Off-road Driving Hints
Before taking your vehicle off-roading, perform a basic inspection to make sure your vehicle is in good working condition.
We recommend that you always use at least two vehicles while off-roading. The buddy system helps make sure that help is close at hand should a vehicle become stuck or damaged. It is also wise to take supplies such as a first aid kit, water, tow strap, cell phone with you.
The following are hints for safe off-road driving:
  • Steer, brake and accelerate in a smooth controlled manner. Avoid jerky, unsteady movements.
  • Look ahead on your route noting upcoming obstacles, or any other factors that may indicate a change in available traction and adjust the vehicle speed and route accordingly.
  • If the front or rear suspension is bottoming out, or you encounter excessive contact with the skid-plates, reduce the vehicle speed to avoid potential damage to your vehicle.
  • We recommend that you use vehicle communication, such as, turn signals, brake lights, and hazard flashers to alert other drivers of what you intend to do next, and of obstacles that could cause potential vehicle damage.
  • Always keep available ground clearance in mind and pick a route that minimizes the risk of catching the underside of the vehicle on an obstacle.
  • When negotiating low speed obstacles, applying light brake pressure in conjunction with the throttle helps prevent your vehicle from jerking and allows you to negotiate the obstacle in a more controlled manner. Using four-wheel drive low (4L) will also help with this.
Note:   Your vehicle may have a retractable rear center step. Due to reduced ground clearance, you can damage it when taking your vehicle off-road. You can take the step off by removing the bolts that secure the armature to the mounting bracket.
Crossing Obstacles
  • Review the path ahead before attempting to cross an obstacle. It is best if you view the obstacle from outside your vehicle so that you have a good understanding of terrain conditions both in front of and behind the obstacle.
  • Approach obstacles slowly.
  • If you cannot avoid a large obstacle such as a rock, choose a path that places the rock directly under the tire rather than the undercarriage of your vehicle. This helps prevent damage to your vehicle.
  • Cross ditches and washouts at a 45° angle, allowing each wheel to independently cross the obstacle.
Climbing A Hill
WARNING   WARNING:  Extreme care should be used when steering the vehicle in reverse down a slope so as not to cause the vehicle to swerve out of control.

Do not drive over the crest of a hill without seeing what conditions are on the other side. Do not drive in reverse over a hill without the aid of an observer.
  • Always attempt to climb a steep hill along the fall line of the slope and not diagonally.
  • If the vehicle is unable to make it up the hill, DO NOT attempt to turn back down the slope. Place the vehicle in low range and slowly back down in reverse.
  • When descending a steep slope, select low gear and engage hill descent control. Use the accelerator and brake pedals to control your descent speed.
Note:   Hill descent control is functional in reverse. Use this control in this situation.
Note:   Avoid turning on steep slopes or hills.You could lose traction, slip sideways or your vehicle could roll over.
Driving Over Rocks and Gravel
Never attempt to straddle a rock that is large enough to strike your axles or undercarriage. Leave a generous gap between your vehicle and other vehicles to minimize the risk of damage. Avoid dust clouds as they reduce visibility.

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