Would You Put a Price On Fun? (position RD)

Have you ever gone out camping or hiking and seen a group of people riding around on ATVs, and wished you could own one yourself? If you spend any amount of time outdoors in Alaska, chances are you have. Most people think that they can’t afford an ATV, or think that owning one wouldn’t be worth the money. Although some people are hesitant to buy an ATV, they make an excellent purchase for any Alaskan because they're versatile, affordable, and even low maintenance!

Here in Alaska, finding time to have fun during the short summers is often essential in getting through the long and difficult winters. Being outside enjoying the sun and warm temperatures of summer acts as a sort of pressure release from being trapped inside all winter. Many Alaskans prefer to spend their free time out camping or fishing, and owning an ATV only adds to the fun and ultimate relief from what most like to call, “cabin fever.”

One argument people have against purchasing an ATV in Alaska, is that the summers are too short to get their money’s worth before winter. This argument is not entirely valid, and this is where the versatility of a 4-wheeler comes into play. Most would agree that ATVs are great for the summer, but not many people realize that they can be just as pleasing during the winter as well. Compared with the rest of Alaska, snow fall here in the interior is minimal, and this greatly increases the riding time for ATV owners. Even with over a foot of snow 4-wheelers can get around with little effort, and access to new riding areas are available thanks to the frozen rivers.

The next argument, which is really more of a worry, is that buying a 4-wheeler is too expensive. While there are ATVs out there that are probably out of the price range for most people, these machines are simply excessive. The extra cost comes from ridiculously large engines and luxuries such as automatic steering. A person shopping for a 4-wheeler can greatly reduce the price by sticking to an engine size that meets their needs. The most power the average adult rider would ever need is maybe 400cc, which would be enough to easily carry at least 400 pounds. You can find ATVs with this kind of power for under $5,000.00, and that’s brand new! If that kind of money is out of your price range, there is always the option to buy a used 4-wheeler for half that much.

While a lot of people cringe at the thought of buying used equipment, buying a used ATV is much safer than buying such things as used cars or snow machines. Most people worry about how long a used ATV will last them, but many owners have had their 4-wheelers for 15 years or longer, and they still run without any major problems. The best part of it all is the minimum amount of money that needs to go into 4-wheelers for maintenance. Most of the maintenance work can be done yourself, and doesn’t go much beyond changing oil once in a while, watching the level of coolant and tire pressure, changing the drive belt once a year, and replacing spark plugs every few years.

Now, buying an ATV is an investment of your hard earned dollar, but the pros of purchasing one far outweigh the cons. You’ll be investing your money in a very versatile piece of equipment that doesn’t have to break your bank, and won’t spend a lot of time in the shop either. Having your own ATV will also provide you with hours upon hours of fun either by yourself, or with friends and family. So instead of being the person watching all the fun, go out and have your own!