Gravely 996122 Owner's/Operator's Manual page 12

• Be aware of cargo shifting when stopping or moving.
Make sure all cargo is properly secured and tied down.
Injury could result from loose cargo.
• Avoid sudden stops, starts and turns.
• Always make sure vehicle pathway is clear of all
objects when backing up. Know location of persons
around vehicle and especially location of small
children. Take extra precautions when rear view is
hindered by cargo.
• Do not attach an implement, trailer or other device to
the hitch that will produce negative tongue weight.
• Reduce speed and payload on hilly, rough, wet, slick or
unstable ground.
• Reduce speed when loaded with cargo. Heavy cargo
load takes longer to stop.
• Always make turns at a speed that will maintain control
of vehicle. Never make turns at full speed. Reduce
speed when turning empty and reduce speed even
more when turning loaded. The heavier the cargo load,
the slower the turn should be.
• The 4-post accessory bar is not a certified ROPS (Roll
Over Protection System). Always avoid roll-overs.
• Do not load 4-post accessory bar with heavy
equipment. Rollover could result from such loading.
• Always park on level ground, stop engine, set park
brake (See Shift Selector and Park Brake on page 16)
and remove ignition key before leaving vehicle. Chock
tires if condition warrants.
• Use extreme caution when cresting hills, approaching
blind corners, shrubs, trees or other obstructions that
might limit visibility. Proceed slowly until you are sure
trail conditions immediately ahead are safe. Use extra
care when approaching obstructions that might hide
children.
• Be especially observant of operating area and terrain.
Watch for holes, rocks, or other hidden hazards. Do
not operate vehicle near the edge of drop-offs or
banks.
• Keep front wheels straight when cresting hills or going
over bumps.
• Do not stop, start suddenly or over accelerate on hills.
Loss of control and rollover could result.
• Use extreme caution when descending hills, running
on loose slippery surfaces, or when towing at
maximum capacity. Towing, braking and tractive
capabilities are greatly diminished.
• Avoid changing direction or making sharp steering
corrections on slopes or rollover may occur.
• If this vehicle begins to tip when crossing a slope, turn
front wheels downhill to regain stability and control.
• Do not operate vehicle on slopes over 15
• When crossing a slope on soft terrain, turn front
wheels slightly uphill and maintain a constant speed to
maintain a straight line of travel.
• When descending hills or slopes apply steady
pressure to the foot brake to avoid potential of
freewheeling or runaway.
• Never allow vehicle to coast or free wheel in neutral or
loss of control may result.
• If your vehicle loses power and stops on a hill,
immediately engage foot brake and back slowly down
the hill maintaining a straight downhill line of travel. Do
not attempt to turn vehicle sideways on the hill or a
rollover could result.
• Never operate vehicle without good visibility and
lighting. When traveling at night always use your
headlights and reduce speed according to visibility, trail
and terrain conditions.
• Do not operate this vehicle on highways, public roads,
or where it may be a hazard to faster moving traffic.
• Exercise extreme caution when operating on or
crossing a gravel drive, walks, or roads. Stay alert for
hidden hazards or traffic.
• Avoid water crossings when possible and never cross
a body of water where depth is unknown. Loss of
power will occur if drive belt becomes submerged or
wet. Unnecessary crossing of streams and waterways
erodes shore line and damages water-born habitat. If
you must cross, do it at a point where banks are not
steep and proceed at a slow and steady speed. Do not
travel in water that is higher than the bottom wheel lug
nuts. Water higher than the bottom wheel lug nut can
damage the brake system and get the drive belt wet
stalling the vehicle. However, intermittent stream
crossings where depth of water briefly comes into
contact with bottom of floorboards is acceptable. See
Going Out on the Trail on page 21.
• Never use vehicle for racing and never modify engine
to exceed 25 MPH vehicle speed.
Towing Safety
• Follow all towing instructions in this manual when
towing the Treker behind another vehicle. Do not tow
the vehicle faster than 25 MPH. See Towing Safety on
page 12.
• Beware, tow ropes, cables and chains can break when
pulling another vehicle or object causing serious injury
or death to anyone in line with the whipping action
created when they break. Never jerk when pulling,
always ease into a pull gently. Always stay clear of tow
line. Never be in line with tow line.
Safe Load Capacities
See Vehicle Specifications on page 44.
• Do not exceed total payload capacity of this vehicle.
• Do not pull a trailer or implement exceeding maximum
towing capacity and/or maximum tongue weight.
o
.
Loss of control may result.
• Do not exceed front cargo rack carrying capacity.
• Do not exceed rear cargo box payload capacity.
GB-12