Ford Escape Owner's Manual page 121

Driving
Deep snow
When driving through deep snow, shift to a low gear and maintain steady
pressure on the accelerator. This will help prevent spinning the wheels
while maintaining sufficient momentum to keep from bogging down.
Using tire chains will also help.
Never drive with chains on the front tires of 4WD vehicles
without also putting them on the rear tires. This could cause the
rear to slide and swing around during braking.
Do not exceed 40 km/h (25 mph) when the chains are fitted. Remove
the chains immediately on roads free of snow and ice.
Consult an authorised snow chain seller/hirer to obtain chains of the
correct size for your vehicle and advice regarding snow chain fitment.
If snow chains are fitted to your vehicle, ensure that they are fitted
properly. Incorrectly fitted chains may cause damage to your vehicle.
Driving on hills
Although natural obstacles may make it necessary to travel diagonally up
or down a hill or steep incline, you should always try to drive straight up
or straight down.
• Avoid driving crosswise or turning on steep slopes or hills. A
danger lies in losing traction, slipping sideways and possibly rolling
over. Whenever driving on a hill, determine beforehand the route you
will use.
• Examine the conditions on the other side of a hill before driving over
the crest.
• Do not drive in reverse over a hill without the aid of an observer.
When climbing a steep slope or hill,
start in a lower gear rather than
downshifting to a lower gear from a
higher gear once the ascent has
started. This reduces strain on the
engine and the possibility of stalling.
If you do stall out, do not try to
turn around because you might roll
over. It is better to back down to a
safe location.
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