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DOWNHILL OPERATION
SUDDEN STOPS
If a Tracked Vehicle is driven down a slope and the
tracks are stopped suddenly, the vehicle's exceptional
traction may cause it to tip over forward.
SAFETY WARNING: IF VEHICLE MOTION IS
ABRUPTLY DECREASED OR STOPPED, A
TRACKED VEHICLE CAN TIP OVER FOR-
WARD. THIS POSSIBILITY BECOMES
GREATER AS THE VEHICLE SPEED AND/OR
DOWN SLOPE INCREASES.
CROSSING OVER AN OBJECT
This illustration is drawn to depict an obstacle situa-
tion in which a Tracked Vehicle can be expected to tip
over. Variations likely to occur in natural terrain, the ap-
proach to the obstacle, operator skill and loading of a
Tracked Vehicle may reduce the size of obstacle or steep-
ness of the slop required, which could cause tipover.
SAFETY WARNING: IF THE VEHICLE'S CEN-
TER OF GRAVITY PASSES THE POINT OF
SUPPORT, A TRACKED VEHICLE WILL BEGIN
TO TIP. UNLESS THE TERRAIN ON THE
DOWNSIDE OF THE OBJECT PROVIDES A
NEW POINT OF SUPPORT, FAR ENOUGH
AHEAD OF THE VEHICLE CENTER OF GRAV-
ITY TO NEGATE THE EFFECT OF INERTIA, A
TRACKED VEHICLE WILL TIP OVER FOR-
WARD.
SAFETY WARNING: ON STEEPER SLOPES,
SMALLER OBSTACLES WILL CAUSE A
TRACKED VEHICLE TO TIP OVER.
SAFETY WANING: OBSTACLES, SOME OF
WHICH MIGHT BE DRIVEN OVER SAFELY
WHILE ON LEVEL TERRAIN, CAN CAUSE A
HAZARD WHILE OPERATING ON SLOPES.
DROPOFFS
This illustration is drawn to depict a dropoff situation in
which a Tracked Vehicle can be expected to flip. Varia-
tions occurring in natural terrain, the approach to the ob-
stacle, operator skill, and loading of a Tracked Vehicle
may reduce the size of the dropoff or the steepness of the
slope, which could cause tipover.
SAFETY WARNING: A TRACKED VEHICLE
MUST BE OPERATED WITH GREAT CARE AT
ALL TIMES AND ON ANY SLOPE. SLOPES
STEEPER THAN 20° SHOULD BE REGARDED
AS ULTRA-HAZARDOUS AND APPROACHED
WITH EXTREME CAUTION. EVEN ON SLOPES
OF LESS THAN 20°, A TRACKED VEHICLE
CAN BE TIPPED OVER BY A SUDDEN STOP,
EXCESSIVE SPEED, UNEVEN TERRAIN, OR
OTHER SPECIAL CONDITIONS OR COMBINA-
TIONS OF SUCH CONDITIONS.
An important variable in determining if a give obstacle
will cause a Tracked Vehicle to tip over is the vertical dis-
tance between the last point of contact and the new point
of support. Note that the new point of support can be on
level ground, a downhill slope, or a steeper downhill slope.
The apparent size of the obstacle or dropoff is not the
same as the drop it causes. Among the many other vari-
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