Renault ALASKAN 2017 Driver's Handbook Manual page 209

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Do not drive across steep slopes. Instead
drive either straight up or straight down the
slopes. Off-road vehicles can tip over side-
ways much more easily than they can forward
or backward.
•
Many hills are too steep for any vehicle. If you
drive up them, you may stall. If you drive down
them, you may not be able to control your
speed. If you drive across them, you may roll
over.
•
Do not shift ranges while driving on downhill
grades as this could cause loss of control of
the vehicle.
•
Stay alert when driving to the top of a hill. At
the top there could be a drop-off or other haz-
ard that could cause an accident.
•
If your engine stalls or you cannot make it to
the top of a steep hill, never attempt to turn
around. Your vehicle could tip or roll over.
Always back straight down in R (Reverse)
range. Never back down in N (Neutral) or with
the clutch pedal depressed (MT model) using
only the brake, as this could cause loss of
control.
•
Heavy braking going down a hill could cause
your brakes to overheat and fade, resulting in
loss of control and an accident. Apply brakes
lightly and use a low range to control your
speed.
•
Unsecured cargo can be thrown around when
driving over rough terrain. Properly secure all
cargo so it will not be thrown forward and
cause injury to you or your passengers.
•
To avoid raising the centre of gravity exces-
sively, do not exceed the rated capacity of the
roof rail (where fitted) and evenly distribute
the load. Secure heavy loads in the cargo area
as far forward and as low as possible. Do not
equip the vehicle with tyres larger than speci-
fied in this manual. This could cause your ve-
hicle to roll over.
•
Do not grip the inside or spokes of the steer-
ing wheel when driving off-road. The steering
wheel could move suddenly and injure your
hands. Instead drive with your fingers and
thumbs on the outside of the rim.
•
Before operating the vehicle, ensure that the
driver and all passengers have their seat belts
fastened.
•
Always drive with the floor mats in place as
the floor may became hot.
•
Lower your speed when encountering strong
crosswinds. With a higher centre of gravity,
your vehicle is more affected by strong side
winds. Slower speeds ensure better vehicle
control.
•
Do not drive beyond the performance capabil-
ity of the tyres, even with 4WD engaged.
•
Do not attempt to raise two wheels off the
ground and shift the transmission to any drive
or reverse position with the engine running.
Doing so may result in drivetrain damage or
unexpected vehicle movement which could
result in serious vehicle damage or personal
injury.
•
Do not attempt to test a 4WD equipped ve-
hicle on a 2-wheel dynamometer or similar
equipment even if the other two wheels are
raised off the ground. Make sure you inform
test facility personnel that your vehicle is
equipped with 4WD before it is placed on a
dynamometer. Using the wrong test equip-
ment may result in drivetrain damage or unex-
pected vehicle movement which could result
in serious vehicle damage or personal injury.
•
When a wheel is off the ground due to an
unlevel surface, do not spin the wheel exces-
sively.
•
Accelerating quickly, sharp steering manoeu-
vres or sudden braking may cause loss of con-
trol.
•
If at all possible, avoid sharp turning manoeu-
vres, particularly at high speeds. Your vehicle
has a higher centre of gravity than a conven-
tional passenger car. The vehicle is not de-
signed for cornering at the same speeds as
conventional passenger cars. Failure to oper-
ate this vehicle correctly could result in loss
of control and/or a rollover accident.
•
Always use tyres of the same type, size, brand,
construction (bias, bias-belted or radial), and
tread pattern on all four wheels. Install tyre
chains on the rear wheels when driving on
slippery roads and drive carefully.
Starting and driving
5-7