Drumclog in winter is a different beast. Here's what you actually need to get through Scotland's muddiest trails without getting stuck every 5 minutes.
Why Winter at Drumclog is Brutal
It's not just muddy - it's Scottish winter muddy.
- Deeper bogs from all the rain
- Colder temps = thicker mud that sticks
- Less grip, more getting stuck
- Stock quads and SXS just don't cut it
If you're going in winter, you need proper upgrades. Not maybe, not nice to have - you NEED them.
1. Lift Kits - Get Your Clearance Up
Here's the reality: You're in 4x4 mode riding at Drumclog, hitting deep mud holes, and your stock suspension is sat so low it's dragging you out instead of letting you power through.
Your diff, A-arms, and belly are all catching on ruts and mud. You're not stuck because you can't move - you're stuck because your machine is literally sitting on the ground.
What you need:
- 2-3" lift kit minimum for quads
- 3-5" lift kit for SXS/UTVs
- More clearance = actually using your engine, not dragging on your underside
- Stop fighting your own suspension
Brands we fit:
- High Lifter (proper lift specialists)
- SuperATV (reliable across models)
- Custom setups available
Price: £300-600 depending on model
Makes the difference between powering through or getting dragged backwards by your own chassis.
2. Bigger Tyres - Stop Spinning, Start Moving
Stock tyres in winter Drumclog mud = wheelspinning for days
You need aggressive tread that can dig down and find grip in thick Scottish sludge.
What works:
- 28-30" for quads (sweet spot)
- 30-32" for SXS/UTVs (if you've got the lift)
- Deep tread patterns that self-clean
- Mud-specific tyres, not trail tyres
Popular choices:
- Outlaws (proper mud tyres)
- Zillas (aggressive as hell)
- Cryptids (if you want to go big)
Remember: Bigger tyres need a lift kit or they'll rub like mad
Price: £400-800 for a set
3. High Clearance A-Arms - Stop Smashing Your Suspension
Winter means hidden obstacles under all that mud
Rocks, roots, logs, whatever - you can't see it until you've hit it. Stock A-arms sit low and take a beating. Plus they're catching on every rut when you're trying to get through deep sections.
High clearance A-arms:
- Sit higher, protect better
- Less likely to catch on ruts and drag you down
- Stronger construction for impacts
- Available for most quads and SXS
- Actually lets you use your ground clearance
Brands:
- High Lifter (A-arm specialists)
- SuperATV (strong options)
- Custom fabrication available
Price: £500-900 depending on model
Worth every penny when you're not bent up in a Scottish bog or stuck because your arms are hung up on mud.
4. Snorkel Systems - Because Scottish Bogs Are Deep
Water crossings in winter = engine killer without proper snorkels
Drumclog's water levels rise in winter. Stock air intakes sit way too low.
Full snorkel systems:
- Relocate air intake up high
- Extend all breathers (diff, transmission, fuel)
- LED lights on risers (see in winter gloom)
- Custom colours available
Price: £500-550 (fitted)
Don't risk a seized engine miles from help.
5. Radiator Relocation - Keep It Running Cool
Mud + radiator = overheating nightmare
Even in winter, your quad works hard in thick mud. Radiator down low gets caked instantly.
Our UK-made rad kits:
- Moves radiator up high
- Stays cleaner longer
- Better airflow
- Custom colours and LED bars available
- Powder coat or Raptor paint
Price: £350 (our kits) or £500 (other brands)
Fits: Kodiak 450/700, Grizzly 550/700, Can-Am, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki
6. Skid Plates & Protection - Stop Buying Plastic Crap
Seriously, stop wasting money on plastic undertrays that crack the first time you hit something.
Those cheap plastic skid plates? They're about as useful as a chocolate teapot at Drumclog. One rock, one log, one hidden root and they're cracked. Then mud and water get in, your frame bends, and before you know it you've got rot eating through everything.
