Driving Uphill - GMC 2006 Yukon XL Owner's Manual

Approaching a Hill
When you approach a hill, you need to decide if it is
one of those hills that is just too steep to climb, descend
or cross. Steepness can be hard to judge. On a very
small hill, for example, there may be a smooth, constant
incline with only a small change in elevation where
you can easily see all the way to the top. On a large
hill, the incline may get steeper as you near the top,
but you may not see this because the crest of the hill
is hidden by bushes, grass or shrubs.
Here are some other things to consider as you
approach a hill.
•
Is there a constant incline, or does the hill get
sharply steeper in places?
•
Is there good traction on the hillside, or will the
surface cause tire slipping?
•
Is there a straight path up or down the hill so
you will not have to make turning maneuvers?
•
Are there obstructions on the hill that can block
your path, such as boulders, trees, logs, or ruts?
•
What is beyond the hill? Is there a cliff, an
embankment, a drop-off, a fence? Get out and
walk the hill if you do not know. It is the smart way
to find out.
•
Is the hill simply too rough? Steep hills often have
ruts, gullies, troughs and exposed rocks because
they are more susceptible to the effects of erosion.

Driving Uphill

Once you decide you can safely drive up the hill, you
need to take some special steps.
•
Use a low gear and get a firm grip on the
steering wheel.
•
Get a smooth start up the hill and try to maintain
your speed. Do not use more power than you
need, because you do not want your wheels to
start spinning or sliding.
•
Try to drive straight up the hill if at all possible.
If the path twists and turns, you might want to
find another route.
CAUTION:
{
Turning or driving across steep hills can be
dangerous. You could lose traction, slide
sideways, and possibly roll over. You could be
seriously injured or killed. When driving up
hills, always try to go straight up.
4-23