2001 HONDA PASSPORT Owners Manual

Ge
t t o Kno w You r Vehicl e
Becaus e ever y vehicl e operate s a
littl e differently , b e sur e t o rea d
you r owner' s manua l an d ge t
acquainte d wit h you r vehicl e
befor e yo u driv e off-road . I
f yo u hav e 4-whee l drive , yo u ca n
us e i t fo r bette r tractio n an d greate r
mobilit y off-road , bu t remembe r t o
switc h bac k t o 2-whee l driv e befor e
yo u retur n t o pavement .
Whethe r yo u hav e 2-whee l o r
4-whee l drive , yo u nee d t o kno w
tha t you r vehicl e ha s highe r groun d
clearanc e tha n passenge r car s
designe d fo r us e onl y o n pavement .
Highe r groun d clearanc e ha s man y
advantage s off-road . I t allow s yo u
t o trave l ove r bumps , obstacle s an d
roug h terrai n an d help s protec t
undercarriag e components . Sinc e
yo u si t highe r of f th e ground , yo u
hav e a bette r vie w o f th e
surroundings . Thes
e advantage s com e a t som e
cost . Becaus e you r vehicl e is
talle r an d ride s highe r of f th e
ground , i t ha s a highe r cente r o f
gravit y tha n conventiona l cars .
Thi s mean s you r vehicl e ca n mor e
easil y ti p o r rol l ove r i f yo u mak e
abrup t turn s o r driv e o n slope d

terrain .

Utilit y vehicle s hav e a
significantl y highe r rollove r rat e
tha n othe r type s o f vehicles . T o
avoi d los s o f contro l o r rollover ,
b e sur e t o follo w al l
recommendation s an d precaution s
i n thi s booklet .
Off-Roa d Drivin g Informatio n

Off-Roa
d Precaution s

Fo r you r safet y an d th e safet y o f
you r passengers , pleas e follo w

thes e precautions :

Don' t Modif y You r Vehicl e
W e urg e yo u no t t o instal l
aftermarke t "lif t kits, " oversiz e
wheel s an d tires , o r alte r your
vehicl e i n an y othe r wa y tha t
woul d chang e th e vehicle' s
suspensio n o r rid e height . Suc h
modification s ca n make handlin g
difficul t an d unpredictable , an d
the y coul d cause you t o los e
control , rol l ove r an d b e seriousl y
hur t o r killed .
Wear
Seat Belts

Sea t belt s ar e jus t a s importan t
off-roa d a s o n pavement . Sea t
belt s ca n hol d yo u in positio n o n
roug h an d bump y trail s an d whe n
drivin g o n hills . I f yo u don' t wea r
you r sea t belt , yo u coul d bounc e
aroun d an d strik e th e interio r o f
th e vehicle , o r eve n los e contro l
an d crash . Wheneve r yo u drive ,
mak e sur e yo u an d you r passenger
s alway s wear seat belts .
I f childre n o r infant s ar e alon g fo r
th e ride , se e tha t the y ar e properl y
secured , an d neve r le t a passenge r
rid e in th e carg o compartment . I n
a rollove r crash , a n unbelte d
perso n is mor e likel y t o di e tha n a
perso n wearin g a seat belt .

Drive Smart

Off-roa d surface s an d condition s
ca n chang e quickl y an d
unexpectedly . I t take s tim e t o
lear n ho w to rea d th e terrai n an d
develo p off-roa d drivin g skills . S o
alway s us e goo d judgment . Don' t
driv e faste r tha n condition s
warrant , an d i f yo u eve r fee l
uncomfortabl e abou t a give n
situation , don't do it.

Off-Roa d Driving Informatio n

Don'
t Drin k an d Driv e

Alcoho l i s a leadin g caus e o f
deat h an d injur y off-roa d a s wel l
a s on-road . Alcoho l reduces your
abilit y t o thin k clearl y an d react
quickly . Fatigu e an d drugs , legal
o r illegal , ca n hav e simila r effects .
I f yo u aren' t sobe r o r i n goo d
physica l an d menta l condition ,
don' t drive .
Gettin
g Read y t o Driv e Off-Roa d
Befor e leavin g o n a brie f off-roa d
excursio n o r a n extende d
overnigh t trip , yo u nee d t o mak e
sur e yo u an d you r vehicl e ar e bot h

prepared .

Whe n makin g you r plans ,
remembe r tha t it' s bes t t o trave l
wit h a t leas t on e othe r vehicl e i n cas
e yo u hav e trouble , an d alway s
le t someon e els e kno w wher e
you'r e goin g an d whe n yo u
expec t t o return .
Whateve r you r destination , w e
recommen d that you ge t map s o f
you r rout e s o yo u ca n stud y th e
terrain , tal k wit h othe r driver s
wh o ar e familia r wit h th e location ,
an d fin d ou t i n advanc e i f yo u
nee d an y specia l permits . Then ,
shortl y befor e yo u leave , ge t th e
lates t weathe r prediction s fo r you r
destination , an d chec k o n an y
closure s tha t coul d affec t you r
plans .
Ther e ar e man y source s that can
hel p yo u pla n a trip . Th e U.S .
Fores t Service , Burea u o f Lan d
Management , moto r vehicl e
bureaus , an d par k an d recreatio n
department s ca n provid e map s
Off-Roa d Drivin g Informatio nPlannin
g a Tri p