Proper protection = metal skid plates
What you actually need:
- Full metal skid plates (belly protection that works)
- A-arm guards (proper steel or aluminum)
- CV boot guards (stop ripping boots in mud)
- Nerf bars for quads (protect your legs AND the frame)
Why metal matters:
- Doesn't crack when you smash it
- Actually deflects impacts instead of absorbing them
- Stops your frame bending and rotting
- Lasts years, not months
Think about it:
- Plastic undertray: £50-80, lasts one hard ride, then your frame's knackered
- Metal skid plate: £200-500, lasts forever, saves your frame from hundreds in damage
Stop being tight. Protect your frame properly.
Price: £200-500 depending on coverage
One bent frame or rotted chassis costs way more to fix than proper protection costs to fit.
7. Winch - Because Everyone Gets Stuck
It's not if you get stuck, it's when
Winter Drumclog mud is unforgiving. A winch gets you out without waiting for a tractor.
What you need:
- 3000-4500lb for quads
- 4500-6000lb for SXS/UTVs
- Synthetic rope (lighter, safer)
- Proper mounting kit
Price: £300-600
Plus tow straps and recovery gear - always.
8. LED Light Bars - Scottish Winter = Dark
It gets dark early, and mud spray makes it worse
You need lights to see and be seen.
Where to add lights:
- Front bars (see where you're going)
- Rear bars (so others see you)
- Snorkel risers (looks sick, works great)
- Radiator mounts (integrated lighting)
Price: £80-300 depending on setup
Complete Winter Drumclog Package
Want it all sorted in one go?
Quad Package - £1800-2500:
- 2-3" lift kit (stop dragging on your chassis)
- 28-30" mud tyres
- High clearance A-arms
- Full snorkel system
- Radiator relocation
- Metal skid plate protection (not plastic rubbish)
- LED lighting
- Professional installation
SXS/UTV Package - £2500-3500:
- 3-5" lift kit (ground clearance you can actually use)
- 30-32" aggressive tyres
- High clearance arms
- Full snorkel system
- Radiator relocation
- Full metal skid plates (save your frame)
- Winch and recovery gear
- LED light package
- Professional installation
Custom colours, custom text, fully sorted for Scottish winter mud.
What Happens If You Go Stock?
You'll spend more time stuck than riding:
- Belly dragging through every section - you're literally being held back by your own chassis
- Stock suspension sitting on the ground in 4x4, not letting your wheels do the work
- Stock tyres spinning uselessly
- Overheating from clogged radiator
- Water in your engine
- Smashed A-arms catching on ruts
- Cracked plastic skid plates letting your frame rot
- Getting towed out constantly
Or you upgrade properly and actually enjoy it.
When to Book
Winter Drumclog prep takes time:
- Lift kits: 1-2 days
- Tyre fitting and alignment: Half day
- Full builds: 1-2 weeks
Book early - everyone wants sorted for winter season
Models We Cover
Quads/ATVs:
- Yamaha Kodiak 450/700 & Grizzly 550/700
- Can-Am Outlander (all models)
- Honda Rancher, Foreman, Rubicon
- Kawasaki KVF 650/750
- Suzuki King Quad
SXS/UTVs:
- Can-Am Defender & Maverick
- Polaris RZR & Ranger
- Yamaha Wolverine & YXZ
- Honda Talon & Pioneer
- Kawasaki Teryx
The Process
- Tell us your model and what you're planning
- We recommend the right upgrades for winter Drumclog
- Choose your options (colours, lights, custom bits)
- We build it properly
- You ride Drumclog without your chassis dragging you backwards or your frame rotting out
Location
Mud Hawgz UK - Goole, East Yorkshire
We ship worldwide:
- UK & Ireland
- Europe
- USA
But for full builds, come to the workshop. We'll sort you properly.
Lift kits, big tyres, high clearance arms, snorkels, rad kits, proper metal protection, lights - everything you need for Scottish winter mud.
Stop riding stock into Drumclog winter. And stop buying plastic skid plates that protect nothing.
Call us. Tell us your model. We'll sort you out.
Because Scottish winter mud doesn't care about your feelings - only your ground clearance and whether you cheaped out on protection