Winter storage for ATVs and side-by-sides: a step-by-step checklist

A machine that sits from November to April can come out of storage with a flat battery, a mouse nest in the airbox and stale fluids. Segway and AODES both print storage steps in their owner's manuals. Here they are in one place, in the order you'd do them.

Disclosure: our dealerships sell Segway and AODES machines. The steps below come straight from the manufacturers' manuals, which we link at the bottom.

When does a machine need "proper" storage?

AODES's WorkCross owner's manual says that when a vehicle won't be used for more than 3 months, proper storage is a necessity. If it will sit for more than a month, AODES says to disconnect the battery's black (-) cable. Segway's Snarler manual says a machine that won't be used for a long time should be parked and cleaned, and that covered outdoor storage is the next best thing if you don't have indoor space.

For most northern Alberta riders who don't ride on snow, that means the whole winter.

The checklist

AODES recommends having your dealer, a repair shop or a person of your choosing prepare the machine for storage, or doing these basic steps yourself:

1. Inspect it. Look the machine over and get anything worn or broken fixed now rather than in spring.
2. Change the engine oil and filter.
3. Check fluid levels: engine coolant, differentials, gearbox and brake fluid.
4. Fill the fuel tank and run the engine.
5. Inflate all tires to the recommended pressure.
6. Clean it. Both manuals call for this. AODES warns against strong detergents, degreasers, paint thinner or acetone on the plastics.
7. Close and latch all the storage compartments.
8. Pick the spot. AODES says a dry area, away from sunlight, with little change in temperature from day to day.
9. Keep the mice out. AODES suggests blocking the engine air intake, the CVT intake and the muffler opening with a clean rag in some locations, to keep out mice, squirrels and other small visitors. Don't push the rag in too far. Leave some sticking out so you remember to pull it.
10. Cover it with something breathable. AODES says to use a permeable material such as a tarp, and to avoid plastic or coated covers that restrict airflow and let heat and moisture build up. Its cleaning section also suggests an opaque cover to keep sun off the plastics and finish.
11. Charge the battery monthly. AODES says to slow-charge it once a month at the rate shown on the battery, and that you don't have to remove it. It also recommends a low-amperage trickle charger to keep it full.

Why the battery matters most

Segway's Snarler manual explains that the 12V battery slowly discharges even when the machine isn't being used, so a machine parked for a long time may not start. It says to slow-charge the battery at least once within every 30 days. Both manuals carry warnings about battery acid and the flammable hydrogen gas a charging battery can give off, so charge in a ventilated spot and follow the manual's steps for disconnecting and reconnecting cables.

Before the first spring ride

AODES lists these preseason steps:

1. Uncover the machine.
2. Pull the rags out of the air intake, CVT intake and muffler.
3. Clean it.
4. Charge the battery if it needs it.
5. Do a pre-ride inspection, then test-ride at low speed.

Check your own manual

These steps come from the AODES WorkCross manual and the Segway Snarler manual. Other models and other brands can differ, especially on fuel and battery handling. Your owner's manual is the final word, and AODES posts its current manuals on its owner manuals page.

Planning to keep riding through the winter instead? Read our guide to Alberta OHV rules before you ride first.