1-18
Q:What's wrong with this?
A:The belt is twisted across the body.
CAUTION:
You can be seriously injured by a twisted belt. In
a crash, you wouldn't have the full width of the
belt to spread impact forces. If a belt is twisted,
make it straight so it can work properly, or ask
your dealer to fix it.
4-23 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:
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.
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.
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.
Q:What if I'm driving across an incline that's not
too steep, but I hit some loose gravel and start to
slide downhill. What should I do?
A:If you feel your vehicle starting to slide sideways,
turn downhill. This should help straighten out the
vehicle and prevent the side slipping. However, a
much better way to prevent this is to get out and
ªwalk the courseº so you know what the surface is
like before you drive it.
4-42
CAUTION:
Things you put inside your vehicle can strike
and injure people in a sudden stop or turn, or
in a crash.
Put things in the cargo area of your vehicle.
Try to spread the weight evenly.
Never stack heavier things, like suitcases,
inside the vehicle so that some of them are
above the tops of the seats.
Don't leave an unsecured child restraint in
your vehicle.
When you carry something inside the
vehicle, secure it whenever you can.
There's also important loading information for off-road
driving in this manual. See ªLoading Your Vehicle for
Off
-Road Drivingº in the Index.
Payload
The payload capacity is shown on the Certification/Tire
label. This is the maximum load capacity that your
vehicle can carry. If you are using E85 ethanol fuel the
maximum payload should not exceed 1000 lbs (454 kg).
Be sure to include the weight of the occupants as part of
your load. If you added any accessories or equipment
after your vehicle left the factory, remember to subtract
the weight of these things from the payload. Your dealer
can help you with this.
2-Tiered Loading
By positioning four 2, x 6, wooden planks across the
width of the pickup box, you can create an upper load
platform. The planks must be inserted in the pickup box
depressions. The length of the planks must allow for at
least a 3/4 inch (2 cm) bearing surface on each end of
the plank.
When using this upper load platform, be sure the load is
securely tied down to prevent it from shifting. The
load's center of gravity should be positioned in a zone
over the rear axle. The zone is located in the area
between the front of each wheel well and the rear of
each wheel well. The center of gravity height must not
extend above the top of the pickup box flareboard.
6-51 Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable on the
tire sidewall between tread shoulder and maximum
section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, which grades tires by
treadwear, traction and temperature performance.
(This applies only to vehicles sold in the United States.)
The grades are molded on the sidewalls of most
passenger car tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading
system does not apply to deep tread, winter
-type snow
tires, space
-saver or temporary use spare tires, tires with
nominal rim diameters of 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm),
or to some limited
-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors passenger
cars and light trucks may vary with respect to these
grades, they must also conform to federal safety
requirements and additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC) standards.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 variations in driving habits, service practices and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction
-- AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A,
B, and C. Those grades 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 straight
-ahead braking
traction tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.
6-53
Each new wheel should have the same load-carrying
capacity, diameter, width, offset and be mounted the
same way as the one it replaces.
If you need to replace any of your wheels, wheel bolts
or wheel nuts, replace them only with new GM original
equipment parts. This way, you will be sure to have the
right wheel, wheel bolts and wheel nuts for your vehicle.
CAUTION:
Using the wrong replacement wheels, wheel bolts
or wheel nuts on your vehicle can be dangerous.
It could affect the braking and handling of your
vehicle, make your tires lose air and make you
lose control. You could have a collision in which
you or others could be injured. Always use the
correct wheel, wheel bolts and wheel nuts
for replacement.
NOTICE:
The wrong wheel can also cause problems with
bearing life, brake cooling, speedometer or
odometer calibration, headlamp aim, bumper
height, vehicle ground clearance and tire or tire
chain clearance to the body and chassis.
See ªChanging a Flat Tireº in the Index for
more information.
Used Replacement Wheels
CAUTION:
Putting a used wheel on your vehicle is
dangerous. You can't know how it's been used or
how far it's been driven. It could fail suddenly
and cause an accident. If you have to replace a
wheel, use a new GM original equipment wheel.
6-73 Vehicle Dimensions*
Wheelbase
Reg Cab Short Box 108.3 inches (275.1 cm). . . . . .
Reg Cab Long Box 117.9 inches (299.5 cm). . . . . .
Extended Cab 122.9 inches (312.2 cm). . . . . . . . . .
Crew Cab 122.9 inches (312.2 cm). . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Length
Reg Cab Short Box 189.0 inches (480.1 cm). . . . . .
Reg Cab Long Box 204.9 inches (520.4 cm). . . . . .
Extended Cab 203.6 inches (517.1 cm). . . . . . . . . .
Crew Cab 202.8 inches (515.0 cm). . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Height
2WD Reg Cab 62.1 inches (157.7 cm). . . . . . . . . . .
2WD Ext Cab 62.2 inches (158.0 cm). . . . . . . . . . .
4WD Reg Cab Short Box 63.8 inches (162.1 cm). .
4WD Reg Cab Long Box 65.4 inches (166.1 cm). .
4WD Extended Cab 63.8 inches (162.1 cm). . . . . .
4WD Crew Cab 67.6 inches (171.7 cm). . . . . . . . . .
Width67.9 inches (172.5 cm) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Front Tread
2WD
0.0 Wheel Offset 54.5 inches (138.4 cm). . . . . . . . .
-6.4 Wheel Offset 55.0 inches (139.6 cm). . . . . . . .
4WD
15
-inch Tires 57.3 inches (145.4 cm). . . . . . . . . . . .
31 x 10.5 Tires 61.2 inches (155.4 cm). . . . . . . . . . .
Rear Tread
2WD 54.7 inches (138.8 cm). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4WD
15
-inch Tires 55.1 inches (139.9 cm). . . . . . . . . . . .
31 x 10.5 Tires 59.1 inches (150.0 cm). . . . . . . . . . .
*Figures reflect base equipment only.