Michigan riders

[Rainwater]

Hi All,

New and looking at 6x6 machines. I am wondering, I live here near Grand Rapids Michigan and have found out that there might not be too many places to ride these, is this true? I do live on a private lake and the wife wanted something to ride to and from the dock with, we live about a mile from the dock becasue we have to drive around the lake. Anyhow she was thinking golf cart, I am thinking 6x6 becasue I am an avid bow fisherman and was thinking that having one to get around the creeks with would be great but I think thats not even allowed here in Michigan.

Where can you ride these things here?

[NERO]

Place To Ride ?

Welcome Rain
I belive you can ride on any approved atv trail with orv sticker.I think that you have to have, a boat reg sticker for the water and maybe snowmoble trail sticker for them trails and maybe a launch fee sticker for a dock area.I think that we need a univeral sticker ? 8 wheels float a litte more.looking forward to seeing your new ride.NERO

[trebmaster]

I also live neer GR and dont have many places to ride around here but do go up by lake city for the trails.
If you want to check it out or ride in an Argo let me know and I would love to show it off

[artist1018]

Check the DNR website for rules regarding AATV's. also, there is a very good ORV park near Flint. Go to Genesee county parks & rec. website & check out "The Mounds". If we could get enough Michigan riders out there at the same time/weekend, we could make quite a video for this site!

[Rainwater]

Sorry for the questions...

Here is what the DNR website says, its confusing!!

Argo Use on State Land

The following addresses only Michigan's state regulations. To determine the regulations on federal properties, you should contact the appropriate federal agency with jurisdiction over the areas where you wish to operate.
An Argo is regulated as an Off-Road Recreation Vehicle (ORV) under Michigan law. In the Lower Peninsula, an ORV may only be operated in areas open to the public on designated routes, trails, or areas that are posted as open to ORVs. However, ORV trails are limited to vehicles that are less then 50 inches in width, so an Argo cannot be operated on designated ORV "Trails". An Argo can be operated on designated ORV "Routes" and Scramble Areas in the Lower Peninsula with a valid ORV license.

Cross-county travel by ORVs in areas open to the public is prohibited in both the Upper and Lower Peninsulas with very few exceptions (such as to retrieve a legally taken deer at minimal speed).

You may use an Argo for duck hunting, with certain restrictions. The Argo may not be driven down the bank of a river or stream and into the water. You may access surface waters at boat launches. You may not operate in a wetland or in a manner so as to create an erosive condition.

So can you drive it on the ORV trails most of the times if the wheel base on some are 50 inches or less even though it specifically calls out an argo??

From the looks of this, it looks like you cant just drive it into or out of the crreks unless they have a boat ramp.

How about logging roads or 2 tracks? Can you drive them on those?

[REELLS]

Rainwater,
The restriction regarding 6x6's and 8x8's regardless of who makes them is not the wheelbase. The regulation refers to the width. All of the 6x6's and 8x8's that I am aware of are more than 50 inches wide. Michigan allows these kind of vehicles on their "jeep" type trails. We are not allowed to ride on orv trails as these are for dirt bikes and quads. It is a stupid rule but most of the land use rules are based on who lobbys the law makers the loudest. I do know that you are allowed to ride on private land if you have the land owners permission but you do need a "ORV' sticker in all cases. The "mounds" area is a very nice area to ride. Private off road parks also are ok. There are not many of these in Michigan though. Personally I like to ride at a place called Haspin Acres near Richmond Indiana. If you look thru this web site and Route 6x6 you will see that there are quite a few places to ride but it does involve some travel.

[LarryW]

Hello,
I'm from Vicksburg, MI about 45 south of GR.

Most of those rules would apply to a golf cart too. Cart advantage is just enter/exit is easier. 6x6 advantage is water use, less stuckage and manuevablity to name a few.

I have been to the state trails near Baldwin on Off road buggy, ATCs and ATVs. The 50" trial is really only good for a bike as the trail is so rutted out it is just to narrow to drive even a quad on. Trust me, I did superman over the bars, lol. Most of the riding we do there is on the trail that trucks/cars can go on. And there are usually only a couple trucks when Ive been there.

I posted what you have to go through to get a watercraft sticker. http://www.6x6world.com/forums/gener...-atv-boat.html

Technically you can only ride down navigable water which is classified information, lol. Suppose to be any river which they used for logging. I think there is also some formula for flow rate too but... If you would take a row boat down it then should be ok. The riding in and out of the banks and enter in boat launch is because they dont want you tearing the banks all up. If you drive in and stay in you are probably ok. I bet most dnr dont fully know the laws and as long as you arent being reckless you should be fine. What is considered a boat launch? They put there row boat in here sooo....must be a launch?????????

Frozen water can be ridden on with just an orv sticker. If you dont have a roll bar you need a helmet. If you do have a roll bar I believe you may need seatbelts but dont quote me.

I have been to "The Mounds" that Artist suggested, in a truck though. Seems like that would be more fun with a 6x6 then the state trails I have been on. I think we should all plan on some ride there sometime this summer or something.

I only own a small acre size chunk of land but crazycolt222 aka my brother has 20 acres and my parents own 60 with a great variety of terrain. You are welcome to come ride with us when ever you want. Just let me know. 6x6 or golf cart!!!

Take care,
Larry

[rm25x]

Hey guys another Michigan guy here. I live in Burton (By the Mounds) and hope to get a 6x6 soon. Will have to do some get togethers this year for sure.
Thanks for posting the boat info as well, did not know that.

[snowmansrx]

Hi Im from vassar mi about 25 miles east of saginaw I would be interested in going to the mounds also.

[trebmaster]

we will let you know when we set a date

[LarryW]

Hi Im from vassar mi about 25 miles east of saginaw I would be interested in going to the mounds also.

Hello We would be glad to have you there. We havent set a date yet but probably will start thinking more about the date after ashtabula.

[buckhntr17]

im from three rivers mi. about 20 miles south of kalamazoo i just picked up an 8x8 response gonna try it out this weekend if anyone would like to join us were doin it sunday around noon just email me and well get you some directions used to go muddin there with trucks but i got rid of my truck my buddies still go though.there is mud, trails ,hillclimbs and some sand just no drinking and clean up after yourself anyway my email is buckhntr17@comcast.net would like to see lots fo aatvs take over they have trucks and quads and bikes there off and on let me know hope to hear from ya

[tlp]

Michigan riders

HiTlp here
I'm from Muskegon mi and also would like to ride the trails but I think My scrambler is to wide I dont have it registered yet [but that should be easy to do]
If you guys decide to get together some time let me know maybe I can ride too
it would be fun to all get together sometime.
Tlp

[thunderchief]

i'm in bay city and the saginaw river/bay are great in the winter time when the ice is good

[LarryW]

HiTlp here
I'm from Muskegon mi and also would like to ride the trails but I think My scrambler is to wide I dont have it registered yet [but that should be easy to do]
If you guys decide to get together some time let me know maybe I can ride too
it would be fun to all get together sometime.
Tlp

Hey, congrats, sounds like you got it done.

Buckhntr17 and crazycolt222 and I have been riding around in a few differant spots down here around three rivers and kalamazoo area. We can ride just about when ever on weekends so when ever you want let us know. The few spots we have are within 1/2hr ride or so of each other so we could maybe just ride a few different spots going from one and cruising to other.
We have been waiting for treb too.

The good thing about riding in a group is it gives you the courage to try things you would normally be afraid to getting stranded in.

Id still like to go to the mounds but that seems like a challenge to get everyone there. The state trails up north baldwin area I dont think would be that cool on a 6x6. The trails you can ride are pretty flat and straight.