Loaded ATV tires

woodchuckie · Sep 9, 2009

I've got an ATV that my three granddaughters poke around on together on my trails in the woods. It has a big rack on the back with a flat section over the rear fender area which is big enough for them to sit. There are some hills I have to stop at and let the girls off because their weight makes the front too light to have steering control going up a hill. By chance I discovered that a front tractor tire strapped to the front made it handle great. The girls weigh 53,53 and 37 pounds. I don't know what the tire weighs but I was wondering if I loaded the front tires if it would hurt the ATV and would it be enough weight. It's a Big Bear 400. I don't think I ever drive it over 20 mph.

Scooby074 · Sep 9, 2009

Definitely dont load the tires. I dont think the axles could take it, they certainly wernt designed for it. Plus there would be added strain on the motor.

Im not going to play safety police, carrying kids on the racks is a bad, and dangerous idea.

Stay safe out there. Im an avid atv'er and fatal accidents happen all to often. We just had one here last weekend.

GaryM · Sep 11, 2009

Scooby074 said:
Definitely dont load the tires. I dont think the axles could take it, they certainly wernt designed for it. Plus there would be added strain on the motor.

Im not going to play safety police, carrying kids on the racks is a bad, and dangerous idea.

Stay safe out there. Im an avid atv'er and fatal accidents happen all to often. We just had one here last weekend.

I agree about carrying folks other than on seats being a bad idea, other than perhaps in an emergency.

I don't believe loading tires has any effect on axle capacity. The tires are on the ground, not being held in the air by the axles. I'm certainly willing to learn if I'm incorrect though. It's not the same as if you hung weight on the body of the ATV itself.

Scooby074 · Sep 11, 2009

GaryM said:
I agree about carrying folks other than on seats being a bad idea, other than perhaps in an emergency.

I don't believe loading tires has any effect on axle capacity. The tires are on the ground, not being held in the air by the axles. I'm certainly willing to learn if I'm incorrect though. It's not the same as if you hung weight on the body of the ATV itself.

well you got to get that material in the wheels slinging around. Thats going to take power, plus its going to effect breaking ability for the same reason.

Remember this is just a small 4 wheeler, not a tractor so it doesnt have the same power plus its capable of much faster speeds.

I noticed a performance difference just in going from lighter stock style tires to heavier mud tires.

radioman · Sep 12, 2009

Hmm, loaded ATV tires ? I disagree about stress on axels. ATV take alot of abuse from bumps and etc at high rate of speed. My only concern is the balloon effect the ATV tires have. Combine that with liquid, I think you might have a diaster on your hands. With the ATV i grew up on for years, We used barbell wieghts on the front rack for better steering due to the 3 wheeler steering issues. Its a work machine, not a speed machine like many out there so I think it very safe. My father and I still use this honda machine since 1985 today and havent had a accident. I agree additional weights help on the ATV for steering and can see you add wieghts somehow to it.

Perhaps you can take cue from one of the TBN'er here who made a new bumper for his tractor out of tube steel and filled it up with lead. I am assuming you have a utility type of 4 wheeler and you might be able to modify your current bumper with 2 steel tubes and add concrete for weight. good luck.

woodchuckie · Sep 12, 2009

radioman said:
Hmm, loaded ATV tires ? I disagree about stress on axels. ATV take alot of abuse from bumps and etc at high rate of speed. My only concern is the balloon effect the ATV tires have. Combine that with liquid, I think you might have a diaster on your hands. With the ATV i grew up on for years, We used barbell wieghts on the front rack for better steering due to the 3 wheeler steering issues. Its a work machine, not a speed machine like many out there so I think it very safe. My father and I still use this honda machine since 1985 today and havent had a accident. I agree additional weights help on the ATV for steering and can see you add wieghts somehow to it.

Perhaps you can take cue from one of the TBN'er here who made a new bumper for his tractor out of tube steel and filled it up with lead. I am assuming you have a utility type of 4 wheeler and you might be able to modify your current bumper with 2 steel tubes and add concrete for weight. good luck.

Now that is an idea that might work. My front bumper is made of tube steel. The two vertical tubes are close to 2 1/2 feet long and 1 1/4 diameter with two smaller horizontal tubes. I suppose with that small volume, lead would be the only substance that might give me enough weight. My tubes are open at the top with a plastic cap and the other end is tapered down, being closed at the bottom. I know lead has a low melting temp. Is this something I could do myself.