Driving Downhill - GMC 2008 Yukon Denali Owner's Manual

If, after stalling, you try to back down the hill and decide
you just cannot do it, set the parking brake, put the
transmission in PARK (P) and turn off the engine. Leave
the vehicle and go get some help. Exit on the uphill
side and stay clear of the path the vehicle would take if
it rolled downhill.

Driving Downhill

When off-roading takes you downhill, you will want to
consider a number of things:
•
How steep is the downhill? Will I be able to maintain
vehicle control?
•
What is the surface like? Smooth? Rough?
Slippery? Hard-packed dirt? Gravel?
•
Are there hidden surface obstacles? Ruts? Logs?
Boulders?
•
What is at the bottom of the hill? Is there a hidden
creek bank or even a river bottom with large rocks?
If you decide you can go down a hill safely, then try to
keep your vehicle headed straight down, and use a
low gear. This way, engine drag can help the brakes and
they will not have to do all the work. Descend slowly,
keeping your vehicle under control at all times.
CAUTION:
{
Heavy braking when going down a hill can
cause your brakes to overheat and fade. This
could cause loss of control and a serious
accident. Apply the brakes lightly when
descending a hill and use a low gear to keep
vehicle speed under control.
There some things not to do when driving down a hill.
These are important because, if you ignore them,
you could lose control and have a serious accident:
•
When driving downhill, avoid turns that take
you across the incline of the hill. A hill that is not too
steep to drive down may be too steep to drive
across. You could roll over if you do not drive
straight down.
•
Never go downhill with the transmission in
NEUTRAL (N). This is called "free-wheeling." The
brakes will have to do all the work and could
overheat and fade.
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