I have a 2004 kodiak with low and high forward gears which one is best to hills and mud

 

low

 

for the most part low, except on hills high can be an advantage for the momentum.

 

I tend to use high on my SP700 going up for the momentum and speed to get up the hill. Coming down (particularly on the steeper hills) I use low to help engine brake my way down (or controlled slide rather [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] )

I've never been in a situation (yet) where I had to use low in just plain old deep mud or bogs. Hoping one day I will be though

 

unless you got a clutch kit on that sp700, you will need low in the mud eventually

 

Is that because the belt will start to wear and slip? or because the clutch doesn't engage at the lower speeds?

 

b/c the clutch doesnt engage at lower speeds.

some of our hills, we'll get 30mph before hittin it, and the sp's sit and fry belts.

if u use low, the 700 is entirely different

 

I think a good rule of thumb is

If you need 4 wheel drive to go thru, over, or up it, then use low.

I drive the Grizz and hardly ever "need" to use low but im still using stock tires. Have you changed to larger tires or more aggressive ones yet? you might need to use low more often if so. I try to use low anytime im going up steep hills with not much momentum or going slow thru the gunk and crap just to be easy on things.

 

your not supposed to go over 7mph in low on a sp though?

 

It dedends on how muddy you want to get and your riding skill. If you want to use speed and momentum, use high gear but in the mud, you can expect to get dirty. If you want to creep through the mud and stay a little cleaner, use low gear and lock the diff. That's the beauty of quads with high/low and a locker. You can choose your poison.
If it's a real steep rocky hill, I like low/locked.