Off-Highway Operation; General Operating And Safety Precautions; Uphill Driving - BOMBARDIER DS650 Operator's Manual

Off-Highway Operation

The very nature of off-highway operation is dangerous. Any terrain, which has not been specially
prepared to carry vehicles, presents an inherent danger where angularity, terrain substance and
exact steepness are unpredictable. The terrain itself presents a continual element of danger,
which must be knowingly accepted by anyone venturing over it.
An operator who takes a vehicle off-road should always exercise the utmost care in selecting
the safest path and keeping close watch on the terrain ahead of him. On no account should the
vehicle be operated by anyone who is not completely familiar with the driving instructions appli-
cable to the vehicle, nor should it be operated on steep or treacherous terrain.

General Operating and Safety Precautions

Care, caution, experience and driving skill are the best precautions against the hazards of ve-
hicle operation.
Whenever there is the slightest doubt that the vehicle can safely negotiate an obstacle or a
particular piece of terrain, always choose an alternate route.
In off-road operation, power and traction, not speed, are important. Never drive faster than vis-
ibility and your own ability to select a safe route permit.
Constantly watch the terrain ahead for sudden changes in slopes or obstacles, such as rocks or
stumps, that may cause loss of stability, resulting in tipover or rollover.
Never operate the vehicle if the controls do not function normally.
When stopped or parked, always apply the parking brake. This is especially important when
parking on a slope. On very steep inclines or if the vehicle is carrying cargo, the wheels should
be blocked using rocks or bricks. Remember to turn the fuel valve to the closed position.

Uphill Driving

Due to configuration, this vehicle has excellent climbing ability, so much that tipover is possible
before traction is lost. For example, its common to encounter terrain situations where the top of
the hill has eroded to a point that the hill peak rises very sharply. The vehicle can readily negotiate
such a condition, however, in doing so, when the front of the vehicle is driven to a point that the
vehicle's balance changes rearward tipover can occur.
The same situation may apply if an embedded object causes the front of the vehicle to climb
more than desired. If such a situation occurs take an alternate route. Be aware of side hilling
dangers when doing so.
It is also wise to know the terrain condition on the other side of the hill or bank. All too often there
exists a sharp drop-off that is impossible to negotiate or descend.
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