Approaching A Hill - GMC 2001 C3 Owner's Manual

Driving on Off-Road Hills
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Off road driving often takes you up, down or across a hill.
Driving safely on hills requires good judgment and an
understanding of what your vehicle can and can't do.
There are some hills that simply can't be driven, no matter
how well built the vehicle.
CAUTION:
Many hills are simply too steep for any vehicle.
If you drive up them, you will stall. If you drive
down them, you can't control your speed. If you
drive across them, you will roll over. You could be
seriously injured or killed. If you have any doubt
about the steepness, don't drive the hill.

Approaching a Hill

When you approach a hill, you need to decide if it's one
of those hills that's just too steep to climb, descend or
cross. Steepness can be hard to judge.
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On a very small hill, for example, there may be a
smooth, constant incline with only a small change in
elevation where you can easily see all the way to the top.
On a large hill, the incline may get steeper as you near
the top, but you may not see this because the crest of
the hill is hidden by bushes, grass or shrubs.
Here are some other things to consider as you
approach a hill.
D
Is there a constant incline, or does the hill get
sharply steeper in places?
D
Is there good traction on the hillside, or will the
surface cause tire slipping?
D
Is there a straight path up or down the hill so you
won't have to make turning maneuvers?
D
Are there obstructions on the hill that can block your
path (boulders, trees, logs or ruts)?
D
What's beyond the hill? Is there a cliff, an embankment,
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a drop off, a fence? Get out and walk the hill if you don't
know. It's the smart way to find out.
D
Is the hill simply too rough? Steep hills often have
ruts, gullies, troughs and exposed rocks because they
are more susceptible to the effects of erosion.