ok, ive been riding sport quads for a while now, currently on an lt250r. and I love to hill climb. im looking into getting a 2005 sportsman 700. I was wondering what are some good tips to climb very steep rocky rooty and rutted out hills. when I climb with my dads prairie 650, I usually put one knee on the seat, and stand with my left leg on the floor board. is this a good idea?, can some1 give me any other tips?. thanks

 

yeah id say thats a good idea so you can bail quicker. i dont do much hill climbing but use front brakes and not back. Ive done a bit of all of it but havent for a while. If your going up a real steep hill like dirt or something i hit it with alot of speed so ill go up it and not stop in the middle which is a hazard. or stop when the front wheels go over and then the back tires just flip you over, a friend of mine did that. If its a slick mud bank just dont get the atv sideways, seen many people flip that way on a really bad natural spring hill at a park i used to ride. never really had a problem on rock climbs.

 

Low range 4wd and kiss the front rack, but at some angle its coming over backwards on you,there just now beating the laws of physics and gravity.

 

As said, if it's a sandy hill or smooth hill, just get momentum up and keep going, letting up off the throttle only when you are cresting the top of the climb. On rocky slopes you have to crawl. If on a utility machine put it in low 4wd and get up off the seat and lay on the handlebars if you have to. The key is to get as much of your weight forward as possible. I've seen way too many people almost go over because they stayed sitting down with their weight back.

If you're climbing a snowy or muddy hill the same rules apply. If smooth, get up as much speed as you can. If rocky, or rutted take your time in low 4wd.

 

Even with a 4x4 momentum is going to help you on most hills. 4x4 or sporty they all go up hills basically the same. Keep both feet on the pegs or boards for balance and weight distribution. Sit forward in the seat, lean forward when you have to or stand up and lean forward.
I would get out of the habit of putting 1 knee on the seat . It might make you feel better but its no help. It puts all of your weight on 1 side of the quad. Its harder to balance and I bet you put your foot is on the rear rack on some kind of lip. That right there is transferring weight to the back of the machine where you don't want it. It also means when you do need to kiss the front rack you are going to really have to stretch, compared to having both feet on the pegs.
Last but not least pick a good line up the hill.

 

Lots of good advice so far. I like hill climbing too but I've seen some hills that I wouldn't try. One hill I climbed had a root near the top that would flip you if you hit it too fast. That made it hard to keep your momentum up. What works on one hill won't always work on another hill.