Driving
Across
an
Incline
Sooner or later, an off-road trail will probably
go
across
the incline of a.hill. If this happens,
you
have to decide
whether to try to drive across the incline. Here are some
things to consider:
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0
A
hill that can be driven straight up or down may be
too steep to drive across. When you go straight. up or
down a hill, the length of the wheel base (the
distance from the front wheels to the rear wheels)
reduces the likelihood the vehicle will tumble end
over end. But when you drive across an incline, the
much more narrow track width (the distance between
the left and right wheels) may not prevent the vehicle
from tilting and rolling over. Also, driving across an
incline puts more weight on the downhill wheels.
This could cause a downhill slide or a rollover.
Surface conditions can be a problem when you drive
across a hill. Loose gravel, muddy spots, or even wet
grass can cause your.tires to slip sideways, downhill.
If the vehicle slips sideways, it can hit something
that will trip it (a rock, a rut, etc.) and roll over.
0
Hidden obstacles can make the steepness of
the
incline
even worse.
If
you drive across a rock with the uphill
wheels, or if the downhill wheels drop into a rut or
depression, your vehicle can tilt even more.
For reasons like these,
you
need
to
decide carefully
whether to
try
to drive across
an
incline. Just because the
trail goes across the incline doesn’t mean
you
have to
drive it. The last vehicle to
try
it might have rolled over.
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A
CAUTION:
Driving across an incline that’s too steep will
make your vehicle roll over. You could be
seriously injured or killed.
If
you have any doubt
about the steepness
of
the incline, don’t drive
across it. Find another route instead.
4-23
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