
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine CAUTION I 
If you  skip  more than one  gear  when  you  downshift,  you  could  lose 
control  of  your  vehicle.  And  you  could injure  yourself  or  others. 
NOTICE 
Locking  Rear Axle 
If  you  have  this  feature,  your  rear  axle  can  give  you  additio\
nal  traction  on 
snow,  mud,  ice,  sand  or  gravel.  It  works  like  a  standard  axle\
  most  of  the 
time,  but  one  of the  rear  wheels  has  no  traction  and  the  other  does,  the 
locking  feature  will  allow  the wheel  with  traction  to move  the  vehicle. 
Parking  Brake 
KO424 
To set  the  parking  brake: 
Hold  the  regular  brake  pedal  down  with  your  right  foot.  Push  \
down  the 
parking  brake  pedal  with  your  left  foot. 
If the  ignition  is  on,  the  brake  system 
warning  light  will  come  on. 
2-21   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Features & Controls 
Manual  Transfer  Case 
I 
PO1 63 
The  transfer  case  shift  lever  is  on  the  floor to the  right of the  driver.  Use  this 
lever 
to shift  into  and  out  of four-wheel  drive.  An indicator  light  near  the  lever 
shows  you  the  transfer  case  settings: 
2 WHEEL 
4 HIGH 
N SET  PARKING  BRAKE 
4 LOW 
The  front  axle  portion 
of the  diagram  on  the  indicator  will  light up  when  you 
shift  into four-wheel  drive.  A  slight  delay  between  shifting  and  the  patte\
rn's 
lighting  is normal. 
If the  pattern  does  not  light  up,  or if the  front  axle does 
not  go out  after  you  shift  out 
of four-wheel  drive,  have  your dealer  check 
your  system.  Turn  the  dial  above  your  headlight  switch 
to the  left to dim  your 
transfer  case  indicator  light  when  your  headlights  or  parking  l\
ights  are  on. 
2 WHEEL:  This  setting  is  for  driving  in most  street  and  highway  situations. 
Your  front  axle  is  not  engaged  in  two-wheel  drive. 
4 HIGH:  This  setting  engages  your  front  axle to help  drive  your  vehicle. 
Use 
4 HIGH  when  you  need  extra  traction,  such  as  on  snowy  or  icy  roads, \
or  in most  off-road  situations. 
N SET  PARKING  BRAKE:  Shift to this  neutral  setting  only  when  your  vehicle 
needs 
to be  towed. 
2-28 
I   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Features & Contmls 
t 
1 CALITION I. - .. ;Fg ,. L A Cruise  Control  can  be  dangerous  where  you  can't  drive  safely  a\
t 
a  steady  speed. 
So, don't  use  your  Cruise  Control  on  winding 
roads 
or in  heavy  traffic. 
Cruise  Control  can  be  dangerous  on  slippery  roads.  On  such 
roads,  fast  changes  in tire  traction  can  cause  needless  wheel 
spinning,  and  you  could  lose  control.  Don't  use  Cruise  Control \
on  slippery  roads. 
To Set  Cruise  Control 
Move  the  Cruise  Control  switch  to ON. 
1 CAUTION 
A If you  leave  your  Cruise  Control  switch  on  when  you're  not  using \
k Cruise,  you  might  hit  a  button  and go into  Cruise  when  you  don't 
want  to.  You  could be startled  and  even  lose  control.  Keep  the 
Cruise  Control  switch 
OFF until  you  want  to use  it. 
Get  up  to  the  speed  you  want. 
Push  in the  set  button  at  the  end  of the  lever  and  release it. 
Take  your  foot  off  the  accelerator  pedal. 
2-42   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your  Driving and the Road 
Steering  Tips 
Driving  on  Curves 
It’s  important to take  curves  at  a  reasonable  speed. 
A lot  of the  “driver  lost  control”  accidents  mentioned  on  the  news \
 happen  on 
curves.  Here’s  why: 
Experienced  driver  or  beginner,  each  of  us is subject  to the  same  laws  of 
physics  when driving  on  curves.  The  traction  of the  tires  against  the  road 
surface  makes  it  possible  for  the  vehicle  to change  its  path  when  you  turn 
the  front  wheels. 
If there’s  no  traction,  inertia will keep  the  vehicle  going  in 
the  same  direction. 
