Parents who enjoy four-wheeling often are more than excited to purchase some kind of small four wheelers for their little ones. They know exactly what to look for and they may already have a few in mind.
However, for parents who are a little uncertain of what to look for when choosing between any of the available four wheelers for kids, we’ve got you covered.
In this guide, we will discuss some of the things you should consider when looking for kids four wheelers. By the time you’re finished reading, you should feel more confident in selecting the best model for your little one.
Child Assessment
Before you can even start thinking about purchasing any four wheelers for kids, you have to consider a few things like:
- Is your child big enough to start riding a kids Power Wheels four wheeler?
- Are they going to use the four wheeler frequently, or will they lose interest quickly?
- Does your child have the balance, coordination, and agility to use one of these powerful machines?
There is no right or wrong answer here, but if the answers to your questions aren’t able to convince you that they are ready for a four wheeler then perhaps you should wait a year or two before you revisit the idea.
Basics
When it comes to looking at an ATV, there are three main attributes you should take into consideration:
- Size
- Safety
- Quality
Size
Like many things we buy our kids, we tend to go one size up because we want to make sure the item is going to last, even if your kid grows like a bean sprout. Unfortunately, you can’t do that when you are trying to choose between battery operated four wheelers for kids. By going one size up, your kid probably isn’t going to be able to ride the four wheeler safely.
By buying a size appropriate four wheeler, they should be able to reach the grip and maintain a good grip on them. They should also be able to press on the accelerator and the brake pedals easily.
Other than being mindful of the size of the four wheeler, you should also consider the size of the engine. The engine size is going to dictate how fast the four wheelers will go, which is a very important factor to consider because you want to make sure your child can handle that much power.
When you’re looking at the different engine sizes for the four wheeler, you’ll see guidelines like this posted in dealerships where gas powered four wheelers for kids can be found:
- ATVs with an engine size less than 70cc are recommended for youngsters 6 years or older.
- ATVs with an engine size 70–90cc are recommended for youngsters 12 years or older.
- ATVs with an engine size greater than 90cc are recommended for people at least 16 years old.
Safety
Safety is important, perhaps one of the most important things you should consider. There isn’t any reason why you should buy one of those awesome kids racing four wheelers if it isn’t going to be safe to ride.
Some safety features you should make sure the four wheeler has included:
- A lock guard that covers the battery, so your child doesn’t mess with the battery and get hurt.
- A solid battery retainer that prevents the battery from moving when the ATV is being used.
- A safe braking system is crucial so that the four wheeler stops as soon as they touch the pedal.
- A concealed speed adjustment system that won’t get kicked and change speeds unexpectedly.
Of course, along with the safety of the four wheeler, you should already plan on having safety gear on hand. This gear includes a helmet, pads, and proper shoes (meaning no slip on shoes and definitely no flip-flops!).
Quality
To determine the quality of the four wheeler, you’re going to have to do a little bit of research. You want to look for things like recalls, mechanical failures, and what other customers have to say about the ATV.
Also, you should look for four wheelers that include some type of warranty. With kids, anything can happen, and four wheelers aren’t cheap!
Wrap Up
Buying four wheelers for your child can be an exciting time, especially if your family enjoys being outdoors. When everyone in your family has an ATV of their own, you can race each other, go on fun adventures, and even explore!
However, purchasing a four wheeler for kids isn’t something that you should do on a whim because if you choose the wrong ATV, it could be dangerous for your child and people (or animals) that get in the way.
However, when you take the time and do your research, you can find a four wheeler that is highly rated by other parents, that doesn’t have any known recalls, and is the right size for your child, it can provide plenty of entertainment for the whole family.
We do recommend that if you are going to get your child a four wheeler, you take the time to participate in ATV safety training—not just for your child, but for anyone who may be riding the ATV.
By taking the ATV Rider Safety Course that is offered by the ATV Safety Institute, you can have that peace of mind in knowing that your child understands the dangers of using their four wheeler inappropriately and the right way to have fun with it. Also, it would be wise to check up on local laws about ATV usage and places where you can use the vehicles.