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Q:
Am I likely to stall when going downhill?
A:
It's much more likely to happen going uphill. But
if
it
happens going downhill, here's what to do.
0
Stop your vehicle by applying the regular brakes.
Shift to PARK (P) (or to NEUTRAL ( N ) with the
Apply the parking brake.
nlanual transmission) and, while still brakin,,
0
restart
the engine.
and drive straight down.
Shift back to a low gear. release the parking brake,
I f the engine won't start, get out and get help.
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:
0
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
t o
the rear wheels)
reduces the likelihood
the
vehicle will tumble end
over end. But when you drive across an incline, the
much more narrow track width (the distance between
the left and right wheels) may not prevent the vehicle
0
0
from tilting and rolling over. Also, driving across an
incline puts more weight on the downhill wheels.
This could cause a downhill slide or a rollover.
Surface conditions can be a problem when you drive
across a hill. Loose gravel. muddy spots, or even wet
If the vehicle slips sideways.
it
can
hit
something
that will trip
it
(a rock. a rut, etc.) and roIl over.
Hidden obstacles can make the steepness of the
incline even worse. If you drive across a rock with
the uphill wheels, or if the downhill wheels drop into
a rut or depression, your vehicle can tilt even more.
2
orass can cause your tires to slip sideways. downhill.
For reasons like these, you need to decide carefully whether
t o
try
to drive across
31
incline. Just because the trail goes
;lcross the incline doesn't mean you have
to
drive it. The
last vehcle to
try it
might have rolled over.
A
CAUTION:
Driving across an incline that's
too
steep will
make your vehicle roll over. You could be
seriously injured or killed. If you have any doubt
about the steepness of the incline, don't drive
across it. Find another route instead.
A
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