Driving Downhill; Cruise Control - Mercedes-Benz G-Class Operator's Manual

i Hill start assist will aid you when pulling
away on a hill.
For further information, see "Hill start
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assist" ( page 117).
Maximum gradient-climbing capability
On good road surface conditions, the
maximum gradient-climbing capability is 80%,
which corresponds to an approach/
departure angle of 38°. Note that the
vehicle's gradient-climbing capability
depends on the off-road conditions.
Accelerate carefully and make sure that the
wheels do not spin when driving on steep
terrain.
i
If the load on the front axle is reduced
when pulling away on a steep uphill slope,
the front wheels have a tendency to spin.
4ETS detects this and brakes the wheels
accordingly. The rear wheel torque is
increased, making it easier to drive off.
Brow of hill
When driving on an uphill gradient, reduce
pressure slightly on the accelerator
immediately before reaching the top of the hill
(do not shift the transmission to position N).
Use the vehicle's own impetus to drive over
the top of the hill.
This style of driving prevents:
the vehicle from lifting off the ground on the
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brow of a hill
loss of traction
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the vehicle from traveling too quickly down
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the other side

Driving downhill

Before tackling steep downhill gradients,
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select shift range 1 (
This way you use the engine's braking
effect to reduce the speed. If this is not
sufficient, brake gently. When doing so,
Y page 121).
make sure that the vehicle is facing in the
direction of the line of fall.
Observe the notes on driving in
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mountainous terrain (
Drive slowly.
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Do not drive at an angle down steep
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inclines. Steer into the line of fall and drive
with the front wheels aligned straight.
Otherwise, the vehicle could slip sideways,
tip and roll over.
Check that the brakes are working normally
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after a long downhill stretch.
i The special off-road ABS(
enables accurate, brief and repeated
locking of the front wheels, causing them
to dig into the loose ground. Note that when
the front wheels are fully braked, they slide
easily over the surface of the ground,
making it difficult to steer.
Driving systems

Cruise control

Important safety notes
Cruise control maintains a constant road
speed for you. On long and steep downhill
gradients, especially if the vehicle is laden,
you must select shift range 1, 2 or 3 in good
time. By doing so, you will make use of the
braking effect of the engine, which relieves
the load on the brake system and prevents
the brakes from overheating and wearing too
quickly.
Use cruise control only if road and traffic
conditions make it appropriate to maintain a
steady speed for a prolonged period. You can
set any road speed above 20 mph
(30 km/h).
G
WARNING
The cruise control is a convenience system
designed to assist the driver during vehicle
operation. The driver is and must always
Driving systems
Y page 139).
Y page 54)
139
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