A question for Rangeral

[Thunderdually]

My wife has no interest in driving a ATV but likes to ride behind me. So I bought a Polaris 450 with a back seat so that she could ride with me. After buying the ATV I find out that it even though I have a rear seat it may not be legal to ride it at Croom. So my question is it ok to ride double at Croom with a rear seat even though the decal states only one rider.

AS a side note the dealer sold me this ATV knowing I wanted to ride
double.

If any one else has any information on this subject please let me know.

[bfox55]

I don't know the exact rules on this, but I have seen plenty of people riding two up on ATV's out at Croom. I do remember reading in the park rules that atv's are limited to one rider with the exception of those that are specifically designed to carry a passenger.

[Rangeral]

Yeah, you got it right. Adding a second seat behind the 'driver' doesn't make it safer...just more comfortable. The reason that two riders aren't allowed on a one rider machine is that the second riders weight is in back of the rear axle and can cause the quad to roll over backwards, especially on a steep uphill. We have had many people injured, some seriously, when riding double in the mining pit.
If you know how to do a 'wheelie' you know you need to get your weight in back of your quad. Well putting a second person in back does just that.

Do people ride double at Croom? Yes! Do people get injured riding double? Absolutely! Is it against park rules? Yes.

[Thunderdually]

Thanks for the quick response Rangeral

Looks like I have 2 ATV's that I can't use for the purpose we bought them for which was to be able to ride two people on because My wife doesn't want to drive one and we couldn't afford to buy 4 ATV's. Yes part of it is my fault I should have checked it out further. But like a dummy I listened to the salesman. He said that we could ride two on them if we bought seats for them. I now know that the seats are nothing more then storage boxes with a back rest. My Daughter and her husband bought theirs first and they told them the same thing (all they had to have is a back seat) So now we really have 3 machines that can not be used for what we want. I called Ridenow where we bought them if they would work something out the salesman said he would get back to us.. (Yeah right and the check is in the mail.) Haven't heard any thing from them. And you know we are not the only ones they have sold ATV' to and said oh yeah you can ride two on them.

[TRXasaurus]

sucks...i also hear when in Ocala Forest that it is currently ok to ride 2up but this year it will change and only solo riders will be permitted (which they will police strengently im sure)

an older couple who where there and i were discussing it with the forestry people and were pissed since they bought the 2up atv for specifically riding and camping there in their rv.

it is becoming rediculous. yet they let people ride motorcycles on the street with no helmet. go figure?

[Rangeral]

I feel really bad to be delivering bad news to people I consider to be my friends. I know that if my kids were still young I would want to take them for a ride on my quad.
While I'm not totally in agreement with this particular rule I do understand its purpose. As a ranger at Croom I have respond to to calls where a rider is injured, and too often I have found people with back, head and limb injuries as a result of flipping over backwards. Most of these occur in the mining pit where riders attempt to go up one of the steep vertical trails. Often the injured person was on the back of a quad and was injured by the quad rolling backwards and landing on the rider or passenger. This is why we built the helicopter LZ near that area.
As you all know riding a quad or bike can be a dangerous sport. If we can keep accidents at a minimum we won't have to worry about the people who would like to see Croom closed using high injury rates as a reason.

So please understand, we are not trying to keep you from having fun. We just want to be sure you will be able to come back next weekend for some more fun.

Alan

[taino_racing]

well said i agree 100%