my birthday. I lived in Canton Texas and would ride it for miles on the dirt roads between the farms and ranches.

When did you start riding ATVs? In 2004 I met Blake Allen. He introduced me to ATV’s and snowmachines. Been hooked ever since.

Have you ever been ATV camping? Yes, as often as I can. The more you get back in and away from people, the better the fishing is. We take our ATV, RZR and a Bosski Wagon.

What was your most memorable outdoor experience? OK, this is a hard one. The first thing that comes to mind is when I came nose to nose with a grizzly bear at Half Moon Lake in Montana. I was only about 12 or 13 at the time. I was fishing where a creek came into the lake. Definitely not paying enough attention to my surroundings, when I hear a noise beside me. There was the bear. I dropped my rod, reel and fishing creel, which was full of brook trout and backed up real slow. The bear went for the fish and I high tailed it back to camp.

The most fun I have had in the outdoors is riding sleds at a trail system near my home. I love gliding over the snow and having the total freedom that a snowmobile gives you.

How did you get involved hosting Powersports Adventures? Always wanted to be an actress. When I was a kid I did commercials and a couple of movies. Went to a few drama schools too. PowerSports Adventures is a way of combining my two loves, the outdoors and acting.

Where all have you traveled to for Powersports Adventures? All over the United States and Canada. Our upcoming episodes will take us to the sand dunes of Oregon and Wyoming, Great places to ride like Glamis, Moab and we will be filming our “Rally In The Pines”.

What is next for you and Powersports Adventures? Right now I am working on making “The Rally In The Pines” a great success. We have motorsports enthusiasts coming from all over the United States and Canada.

Meg Allen, it was a pleasure interviewing you and thank you so much for opening up and giving us all a glimpse into your exciting life and your love for the outdoors. Hope to see you on the trails sometime and look forward to your next episode of PowerSports Adventures.

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ATVcourse.com, wants you to remember these three safety considerations before your child rides an ATV/OHV: Age, Fit, and Readiness.

Age

Age guidelines help determine whether a rider may be overpowered by his or her machine. The following restrictions have been widely accepted.

• Riders under the age of 12 should not be permitted to ride an ATV with an engine larger than 70cc.
• Riders between the ages of 12 and 16 should be limited to ATVs with an engine size of 90cc.

Fit

One of the most dangerous situations is when riders operate machines that are too large for them to control safely. You can ask the following questions to make sure the size of the ATV fits the size of the rider.

• Is the rider able to place both feet on the footrests? When sitting, are his knees bent at about a 45-degree angle?
• Is the rider able to easily reach the foot brake with the ball of her foot, with her heel remaining on the footrest?
• Are the rider’s arms long enough so that she can stay seated when the handlebars are fully turned?
• Is the rider strong enough to squeeze the brake levers until the vehicle comes to a full stop?
• Is the rider heavy enough to keep the ATV stable when riding on uneven terrain and hills?

Readiness

Maybe the most important of all considerations is whether a young rider has the judgment and education to make the decisions that come with operating an ATV. Parents or guardians need to make this call, and it can be a tough one. Here are some questions that can help with the decision.

• Does the rider have the attention span to remain focused on operating the ATV?
• Can the rider handle the perceptual challenges of riding an ATV—does she have good depth perception, peripheral vision, and hand-eye coordination?
• Is the rider aware of the risks of riding a powerful vehicle?
• Has the rider received good supervision and does he have the required safety training in the state where he will be riding?

When all of these considerations have been taken into account—Age, Fit, and Readiness—a young rider will be on their way for safe riding. Visit ATVcourse.com for more information and a free study guide.

For our ancestors camping was typically sleeping on a bed roll under the stars or in a simple makeshift shelter. They used primitive tools to hunt and cook over a fire. Today with the help of technological advances we have sleeping bags, sleeping pads, tents, lanterns, camping furniture, camping cookware and stoves plus a large assortment of tools and utensils.

With the introduction of the 4×4 utility ATV in the 1990′s, ATV camping was born. A good 4×4 utility ATV can easily carry 100 pounds of camping gear and supplies. This enables people of all ages and some disabilities to be one with nature and enjoy a remote, uncrowded campsite in the back country.

With all of these technological advancements in camping gear and ATVs, this type of camping is still considered primitive camping because of the remote locations and sleeping in tents. But what would our ancestors call it? Considering what camping was to them this is far from primitive.