If you’ve  ever  tried  to  steer  a  vehicle  on  wet  ice,  you’ll \
understand  this. 
The  traction  you  can  get  in a  curve  depends  on  the  condition  of  your  tires 
and  the  road  surface,  the  angle  at  which the  curve  is  banked,  and  your 
speed.  While  you’re  in a  curve,  speed  is the  one  factor  you  can  control. 
Suppose  you’re  steering  through  a  sharp  curve.  Then  you  sudd\
enly  apply  the 
brakes.  Both  control  systems-steering  and  braking-have  to do  their  work 
where  the  tires  meet  the  road.  Adding  the  hard  braking  can  de\
mand  too 
much  at  those  places.  You can  lose  control.  The  same thing  can  happen 
if 
you’re  steering  through  a  sharp  curve  and  you  suddenly  accel\
erate.  Those 
two  control  systems-steering  and  acceleration-can  overwhelm  those  places 
where  the  tires  meet  the  road  and  make  you  lose  control. 
What  should  you 
do if this  ever  happens?  Let  up  on  the  brake  or  accelerator 
pedal,  steer  the  vehicle  the  way  you  want it to  go,  and  slow  down. 
Speed  limit  signs  near  curves  warn  that  you  should  adjust  your\
  speed.  Of 
course,  the  posted  speeds  are  based  on  good  weather  and  road  \
conditions.  Under  less  favorable  conditions  you’ll  want  to go  slower. 
If you  need to reduce  your  speed  as  you  approach  a  curve, do it before  you 
enter  the  curve,  while  your  front  wheels are  straight  ahead.  Try  to adjust  your 
speed 
so you  can  “drive”  through  the  curve.  Maintain  a  reasonable, \
 steady 
speed.  Wait  to accelerate  until  you  are  out  of the  curve,  and  then  accelerate 
gently  into the  straightaway. 
When  you  drive  into  a  curve  at  night,  it’s  harder  to see  the  road  ahead  of 
you  because  it  bends  away  from  the  straight  beams  of  your  lights. This is 
one 
good reason  to drive  slower. 
Steering  in  Emergencies 
There  are  times  when  steering  can  be  more  effective  than  braki\
ng.  For 
example,  you  come  over  a  hill and  find  a  truck  stopped  in  your  lane,  or  a 
4-1 %   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your Driving  and the Road 
Don’t  overtake  a  slowly  moving  vehicle  too  rapidly.  Even  tho\
ugh  the 
brake  lights  are  not  flashing,  it  may  be  slowing  down or  starting  to  turn. 
If  you’re  being  passed,  make  it  easy  for  the  following  driv\
er  to  get  ahead 
of  you.  Perhaps  you  can  ease  a  little  to  the  right. 
Loss of Control 
Let’s  review  what  driving  experts  say  about  what  happens  whe\
n  the  three 
control  systems  (brakes,  steering  and  acceleration)  don’t  ha\
ve  enough  friction 
where  the  tires  meet  the  road  to 
do what the  driver  has  asked. 
In  any  emergency,  don’t  give  up.  Keep  trying  to steer,  and  constantly  seek  an 
escape  route  or  area  of  less  danger. 
Skidding 
In  a  skid,  a  driver  can  lose  control  of the  vehicle.  Defensive  drivers  avoid 
most  skids  by  taking  reasonable  care  suited  to  existing  conditi\
ons,  and  by  not 
“overdriving”  those  conditions.  But  skids  are  always  possib\
le. 
The  three  types 
of skids  correspond  to your  vehicle’s  three  control  systems. 
In  the  braking  skid,  your  wheels  aren’t  rolling.  In the  steering  or cornering 
skid,  too  much  speed  or  steering  in  a  curve  causes  tires  to  \
slip  and  lose 
cornering  force.  And  in the  acceleration  skid,  too  much  throttle  causes  the 
driving  wheels  to spin. 
A cornering  skid  and  an acceleration  skid  are  best  handled  by  easing  your 
foot  off  the  accelerator  pedal.  If  your  vehicle  starts  to slide  (as  when  you  turn 
a  corner  on  a  wet,  snow-  or  ice-covered  road),  ease  your  foo\
t 
off the 
accelerator  pedal  as  soon  as  you  feel  the  tires  start  to slide.  Quickly  steer 
the  way  you  want  the  vehicle  to  go.  If  you  start  steering  quickly  enough,  your 
vehicle  will  straighten  out. 
