Jeep GLADIATOR 2022 Owner's Manual page 180

178 STARTING AND OPERATING
The tread of the tire is tougher and thicker than the
side wall and is designed to take the abuse. Always look
ahead and make every effort to cross the large rocks
with your tires.
CAUTION!
•
Never attempt to straddle a rock that is large
enough to strike your axles or undercarriage.
•
Never attempt to drive over a rock which is large
enough to contact the door sills.
CROSSING A RAVINE, GULLY, DITCH, WASH-
OUT OR RUT
When crossing a ravine, gully, ditch, washout or a large
rut, the angled approach is the key to maintaining your
vehicle's mobility. Approach these obstacles at a
45-degree angle and let each tire go through the
obstacle independently. You need to use caution when
crossing large obstacles with steep sides. Do not
attempt to cross any large obstacle with steep sides at
an angle great enough to put the vehicle at risk of a
rollover. If you get caught in a rut, dig a small trench to
the right or left at a 45-degree angle ahead of the front
tires. Use the removed dirt to fill the rut ahead of the
turnout you just created. You should now be able to
drive out following the trench you just created at a
45-degree angle.
WARNING!
There is an increased risk of rollover when crossing
an obstacle, at any angle, with steep sides.
CROSSING LOGS
To cross a log, approach it at a slight angle (approxi-
mately 10 to 15 degrees). This allows one front tire to
be on top of the log while the other just starts to climb
the log. While climbing the log, modulate your brake
and accelerator to avoid spinning the log out from
under your tires. Then ease the vehicle off the log using
your brakes.
CAUTION!
Do not attempt to cross a log with a greater diameter
than the running ground clearance or the vehicle will
become high-centered.
GETTING HIGH-CENTERED
If you get hung up or high-centered on an object, get
out of the vehicle and try to determine what the vehicle
is hung up on, where it is contacting the underbody and
what is the best direction to recover the vehicle.
Depending on what you are in contact with, jack the
vehicle up and place a few rocks under the tires so the
weight is off of the high point when you let the vehicle
down. You can also try rocking the vehicle or winching
the vehicle off the object.
CAUTION!
Winching or rocking the vehicle off hard objects
increases the risk of underbody damage.
Hill Climbing
Hill climbing requires good judgment and a good under-
standing of your abilities and your vehicle's limitations.
Hills can cause serious problems. Some are just too
steep to climb and should not be attempted. You should
always feel confident with the vehicle and your abilities.
You should always climb hills straight up and down.
Never attempt to climb a hill on an angle.
BEFORE CLIMBING A STEEP HILL
As you approach a hill, consider its grade or steepness.
Determine if it is too steep. Look to see what the trac-
tion is on the hill side trail. Is the trail straight up and
down? What is on top and the other side? Are there
ruts, rocks, branches or other obstacles on the path?
Can you safely recover the vehicle if something goes
wrong? If everything looks good and you feel confident,
shift the transmission into a lower gear with 4L
engaged, and proceed with caution, maintaining your
momentum as you climb the hill.
DRIVING UP HILL
Once you have determined your ability to proceed and
have shifted into the appropriate gear, line your vehicle
up for the straightest possible run. Accelerate with an
easy constant throttle and apply more power as you
start up the hill. Do not race forward into a steep grade;
the abrupt change of grade could cause you to lose
control. If the front end begins to bounce, ease off the
throttle slightly to bring all four tires back on the
ground. As you approach the crest of the hill, ease off
the throttle and slowly proceed over the top. If the
wheels start to slip as you approach the crest of a hill,
ease off the accelerator and maintain headway by turn-
ing the steering wheel no more than a quarter turn
quickly back and forth. This will provide a fresh "bite"