For me camping technology for the most part has been a good thing. I like being able to get a good nights sleep in a comfortable sleeping bag on a sleeping pad in my tent protected from the weather. Having coffee in the morning and cooking my meals on a stove. For areas that have campfire restrictions a stove is especially nice. A lantern to light up the campsite at night when there is no campfire is another bonus.

It’s smart to have some of the knowledge of the bushcraft lifestyle and the ability to live off of the land in a survival situation. But for ATV camping I prefer the extras especially after riding all day. It’s nice to return to camp and relax in a comfortable chair with a cold beverage from the cooler while dinner is cooking on the stove.

While the technology has made camping more efficient and a little more comfortable it can be taken to far. ATV camping is about getting away and becoming one with nature and enjoying the company of friends and family. I don’t feel it is about listening to generators and playing video games around the campfire.

What’s your take on ATV camping and technology? Leave your comments below, I look forward to reading them. Have not tried ATV camping? Let us help you get equipped for ATV camping at CampingATV.com

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10 Question ATV Safety Practice Test

Test your ATV knowledge with this 10 question ATV safety practice test.

You need to answer 8 out of 10 questions correctly to pass!

Most accidents you find with an ATV can be linked to inadequate training and/or a lack of ATV safety knowledge. If mishandled ATVs can be dangerous. With a little safety training, ATVs can be very safe and very fun for the whole family.Be a good role model, improve your ATV safety knowledge and encourage others especially kid to do the same.

I started camping with my family as a child back in the 1960′s where I was also a boy scout. Back then camping gear was pretty simple, a bed roll, pup-tent, mess kit, a fixed blade knife, a small hatchet and some rope. My pup-tent was basically a tarp with two poles and no floor but to me it was the taj mahal of the back country.

Things are different now, my camping gear requires two large bins and a large shelf unit in the corner of my garage to store it all. I have camping gear for all types of camping whether it’s car camping, ATV camping or backpacking. I also have gear for each different camping season.

When the opportunity arises I can gather the appropriate gear and be ready to hit the road in a matter of hours. It does not matter what time of the year it is, if I am available I’m going. Though I like to plan my camping trips, many are a spur of the moment decision especially in the winter months.

In the winter months it is hard to plan an ATV camping because of the weather so when a nice weekend becomes available it is hard to turn down the urge. It is also hard to find someone to go camping with you in the colder months. I only have a handful of friends that are equipped and crazy enough like me to endure ATV camping in cold weather.

Here in Colorado, the high country usually has too much snow in the winter for ATV camping but there are still plenty of front range areas that that offer great opportunities. It is all about having the right gear and understanding the risks. It’s a mindset that being outdoors in the back country is better than being indoors in the city.

What ever camping season works best for you don’t pass up the opportunity for ATV camping at a remote campsite in the back country. At CampingATV.com, we help people get equipped for ATV camping. No matter what season it is we have your gear, check us out.

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The crankshaft moves the pistons up and down and each revolution of the crankshaft is a revolution of the engine. We measure the crankshaft revolutions in revolutions per minute or RPM. The crankshaft rotates twice for each revolution of the camshaft, so four valve cycles happen for every two revolutions of the engine.

The following is a basic explanation of the four cycles of a four stroke engine:

The Intake Cycle – The first cycle of a four stroke engine is where the camshaft opens the intake valve, and the piston starts to move down the cylinder. As the piston moves down it draws in the air/fuel mixture through the intake valve. The intake valve usually closes after the piston passes bottom dead center just before it starts to move up.

The Compression Cycle – As the piston moves up the cylinder, it compresses the air/fuel mixture within. The spark plug fires usually before the piston reaches the top of the compression stroke, igniting the compressed air/fuel mixture, causing it to burn and expand rapidly. Once the piston reaches the top the crankshaft has completed one rotation.

The Power Cycle – After the piston passes the top of the compression stroke, the pressure from the rapidly expanding combustion of the air/fuel mixture forces the piston back down the cylinder.

The Exhaust Cycle – The exhaust valve starts to open, usually before the piston reaches bottom dead center, allowing some of the burnt gasses to start exiting the cylinder. As the piston begins to move back up the cylinder, the remaining gases of combustion are forced out of the cylinder through the exhaust valve. Just before the piston reaches the top, the intake valve begins to open and the exhaust valve begins to close. Once the piston reaches the top the crankshaft has completed two rotations and both valves are open. This period of time when both valves are open simultaneously is referred to as “overlap.” All four stroke engines have a certain amount of overlap to improve the volumetric efficiency (VE) at high RPMs. As the piston starts to move down the exhaust valve closes and the four stroke cycle starts over.