As it  does,  straighten  the  front  wheels. 
Of  course,  traction is reduced  when  water,  snow,  ice,  gravel,  or  other  material 
is  on  the  road.  For  safety,  you’ll  want  to slow  down  and  adjust  your  driving  to 
these  conditions. 
It is  important  to slow  down  on  slippery  surfaces  because 
stopping  distance  will  be  longer  and  vehicle  control  more  limit\
ed. 
While  driving  on  a  surface  with  reduced  traction,  try  your  bes\
t  to  avoid 
sudden  steering,  acceleration,  or  braking  (including  engine  brak\
ing  by shifting 
to  a  lower  gear).  Any  sudden  move  could cause  the  tires  to slide.  You  may 
not  realize  the  surface  is  slippery  until  your  vehicle  is skidding.  Learn  to 
recognize  warning  clues-such  as  enough  water,  ice or  packed  snow  on  the 
road  to  make 
a “mirrored  surface”-and  slow  down  when  you  have  any 
doubt. 
4-22   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Controlling  your  vehicle is the  key  to successful  off-road  driving.  One of the 
best  ways  to control  your  vehicle  is  to control  your  speed.  Here  are  some 
things  to keep  in mind.  At  higher  speeds: 
you  approach  things  faster  and  you  have  less time  to scan  the terrain 
for  obstacles. 
you  have  less time  to react. 
you  have  more  vehicle  bounce  when  you  drive  over  obstacles. 
you’ll  need  more  distance  for  braking,  especially  since  you’\
re  on  an 
unpaved  surface. 
I CAUTION 
A When  you’re  driving  off  road,  bouncing  and  quick  changes  in direc- 
1 tion  can  easily  throw  you  out of position.  This  could cause  you  to 
lose  control  and  crash.  So,  whether  you’re  driving  on  or  off  the  road, 
you  and  your  passengers  should  wear  safety  belts. 
Scanning  the  Terrain 
Off-road  driving  can  take you  over  many  different  kinds  of terrain.  You need 
to  be  familiar  with  the  terrain  and  its  many  different  features.  \
Here  are  some 
things 
to consider. 
Surface  Conditions 
Off-roading  can  take you  over  hard-packed  dirt,  gravel,  rocks,  grass,  sand, 
mud,  snow  or  ice.  Each of  these  surfaces  affects  the  steering,  acceleration, 
and  braking  of  your  truck  in different  ways.  Depending  upon  the  kind of 
surface  you  are  on, you  may  experience  slipping,  sliding,  wheel  spinning, 
delayed  acceleration,  poor  traction,  and  longer  braking  distances\
. 
Surface  Obstacles 
Unseen  or  hidden obstacles  can  be  hazardous.  A  rock,  log,  hole,  rut,  or 
bump  can  startle  you 
if you’re  not  prepared  for  them.  Often  these  obstacles 
are  hidden  by grass,  bushes,  snow  or  even  the rise  and  fall of the  terrain 
itself.  Here  are some  things  to consider: 
Is the  path  ahead  clear? 
Will the surface  texture  change  abruptly  up  ahead? 
Does the travel  take you  uphill or downhill?  (There’s  more  discussion  of 
Will  you  have to stop  suddenly  or change  direction  quickly? 
these  subjects 
later.) 
4-25   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine on  beaches  or  sand  dunes)  your  tires  will  tend  to  sink  into \
 the  sand.  This has  an  effect  on  steering,  accelerating,  and  braking.  You  may  want to  reduce 
the  air  pressure  in  your  tires  slightly  when  driving  on  sand. \
 This  will  improve 
traction. 
Hard  packed  snow  and  ice  offer  the  worst  tire traction.  On  these  surfaces,  it’s 
very  easy  to  lose  control.  On  wet  ice,  for  example,  the  tract\
ion 
is so poor 
that  you  will  have  difficulty  accelerating.  And 
if you do get  moving,  poor 
steering  and  difficult  braking  can  cause  you  to slide  out  of control. 
nds  or  rivers  can  be  dangerous. 
~;~:.cx :. 2’’ 
nderwater  springs,  currents  under  the  ice,  or  sudden  thaws  can \
25 
weaken  the  ice.  Your vehicle  could  fall  through  the  ice  and  you  ad. 
