Mercedes-Benz G 550, Operator'S Manual

Page: 144 / 288

Off-road driving
Important safety notes
G
Warning!
Sand, dirt, mud and other material having
friction property can cause exceptional wear
and tear as well as brake failure.
Have the brakes checked for dirt build-up and
cleaned. There is otherwise a risk that full
braking power may not be available in an
emergency.
G
Warning!
Do not load items on the basic carrier bars. It
may cause instability during some maneuvers
which could result in an accident.
Drive slowly in unknown terrain. This will
make it easier to recognize unexpected
obstacles and avoid damage to the vehicle.
To help avoid the vehicle rolling over, never
turn it around on steep inclines. If the vehicle
cannot complete the attempted climb, back it
down in reverse gear.
Do not drive along the side of a slope. The
vehicle might otherwise rollover. If in doing so
the vehicle begins to show a tendency to roll,
immediately steer into a line of gravity
(straight up or downhill).
Never let the vehicle roll backwards in idle.
You may lose control of the vehicle if you use
only the service brake. For information on
driving downhill, see "Driving downhill".
G
Warning!
Do not reduce the tire inflation pressure
before driving through sand. However, if you
do so, remember to correct the tire inflation
pressure before continuing your trip. Driving
with reduced tire inflation pressure increases
the risk of losing control of the vehicle and
rolling over.
General notes
Read this section carefully before driving your
vehicle off-road. Practice by driving over more
gentle off-road terrain first.
Familiarize yourself with the characteristics
of your vehicle and the gear shift operation
before driving through difficult terrain.
The following driving systems are specially
adapted to off-road driving:
R
4ETS (
Y
page 58)
R
transfer case (
Y
page 126)
R
differential locks (
Y
page 129)
Observe the following notes:
R
stop your vehicle and, if necessary, shift the
transfer case to
LOW (
Y
page 126) before
driving off-road.
R
engage the differential locks, if necessary
(
Y
page 129).
i ABS, 4ETS, ESP
®
and BAS are deactivated
while the differential locks are engaged.
This allows the front wheels to lock briefly,
so that these can dig into a loose surface.
However, please note that locked wheels
skid and can no longer steer.
R
Check that items of luggage and loads are
stowed safely and are well secured
(
Y
page 196).
R
Make sure there is always sufficient ground
clearance to prevent damage to the
vehicle.
R
Always keep the engine running and in gear
when driving on a downhill gradient.
R
Always keep the engine running and in gear
when driving on a slope.
R
Drive slowly and evenly, if necessary at a
walking pace.
R
Ensure that the wheels are in contact with
the ground at all times.
R
Drive with extreme care on unknown off-
road routes where visibility is poor. For
safety reasons, get out of the vehicle first
and survey the off-road route.
142
Driving tips
Driving and parking