Despite recent changes to safety guidelines and mandatory rollover bars, quad bikes remain staples in Australian farms, construction sites and larger acreage. Here, they assist with livestock herding, towing trailers, hauling construction materials, carrying animal feed and general property management.

However, it’s not all work and no play. There are still decently powerful ATVs and UTVs that provide the grins when tackling coastal dunes, belting down bush trails or on shorter rides with the throttle fully pinned. Both vehicles can be customised to personal needs and tastes, ranging from power add-ons like performance exhausts and aftermarket axles, new rubber suited to the terrain and a wide range of quad ATV accessories that enhance comfort, increase storage and towing capability or simplify maintenance.

Storage Upgrades

No matter the size of your quad, there’s no harm in having extra storage capacity. UTVs fare better in this respect with dedicated pallet-sized cargo beds, some with gas/hydraulic tipping and alloyed deep sides when transporting heavier loads. These can be complemented with overhead roof racks often used for lighter camping gear and tools such as chairs, sleeping bags, and shovels. And a variety of in-cab storage solutions, ranging from door bags and under-seat storage bins to smaller centre console dividers to store phones, wallets and valuables.

While smaller, ATVs can make more of the available space with front and rear cargo trays. These come in two basic varieties – flat, low-profile trays and deeper, high-walled baskets. Use front trays and baskets for gear you need at arm’s length, such as tools and recovery gear, and rear trays and baskets for larger and heavier items such as power tools, when mounting rigid cargo boxes or soft bags and when carrying extra fuel and water.

Trays can additionally be substituted for tubular racks. These are ideal for long and oddly-shaped items like firewood, tyres, and ladders and provide multiple tie-down points for enhanced utility. Choose trays and racks in sturdy and compatible designs, either in treated metal or reinforced plastics, to ensure they’re rated for the weight of heavier loads, remain intact and free of scratches and dents in constant loading and unloading and won’t rust from exposure to mud and water or fade under the piercing Aussie sun.

Convenience Extras

To make work less taxing while listening to your favourite tunes, upgrade quads with Bluetooth speakers and soundbars. These are built tough with weatherproof housings to withstand road, mud and rock spray, offer wireless connectivity to stream music directly from phones and provide simplified controls such as oversized buttons to change basic settings without removing gloves. Choose higher-output soundbars to counter engine noise, get a more detailed, full-bodied sound and features like integrated RGB lighting to increase visibility and light up campsites at night.

For riding convenience, consider quad ATV accessories like phone and device mounts for easier navigation and communication in uncharted regions, gun and firearm racks with versatile mounting options when hunting or managing wildlife and CB radios for dependable two-way communication in remote areas with no cellular coverage.

Towing Accessories

The shift towards more utilitarian use rather than riding fun means wider availability of parts and ATV accessories for work. Towing capability is one area where both ATVs and UTVs excel when fitted with the right upgrades. Choose standard 50mm tow balls in shafts with diameters that match your quad’s receiver hitch or coupler, and the rated trailer weight.

To increase towing strength, upgrade to sturdier, thicker stainless steel receiver hitches. Common sizes are hitches in 1.25″ and 2″ lengths to clear quad bike bumpers, provide more towing stability and keep trailers level, especially on uneven ground. Options also take into account overall trailer and ground clearance, with hitches in drop lengths to clear trails littered with obstacles, including tree stumps, vegetation and boulders.

Tools and Utility

Maintenance is a key factor that ensures reliable performance and quad bike longevity. To this end, ensure you’re equipped with basic tools, including greaser tools to restore grease in leaking axle bearings without fully removing the wheel hubs or the suspension knuckles. The process clears axles of accumulated water and debris, prevents rust build-up, and ensures smooth riding with clean power transfer. It also prevents bearing failure and costly axle replacements.

If axles are nearing expiry dates, consider axle pullers. These grip inner CV cups and provide the force to remove rusted or damaged axles from the axle housing without damaging surrounding parts, such as the CV boots and inner joints. Similar options are primary clutch pullers when servicing the CVT transmission, clearing debris from pulleys, or installing new clutches. All are specialised tools that simplify regular maintenance and repairs in quad bikes that see frequent use.

The Final Takeaway

The right aftermarket ATV accessories can make your ATV or UTV more practical, versatile and enjoyable to use. From storage and towing upgrades to convenience extras and maintenance tools, choosing accessories that match your needs can help you get more from every ride and working day.