. your  passengers  could  drown.  Drive  your  vehicle  on  safe  surface\
s 
~~ : . I’ .: . :j/- 
,. ,/ ., ‘!...,I:, I - 
Driving  In  Water 
Light  rain  causes  no  special  off-road  driving  problems.  But  hea\
vy  rain  can 
mean  flash  flooding,  and  flood  waters  demand  extreme  caution. 
Find  out  how  deep  the  water  is  before  you  drive  through 
it. If it’s  deep 
enough  to cover  your  wheel  hubs,  axles,  or  exhaust  pipe,  don’t 
try it-you 
probably  won’t  get  through.  Also,  water  that  deep  can  damage\
  your  axle  and 
other  vehicle  parts. 
If the  water  isn’t  too  deep,  then  drive  through  it slowly. At fast  speeds,  water 
splashes  on  your  ignition  system  and  your  vehicle  can  stall.  S\
talling  can  also 
occur 
if you  get  your  tailpipe  under  water.  And,  as  long  as  your  tailp\
ipe  is 
under  water,  you’ll  never  be  able  to  start  your  engine.  Whe\
n  you  go  through 
water,  remember  that  when  your  brakes  get  wet, 
it may  take  you  longer  to 
stop. 
A 
Driving  through  rushing  water  can  be dangerous.  Deep  water can 
sweep your  vehilcle  downstream and you  and  your  passengers  could 
drown. 
If it’s  only  inches  deep, it can still wash away the ground 
from under  your tires, and you  could lose traction  and roll the vehicle 
over. 
Don’t drive through  rushing  water. 
4-33   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If  you  ever  replace  your  tires  with  those  not  having a TPC Spec  number, 
make  sure  they  are  the  same  size,  load  range,  speed  rating  an\
d  construction 
type  (bias,  bias-belted  or  radial)  as  your  original  tires. 
Mixing  tires 
could cause  you  to lose control while  driving. If you mix 
tires of different  types  (like  radial  and  bias-belted  tires)  the  vehicl\
e 
may nlot  handle  properly,  an'd  you could have  a  cras'h.  Be  sure  to 
use  the  same  size  'and  type  tires on  all  four  wheels. 
It's all right to drive  with  your  compact  spare  (if  you have one). It 
I was developed  for  use  on  your  vehicle. 
Uniform  Tire  Quality  Grading 
The  following  information  relates  to  the  system  developed  by  th\
e  United 
States  National  Highway  Traffic  Safety  Administration  which  grade\
s  tires  by 
treadwear,  traction  and  temperature  performance.  (This  applies  o\
nly  to 
vehicles 
sold in  the  United  States.) 
Treadwear 
The  treadwear  grade  is  a comparative  rating  based  on  the  wear  rate  of the 
tire  when  tested  under  controlled  conditions  on  a specified  government  test 
course.  For  example,  a  tire graded 
150 would  wear  one  and  a half (1 -1/2) 
times  as  well  on  the  government  course  as  a  tire graded 100. The  relative 
performance  of tires  depends  upon  the  actual  conditions  of their  use, 
however,  and  may  depart  significantly  from  the  norm  due  to  var\
iations  in 
driving  habits,  service  practices  and  differences  in  road  charac\
teristics  and 
climate. 
Traction-A, B, C 
The  traction  grades,  from  highest  to  lowest  are: A, B, and C. They  represent 
the  tire's  ability  to  stop  on  wet  pavement  as  measured  under  controlled 
conditions  on  specified  government  test  surfaces  of asphalt  and  concrete. 
A 
tire  marked C may  have  poor  traction  performance. 
Warning:  The  traction  grade  assigned  to  this  tire is  based  on  braking 
(straight-ahead)  traction  tests  and  does  not  include  cornering \
 (turning)  traction. 
Temperature-A, B, C 
The  temperature  grades  are A (the  highest), B, and C, representing  the  tire's 
resistance 
to the  generation  of heat  and  its  ability  to  dissipate  heat  when 
tested  under  controlled  conditions  on a specified  indoor  laboratory  test  wheel, 
Sustained  high  temperature  can  cause  the  material  of the  tire 
to degenerate 
and  reduce  tire  life, and  excessive  temperature  can  lead  to  sudden  tire 
6-47