Starting and Operating Instructions
. . . 264
Driving Downhill
When off-roading takes you
downhill, you’ll want to consider a
number of things:
• How steep is the downhill
slope? Will I be able to
maintain vehicle control?
• What’s the surface like?
Smooth? Rough? Slippery?
Hard-packed dirt? Gravel?
• Are there hidden surface obsta-
cles? Ruts? Logs? Boulders?
• What’s at the bottom of the
hill? Is there a hidden creek
bank or even a river bottom
with large rocks?
If you decide you can go down a
hill safely, then try to keep your
vehicle headed straight down, and
use a low gear. This way, engine
drag can help your brakes and
they won’t have to do all the work.
Descend slowly, keeping your
vehicle under control at all times.
CAUTION
Heavy braking when going
down a hill can cause your
brakes to overheat and fade.
This could cause loss of control
and a serious accident. Apply
the brakes lightly when
descending a hill and use a low
gear to keep vehicle speed
under control.
Driving Across an Incline
Sooner or later, an off-road trail
will probably go across the incline
of a hill. If this happens, you have
to decide whether to try to drive
across the incline. Here are some
things to consider:
• A hill that can be driven
straight up or down may be
too steep to drive across. When
you go straight up or down a
hill, the length of the wheel
base (the distance from the
front wheels to the rear wheels)
reduces the likelihood the vehi-
cle will tumble end over end.
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