DOWNHILL OPERATION
SUDDEN STOPS
If a Tracked Vehicle is driven down a slope and the
tracks are stopped suddenly, the vehicle’s exceptional
traction may cause it to tip over forward.
SAFETY WARNING: IF VEHICLE MOTION IS
ABRUPTLY DECREASED OR STOPPED, A
TRACKED VEHICLE CAN TIP OVER
FORWARD. THIS POSSIBILITY BECOMES
GREATER AS THE VEHICLE SPEED AND/OR
DOWN SLOPE INCREASES.
CROSSING OVER AN OBJECT
This illustration is drawn to depict an obstacle
situation in which a Tracked Vehicle can be expected to
tip over. Variations likely to occur in natural terrain, the
approach to the obstacle, operator skill and loading of a
Tracked Vehicle may reduce the size of obstacle or
steepness of the slop required, which could cause tipover.
SAFETY WARNING: IF THE VEHICLE’S
CENTER OF GRAVITY PASSES THE POINT OF
SUPPORT, A TRACKED VEHICLE WILL BEGIN
TO TIP. UNLESS THE TERRAIN ON THE
DOWNSIDE OF THE OBJECT PROVIDES A
NEW POINT OF SUPPORT, FAR ENOUGH
AHEAD OF THE VEHICLE CENTER OF
GRAVITY TO NEGATE THE EFFECT OF
INERTIA, A TRACKED VEHICLE WILL TIP
OVER FORWARD.
SAFETY WARNING: ON STEEPER SLOPES,
SMALLER OBSTACLES WILL CAUSE A
TRACKED VEHICLE TO TIP OVER.
SAFETY WANING: OBSTACLES, SOME OF
WHICH MIGHT BE DRIVEN OVER SAFELY
WHILE ON LEVEL TERRAIN, CAN CAUSE A
HAZARD WHILE OPERATING ON SLOPES.
DROPOFFS
This illustration is drawn to depict a dropoff situation
in which a Tracked Vehicle can be expected to flip.
Variations occurring in natural terrain, the approach to the
obstacle, operator skill, and loading of a Tracked Vehicle
may reduce the size of the dropoff or the steepness of the
slope, which could cause tipover.
SAFETY WARNING: A TRACKED VEHICLE
MUST BE OPERATED WITH GREAT CARE AT
ALL TIMES AND ON ANY SLOPE. SLOPES
STEEPER THAN 20° SHOULD BE REGARDED
AS ULTRA-HAZARDOUS AND APPROACHED
WITH EXTREME CAUTION. EVEN ON
SLOPES OF LESS THAN 20°, A TRACKED
VEHICLE CAN BE TIPPED OVER BY A
SUDDEN STOP, EXCESSIVE SPEED, UNEVEN
TERRAIN, OR OTHER SPECIAL CONDITIONS
OR COMBINATIONS OF SUCH CONDITIONS.
An important variable in determining if a give obstacle
will cause a Tracked Vehicle to tip over is the vertical
distance between the last point of contact and the new
point of support. Note that the new point of support can
be on level ground, a downhill slope, or a steeper
downhill slope. The apparent size of the obstacle or
dropoff is not the same as the drop it causes. Among the
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