an
d othe r usefu l information .
Recreationa l vehicl e club s ca n pu t
yo u i n touc h wit h othe r drivers ,
an d off-roa d magazine s publis h
first-han d description s o f drivin g
locations .
T o hel p kee p off-roa d drivin g
areas open , sta y o n roads , trail s
an d ope n areas approve d fo r
off-highwa y vehicle s (OHVs) .
Please respec t n o trespassing
signs , an d don' t driv e o n privat e
propert y withou t permission .Chec
k Ou t You r Vehicl e
Off-roa d drivin g ca n b e har d o n a
vehicle , requirin g extr a attentio n
t o maintenance . Befor e drivin g
off-road , b e sur e al l schedule d
maintenanc e an d servic e ha s bee n
done , an d tha t yo u hav e als o
inspecte d you r vehicle . Pa y
specia l attentio n t o th e conditio n
o f th e tire s an d use a gauge to
check the tire pressures. Improperl
y inflate d tire s ca n b e
mor e easil y damage d b y rock s
an d othe r har d o r shar p objects .
D o no t le t ai r ou t o f you r tire s
unles s yo u ca n reinflat e the m
soo n afte r returnin g t o pavement ,
an d remembe r t o periodicall y
inspect the tire s fo r sign s o f
damage , especiall y i f yo u hi t a
larg e o r shar p rock .

Off-Roa d Drivin g Informatio n

Carryin
g Carg o

You'l l probabl y tak e a cooler ,
picni c supplie s o r othe r carg o o n a n
off-roa d trip . Sinc e som e bouncin g
i s almos t inevitabl e whe n drivin g
off-road , it' s ver y importan t t o stor e
an d secur e carg o properly . Follo w
thes e guideline s an d limits : Th
e maximu m loa d yo u ca n
carr y i n an d o n you r vehicl e
ca n b e foun d o n th e char t
opposite .
Thes e figure s includ e th e
weigh t o f al l occupants , cargo ,
accessories , an d th e tongu e
weigh t i f yo u ar e towin g a
traile r ( se e nex t page ). Distribut
e carg o evenl y o n th e
floo r o f th e carg o area , placin g
th e heavies t item s o n th e
botto m an d a s fa r forwar d a s
possible .
Off-Roa d Drivin g Informatio n

Secure all items so they cannot
fly forward and injure
you
or
your passengers if you brake
hard, hit an obstacle,
or
are
involved in a collision.
If yo u wan t t o
pu
t carg o o n th e
roof , us e a roo f rack , secur e al l
items , an d mak e sur e th e carg o
does not exceed 200 pounds.

Towing a Trailer

Yo u ma y
b
e abl e t o safel y to w a
lightweigh t traile r (suc h a s a
motorcycl e traile r o r smal l ten t
trailer ) off-roa d i f yo u follo w
thes e guidelines :
Do not exceed a trailer weight
of 1,00 0 pound s (includin g
cargo) or a tongue weight of
100 pounds. (Tongue weight shoul
d b e abou t 10 % o f th e
traile r weight. )
Tr y t o sta y o n smooth , leve l
dir t roads , an d avoi d drivin g i n
hill y terrain . Allo
w extr a roo m fo r starting ,
stopping , an d turning .
Slo w dow n i f yo u encounte r
bump s o r othe r obstacles .

Extra Equipment and Supplies

W e strongl y recommen d tha t yo u
D O NO T carr y extr a fuel . Gasolin e
i s highl y flammabl e an d
explosive . I t canno t b e safel y
carrie d insid e th e vehicl e o r
strappe d to th e to p o r rear . Th e
bes t thin g t o d o is fil l u p you r tan k
befor e yo u leav e pavement .
Off-Roa d Drivin g Informatio n

It'
s alway s wis e t o tak e alon g
water , food , blankets , a flashlight ,
an d matches . Yo u ma y als o wan t
t o take : A
towin g rope , strap or chai n —
i n cas e yo u o r someone you're
wit h gets stuck. Whee
l chock s — to hel p keep
you r vehicl e fro m rollin g whe n
yo u park. Firs
t ai d ki t — a good ide a
whenever you trave l fa r fro m
medica l support .
Fla g — to hel p other s see you
(excep t i n forest s o r areas with
tal l bushes) .
Portabl e phon e o r citizen s ban d
(CB ) radi o — shoul d yo u need
t o cal l fo r help .
Shove l — in case yo u nee d to
di g yoursel f out .
Off-Roa d Drivin g Informatio n

Off-Roa
d Driving Considerations

Whe n yo u leav e pave d roads , yo u
leav e a generall y predictabl e an d
orderl y worl d behind . Yo u won' t
fin d lan e marker s o r traffi c
signals . N o on e wil l b e ther e t o
war n yo u o f troubl e ahead . It' s u p
t o yo u t o asses s situation s an d
driv e withi n limits . Th e terrai n
ha s limit s (som e hill s ar e to o
steep , fo r example) . Yo u hav e
limit s (i n skill s an d comfor t
level) . An d off-roa d vehicle s als o
hav e limit s (traction , stability , an d
power , fo r instance) .
Followin g ar e som e importan t tip s
o n ho w to dea l wit h som e o f th e
challenge s o f drivin g off-road .
Usin
g You r Senses

You nee d t o us e you r senses a
littl e differentl y off-road . Kee p
you r eye s moving , constantl y
watchin g fo r obstacle s an d
evaluatin g th e terrain . Chec k you r
gauge s frequently . Liste n fo r
unusua l sound s fro m you r engin e
an d tires . Pa y attentio n t o th e
smel l o f overheate d brakes . An d
whe n yo u fee l excessiv e
vibration s o r bouncing , th e terrai n
i s tellin g yo u t o slo w down .
Off-Roa d Drivin g Informatio n