Disclaimer:
 The information contained here was collected during my visit
and may be out of date.  Contact the "place" for current info.
2011 Yamaha
Grizzly 550 EPS
I switched manufacturers
and bought a Yamaha
Grizzly to replace my
Polaris Sportsman.  The
primary motive for this
change was the type of
Grizzly to replace my
miles on my old machine
Polaris Sportsman.  The
in just 2 years and none
primary motive for this of
those miles were road
change was the type of
riding.  I travel far, ride
riding I do.  I put 3500
hard, a go for 4-8 hours
per day.  I need a
machine that I know will
not break down.  I wish
the Yamaha had more
on-board storage and
the seat was built for
stand up riding, but
there's always a trade-off.
Packing for a long Day Trip
I never travel without my Garmin eTREX
Legend GPS.  I love to map my trips when I
get back and when I'm on a complex set of
trails, I use it to make sure I'm not repeating
trails.  Only twice have I been lost and used
it to find the quickest way back, but that was
nice too.
The group I travel with uses Chatterbox
GMRSX1 radios for communication.  We
always make sure the first and last riders
are equipped for safety and coordination,
but it adds a great dimension to a group
ride, just talking about the sites, harassing
each other, or making plans without  
needing to stop.
I have switched to a SONY digital camera.  I  
had lens problems with 3 Casio units all due
to dust on the trails.  The SONY camera
does not have an expanding lens and has
improved quality of videos and pictures.
The front box (top), back box (shown at left),
and the tool compartment (not shown) are
packed with the following:
  • Front box; Tire repair kit, air compressor,
    battery cables, tow straps, ratchet strap,
    tarp, siphon hose, elec tape & duct tape.
  • Hand tools - knife, flashlight, screw
    drivers, zip ties, multi-tool, batteries,
    matches, pliers, sockets & wrenches.
  • Back box; bungee cords, First aid kit,
    dust masks, compass, rain gear, dry
    clothes, extra gloves, & tree saw.
I opted for this split tank by Rotopax, which
has a 2gal gas jug (red) and a 2-gal water
jug (white).  They snap together and mount
like the larger gas tanks.  I crafted a plywood
cover so I wouldn't puncture the water-tight
storage campartment.
I carry an extra strap with a loop on one end
and a hook on the other.  The loop end can
be attached to the back of the ATV.  The
other can be hooked to a log that needs
moved or a buddy who needs a quick tug to
get through the mud.  In extreme situations, I
wrap this strap around a tree (shown here)
and use my winch to pull heavier loads that
would otherwise pull my ATV.
Please email me with any additional items I should add to my list.  Click here
for complete prep list created by ATV TV.  I just edited it to fit on one page.
Purchased Upgrades and Accessories
My first upgrade was the
Yamaha/Warn winch.  If
you ride in Canada you
can't survive without one.
 I'm no tire expert, but I had
Maxxis Big Horn tires on my
old machine and never had a
problem.
 I really like snow rides, and
grip heaters are a must for
my delicate hands.  They
help dry wet gloves as well.
Kolpin Cocoon Cold-weather "jacket"
The cocoon is a heavy-duty cold-weather
cover that you wear like a jacket and it snaps
to the ATV around the engine compartment
to capture the heat and shed the water.  The
hood is big enough to go over a helmet and
the jacket is beg enough for me (6'5") to
stand while I ride.
My Construction Upgrades
On full-day rides you need
plenty of storage.  I kept my
Polaris storage box and
added wood blocks to keep
the lock'n ride feature.
 I built a wood storage box
for the front rack.  It holds a
lot of "just in case" stuff that
used to be in my front bin.
 I added a plywood top that
attaches to the storage
box and holds my
gas/water jugs.
Removable Work Box
For working on trails and setting signs, I
take a bunch of tools.  This plywood
box mounts on top of the storage box to
carry it all and keep it accessible. One
bungee cord holds the flap that secures
the chain saw, loppers, & sledge.  The
box holds, gas, oil, hand tools, eye
protection and work gloves.
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