Mercedes-Benz Zetros 2020, Operating Instructions Manual

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not able to cope with the gradient, drive back-
wards in reverse gear.
X Securely stow away all loose objects.
X Securely fasten the load.
X
Secure bulk loads such as sand or gravel
against slipping by means of spray guards or
covers.
X Secure attachments and equipment, e.g. a
tipper platform or loading crane, against
unintentional activation and motion.
Observe the operating instructions given by
the body and equipment manufacturer.
X
Close the side windows (
Y
page 38).
X
Vehicles with manual transmission: stop and
engage a low gear before driving off-road.
X Deactivate ABS (
Y
page 106).
X
Shift the transfer case to off-road position
(
Y
page 113).
X Engage the inter-axle lock (
Y
page 111).
X If the traction is insufficient, engage the rear
axle cross-axle lock (
Y
page 111).
X
If the traction is still insufficient, engage the
front axle cross-axle lock (
Y
page 111).
X Always keep the engine running and in gear
while driving.
X
Drive slowly and smoothly. It may often be
necessary to drive at walking pace.
X Vehicles with manual transmission: do not
depress the clutch or shift gear on a steep
incline.
X Make sure that the wheels remain in con-
tact with the ground.
X
Drive with extreme care over unknown ter-
rain where you can only see for a short dis-
tance. As a precaution, get out of the vehi-
cle to take a look at the route to be taken
first.
X
Watch out for obstacles such as rocks,
holes, tree stumps and ruts.
X If possible, always drive over obstacles with
the wheels of one side of the vehicle. This
means damage to the vehicle is avoided.
Driving on inclines
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.
When driving on an incline, drive into the
line of fall (upwards or downwards in a
straight line) and do not turn.
X Only drive over embankments and on slopes
along the line of fall.
X
Only brake once the vehicle is on the line of
fall.
X Slowly depress the brake pedal if the
engine's braking effect is insufficient when
driving downhill.
Fording
! If you drive into water at speed, the bow
wave may damage parts of the vehicle.
! Avoid frequently fording in dirty water up
to the maximum fording depth without
cleaning the vehicle in between. Observe
the notes on cleaning after driving off-road
or on construction sites. Otherwise assem-
blies, e.g. alternators, designed for arduous
conditions may be damaged.
! Only drive through fresh water with your
vehicle. Driving through salt water is not
permitted. Salt water causes corrosion of
vehicle components which become dam-
aged and may fail as a result. If you have to
drive through salt water, contact a qualified
specialist workshop first.
X Start fording at a shallow place at walking
speed.
X
Adapt your driving style to the unaccus-
tomed environment.
X Drive through the water slowly at a constant
speed.
X
Do not declutch, change gear or stop while
driving.
i Pulling away in water is difficult due to the
strong resistance and the shallow bottom.
X Ensure that no bow wave forms while driv-
ing.
X
Do not switch off the engine while in the
water.
X If the engine cuts out while in the water,
start it again immediately.
122
Driving tips
Driving mode