X
Clean the wheels, wheel arches and the vehi-
cle underside with a water jet; check for any
foreign objects and damage.
X
Check whether twigs or other parts of plants
have become trapped. These increase the risk
of fire and can damage fuel pipes, brake
hoses or the rubber bellows of the axle joints
and propeller shafts.
X
After the trip, examine without fail the entire
undercarriage, wheels, tyres, bodywork struc-
ture, brakes, steering, chassis and exhaust
system for damage.
X
After driving in sand, mud, gravel, water or
similar dirty conditions, have the following
checked and cleaned:
R
brake discs
R
wheels
R
brake pads
R
axle joints
X
If you notice strong vibrations after off-road
driving, check for foreign objects in the
wheels and drive train and, if necessary,
remove them. Foreign objects can disturb the
balance and cause vibrations.
Driving on sand
Observe the following rules when driving on
sand:
R
shift the transfer case to the LOW RANGE off-
road driving position (
Y
page 124).
R
avoid high engine speeds.
R
Shift the automatic transmission to a low
gear.
R
drive quickly to overcome the rolling resist-
ance. Otherwise, the vehicle could dig itself
into the sand.
R
drive in the tracks of other vehicles if possible.
When doing so, make sure that:
-
the tyre ruts are not too deep
-
the sand is firm enough
-
your vehicle has sufficient ground clear-
ance
Tyre ruts and unpaved roads
!
Check that the ruts are not too deep and
that your vehicle has sufficient clearance.
Otherwise, your vehicle could be damaged or
bottom out and get stuck.
Observe the following rules when driving along
ruts in off-road terrain or on roads with loose
gravel:
R
shift the transfer case to the LOW RANGE off-
road driving position (
Y
page 124)
R
avoid high engine speeds
R
observe the safety notes (
Y
page 119) and the
general notes (
Y
page 119) on off-road driving
R
shift the automatic transmission to a low gear
R
drive slowly
R
where ruts are too deep, drive with the wheels
on one side on the middle section of turf if
possible
Driving over obstacles
!
Obstacles could damage the floor of the
vehicle or components of the chassis. Ask
passengers for guidance when driving over
large obstacles. Any damage to the vehicle
always increases the risk of an accident.
!
Drive with particular care when driving over
an obstacle while driving up or down a steep
slope.
The vehicle could otherwise tilt and slide side-
ways or tip over.
Observe the following rules when driving over
tree stumps, large stones and other obstacles:
R
observe the safety notes (
Y
page 119) and the
general notes (
Y
page 119) on off-road driving
R
shift the transfer case to the LOW RANGE off-
road driving position (
Y
page 124)
R
avoid high engine speeds
R
shift the automatic transmission to a low gear
R
make sure that you have enough ground
clearance before driving across an obstacle
R
drive very slowly
R
try to drive straight over the centre of obsta-
cles: front wheel first, then rear wheel
Travelling uphill
Approach/departure angle
G
WARNING
If you drive on a steep incline at an angle or
turn on a steep incline, the vehicle could slip
sideways, tip and overturn. There is a risk of
an accident.
Driving tips
121
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