STARTING AND OPERATING
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good driving posture. Avoid sudden
accelerations, turns or braking. In most cases
there are no road signs, posted speed limits or
signal lights. Therefore you will need to use your
own good judgment on what is safe and what
isn't. When on a trail you should always be
looking ahead for surface obstacles and
changes in terrain. The key is to plan your future
driving route while remembering what you are
currently driving over.
When To Use Low Range
When driving off-road, shift into 4WD Low for
additional traction or to improve handling and
control on slippery or difficult terrain. Due to the
lower gearing, low range will allow the engine to
operate in a higher power range. This will allow
you to idle over obstacles and down hills, with
improved control and less effort. Also, use 4WD
Low in rain, ice, snow, mud, and sand to get
heavy loads rolling, improve traction, or
whenever 4WD High traction will not do the job.
D
RIVING
I
N
S
NOW
, M
UD
A
ND
S
AND
There is a drastic reduction in traction when
driving in snow, mud or sand. The vehicle will be
less responsive to steering, acceleration and
braking inputs. Therefore you should accelerate
slowly, leave greater stopping distances and
avoid abrupt vehicle maneuvers. You want to
keep a slow constant steady pace. The key is to
maintain the vehicle's momentum.
Snow – In heavy snow or for additional
control and traction at slower speeds, shift
the transmission to a low gear and shift the
transfer case to 4WD Low if necessary. Do
not shift to a lower gear than necessary to
maintain headway. Over-revving the engine
can spin the wheels and traction will be lost.
If you start to slow to a stop, try turning your
steering wheel no more than a quarter turn
quickly back and forth, while still applying
throttle. This will allow the tires to get a fresh
"bite" and help maintain your momentum.
Mud – Deep mud creates a great deal of
suction around the tires and is very difficult to
get through. You should use 4WD Low with a
gear low enough to maintain your momentum
without shifting. If you start to slow to a stop,
try turning your steering wheel no more than
a quarter turn quickly back and forth for addi
-
tional traction. Mud holes pose an increased
threat of vehicle damage and getting stuck.
They are normally full of debris from previous
vehicles getting stuck. As a good practice
before entering any mud hole, get out and
determine how deep it is, if there are any
hidden obstacles and if the vehicle can be
safely recovered if stuck.
Sand – Soft sand is very difficult to travel
through with full tire pressure. When crossing
soft sandy spots in a trail, maintain your
WARNING!
Always wear your seat belt and firmly tie down
cargo. Unsecured cargo can become
projectiles in an off-road situation.
CAUTION!
Never park your vehicle over dry grass or
other combustible materials. The heat from
your vehicle exhaust system could cause a
fire.
CAUTION!
On icy or slippery roads, do not downshift at
high engine RPMs or vehicle speeds because
engine braking may cause skidding and loss
of control.
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