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236 STARTING AND OPERATING
Hill Climbing
NOTE:
Before attempting to climb a hill, determine the
conditions at the crest and/or on the other side.
Before climbing a steep hill, shift the
transmission to a lower gear and shift the 4WD
System to 4WD LOW. Use first gear and 4WD
LOW for very steep hills.
If you stall or begin to lose headway while
climbing a steep hill, allow your vehicle to come
to a stop and immediately apply the brakes.
Restart the engine and shift to REVERSE. Back
slowly down the hill allowing the compression
braking of the engine to help regulate your
speed. If the brakes are required to control
vehicle speed, apply them lightly and avoid
locking or skidding the tires.
NOTE:
Remember, never drive diagonally across a hill
- drive straight up or down.
If the wheels start to slip as you approach the
crest of a hill, ease off the accelerator and
maintain headway by turning the front wheels
slowly left and right. This may provide a fresh
“bite” into the surface and will usually provide
traction to complete the climb.
Traction Downhill
Shift the transmission into a low gear and the
4WD System to 4WD LOW range or select Hill
Descent Control if equipped (refer to "Electronic
Brake Control System" in “Safety” for further
information). Let the vehicle go slowly down the
hill with all four wheels turning against engine
compression drag. This will permit you to control
the vehicle speed and direction.
When descending mountains or hills, repeated
braking can cause brake fade with loss of
braking control. Avoid repeated heavy braking
by downshifting the transmission whenever
possible.
After Driving Off-Road
Off-road operation puts more stress on your
vehicle than does most on-road driving. After
going off-road, it is always a good idea to check
for damage. That way you can get any problems
taken care of right away and have your vehicle
ready when you need it.
Completely inspect the underbody of your
vehicle. Check tires, body structure, steering,
suspension, and exhaust system for damage.
Inspect the radiator for mud and debris and
clean as required.
Check threaded fasteners for looseness,
particularly on the chassis, drivetrain compo-
nents, steering, and suspension. Retighten
them, if required, and torque to the values
specified in the Service Manual.
Check for accumulations of plants or brush.
These things could be a fire hazard. They
might hide damage to fuel lines, brake hoses,
axle pinion seals, and propeller shafts.
WARNING!
If the engine stalls or you lose headway or
cannot make it to the top of a steep hill or
grade, never attempt to turn around. To do so
may result in tipping and rolling the vehicle.
Always back straight down a hill in REVERSE
gear carefully. Never back down a hill in NEU-
TRAL using only the brake.
20_BV_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 236
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