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Driving Guidelines
Off-Road Driving with Your Four-wheel Drive Vehicle
This off-road guide is for vehicles that have four-wheel drive.
Also, see “Anti-lock Brakes”
in the Index.
If your vehicle doesn’t have four-wheel drive, you shouldn’t drive off-road
unless you’re on
a level, solid surface.
Off-road driving can be great
fun. But it does have some definite hazards.
The greatest of these is the terrain itself.
“Off-roading” means you’ve left the great North American road system
behind. Traffic lanes aren’t marked. Curves aren’t banked. There are
no
road signs. Surfaces can be slippery, rough, uphill or downhill. In short,
you’ve gone right back to nature.
Off-road driving involves some new skills. And that’s
why it’s very
important that you read this guide. You’ll find many driving tips and
suggestions. These will help make your off-road driving safer and more
enjoyable.
Before You Go Off-Roading
There are some things to do before you go out. For example, be sure to have
all necessary maintenance and service work done. Be sure you read
all the
information about your four-wheel drive vehicle
in this manual. Is there
enough fuel? Is the spare tire
fully inflated? Are the fluid levels up where
they should be? What are the local laws that apply
to off-roading where
you’ll
be driving’? If you don’t know, you should check with law
enforcement people
in the area. Will you be on someone’s private land‘? If
so, be sure to get the necessary permission.
Loading Your Vehicle for Off-Road Driving
There are some important things to remember about how to load your
vehicle.
0 The heaviest things should be on the load floor and forward of your
rear axle. Put heavier items as far forward as you can.
Be sure the load is secured properly, so driving on the off-road terrain
doesn’t toss things around.
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Jack Storage
Your jack and wheel ratchet are behind the passenger seat. Turn the wing
nut to the left and remove the cover if there is one.
Spare Tire Storage-Underbody Carrier
Remember, never remove or restow a tire from or to a stowage position
under the vehicle while the vehicle is supported only by a
jack.
Spare Tire
Your spare tire may be
mounted underneath
the rear
of the vehicle,
OR;
it may be mounted to
the inside
of the truck
bed on the driver’s
side.
If you have a chassis cab, refer to the information from the body
supplier/installer.
The spare tire is
a full size tire, like the other tires on your vehicle.
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To Remove the Spare Tire
UP Marking
The ratchet has an UP and a DOWN marking.
Attach the ratchet,
with the
DOWN
marking facing you, to
the wheel wrench.
Put the chisel end of the wheel wrench on an angle through the hole in the
rear
bumper. Be sure the wheel wrench connects into the hoist shaft.
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from under the
vehicle.
When the tire has
been lowered, tilt the
retainer at the end of
the cable and pull it
through the wheel
opening.
Pickup Bed Mounting
To remove a pickup bed mounted spare tire:
Turn the nut to
the left until it
comes
off.
Pull the tire off
the bolt and
remove it from
the bed.
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That will lift the jack head a little. Before raising the vehicle, do the
following things.
Put your spare tire near the flat tire.
Remove the wheel trim.
Be careful; the rim edges may be sharp. Don't
try to remove it with your
bare hands.
- If your vehicle has
wheel nut caps, use
the wheel wrench and
ratchet, with
DOWN
facing you, to unscrew
and take them off.
Then take the hub cap off.
If the wheel has a trim ring, remove it by using the flat end of the wheel
wrench.
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NOTICE:
Raising your vehicle with the jack improperly positioned will
damage the vehicle or may allow the vehicle to fall
off the jack.
Be sure to fit the jack lift head into the proper location before
raising your vehicle.
Front Position
I
Raise the vehicle by rotating the ratchet to the right. Make sure the UP
marking faces you. Use the jack handle extentions if the flat is on the rear of
the vehicle. Raise the vehicle far enough off the ground so there is enough
room for the spare tire to fit.
Remove all the wheel
nuts and take off the
flat tire.
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Remove any rust or
dirt from the wheel
bolts, mounting surfaces and spare
wheel. Place the spare
on the wheel
mounting surface.
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Storing the Tire and Jack
Storing Tire and Jack -Underbody Carrier Mounted Spare Tire
8
7
1. Hoist Assembly
2. Ratchet
3. Wheel Wrench
4. Hoist Shaft
5. Valve Stem (Pointed Down)
6. Spare Tire
7. Retainer
8. Hoist Cable
Put the tire on the ground at the rear of the vehicle, with the valve stem
pointed down.
Pull the retainer through the wheel center. Attach the ratchet,\
with the
UP
side facing you, to the socket. Put the flat end of the socket into the hole in
the rear bumper.
Turn the ratchet until the tire is raised against the underside
of the vehicle.
YOU will hear two “clicks” when the tire is secure, but pull on the tire to
make sure.
Return the jack, ratchet, socket and jack extensions to their location behind
the passengers’ seat. Store the jack; and jacking tools
as shown in the
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