So as air is moving in and out of this air pump the restrictions we have on the intake and exhaust sides of the engine require power from the engine to overcome them. The more power the engine uses to overcome these restrictions the less power we have delivered to our tires.

Also a different camshaft will offer different durations of valve opening and closing as well as a different overlap for increased power and torque. But with different valve durations and overlap means different air/fuel ratios (maps) that what the stock Electronic Control Unit (ECU) can provide, so new maps must be provided to match the new characteristics of the new camshaft.

Due to the complexity of the job, a camshaft installation and cam timing should be preformed by a certified mechanic to ensure proper function. Improper installation of a camshaft or cam timing could result in catastrophic engine failure. Unless you are looking for some serious engine performance and can justify the expense you might want to avoid a camshaft upgrade.

If you are looking for some simple and fairly inexpensive performance upgrades, look at reducing some of the restrictions in the intake and exhaust sides of the engine. Read my post about ATV air filters and consider some airbox modifications.

On the exhaust side remember louder does not necessarily mean more power or more flow, especially on a four stroke engine. But there are still some subtle changes you can make to improve the flow of the exhaust without exceeding the mandated noise level requirements. A new pipe and muffler combination is best.

If you like this post share it and leave a comment and I can write future ones getting more specific on performance upgrades.

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Using a calorie calculator determine the number of calories you require so you can begin to plan out your meals for your ATV camping nutrition. It is important that you get the right amount of nutrients in each meal:

• Carbohydrates (50 – 60% of caloric intake) – The main source of energy
• Simple Sugars – candy bars and cakes
• Complex Carbohydrates – potatoes, pasta and grains
• Fats (20 – 30% of caloric intake) – Another source of energy
• Oils, butter, nuts, cheese, meat fat
• Proteins (20% of caloric intake) – essential to grow and repair muscle and other body tissues
• Eggs, meat, beans

Just as important as the foods we eat while camping is getting enough water. Depending on your body size you must drink 2 – 4 quarts of water each day to maintain camping hydration. Don’t wait until you are thirsty, drink water often. Make sure you have plenty of water or camp by a water source and use a form of water treatment.

How long you will be camping will help determine the number of meals and snacks to plan for. Remember there is no refrigerator in the back country just your cooler so perishable foods need to be looked after to ensure they don’t spoil. Freeze as much food as possible before packing.

Protein bars, beef jerky and trail mix make easy nutritional snacks to carry while hiking or riding ATVs. The main point here to understand is that you have to keep replenishing your body with the necessary nutrients and water to maintain your energy level for the active ATV camping activities.

Not replenishing your body can lead to a loss of energy, fatigue and/or dehydration which can be a serious heath condition. Proper ATV camping nutrition will help you have a more enjoyable, active ATV camping experience. Know of some good ATV camping nutrition tips let us know by leaving a comment below.

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The ride still went on as planned and was a success raising close to $2500 which was donated to the Roswell Cancer Institute of New York. Now they ride every year to honor those that fight their battle against cancer.

Their rides have turned into a tour called the Pink Ribbon Riders Snow Run Tour where they travel to various states across the nation and hold a two day event open to both men and women. The event combines the passion of snowmobiling (and other powersports) and the ability to help men and women diagnosed with breast cancer.

Each event includes a Pre Event Party, rides, lunch, dinner party, music & giveaways. The prizes include riding gear and accessories all the way up to a new snowmobile. There is plenty of fun for all those that attend.

The unique thing about these events, other than having fun on the rides, is that they don’t cancel events. The Snow Runs will go forward no matter what mother nature has in mind. The battle against cancer should never be canceled unless these is no more battles to fight.

Currently the Pink Ribbon Riders receive 5 – 7 applications per day for patient assistance. Through their application program they provide financial assistance to both men and women diagnosed with breast cancer. All patient assistance funds come from donations and their fundraising events like the Snow Run Tour.

In February 2012 they sent out close to $30,000 in patient assistance. According to the American Cancer Society® close to 40,000 women and 450 men die each year from breast cancer. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women.

Cancer not only effects those diagnosed, it effects friends and family. Organizations like the Pink Ribbon Riders help those in need by doing what they are most passionate about, Riding For A Cause. Keep any eye out for the Snow Run Tour coming to your state and if you can not attend help these kind, generous people out with a donation.

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