Hill climbing is a favorite activity among UTV enthusiasts. The rush of adrenaline you get climbing up a 50-foot hill, driving over rocky trails, covered in trees and roots, as your UTV slips over sliding land is like no other. But if you are new to the sport of UTVing, there are a few tips and tricks that can help you master the hills.
Continue reading to learn how you can refine your climbing skills below.
Safety First
Like all things with your UTV, your number one priority needs to be safety, especially when climbing up a huge hill. If you aren’t well-practiced, are new to the sport, or hit a rock just right, you can send yourself rolling down the mountain you are trying to climb. Remember, the bigger the hill, the bigger the fall. So it’s a good idea to take some safety precautions when riding your UTV. Here are a few things you can do to protect yourself when climbing up hills:
Always wear a full-face helmet. Each of your passengers should wear them, too.
Wear a seatbelt every time. Ideally, you will install 4- or 5-point belts in your machine. Your machine probably came with standard 3-point harnesses, so you’ll likely want to invest in safer seatbelts to keep you in your seat if your machine were to roll.
Purchase an aftermarket, reinforced roll cage. Stock roll cages cannot withstand a significant fall from the top of a hill. If you want to be safe in your machine, which you definitely do, you’ll want to invest in an upgraded roll cage.
Put Your Machine to Work
Before you’re heading up the hill and still on level ground, put your machine into 4-wheel drive. It seems like an obvious part of the process, right? You might be surprised to learn how many riders forget this important step. If you’re not in 4-wheel drive, you aren’t going to make it up that mountain. Avoid reversing down the hill and start correctly.
Invest in Offset A-Arms
For more stability on hills, get your machine a longer wheelbase by installing offset A-arms. The couple extra inches A-arms give your machine make a big difference when working to stay level. A-arms also allow more room for bigger tires.
Practice Makes Perfect
The best way to improve your skill is to practice, practice, practice. Each hill will be different than the last based on your location and the current and past seasons. All of these variables can make handling hills unpredictable. So, you’ll want to get to know your machine and try out many different elevations. Your experience will help you feel comfortable.