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4-21 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. Check to make sure all
underbody shields (if so equipped) are properly
attached. 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.
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.
CAUTION:
Cargo on the load floor piled higher than
the seatbacks can be thrown forward
during a sudden stop. You or your
passengers could be injured. Keep cargo
below the top of the seatbacks.
Unsecured cargo on the load floor can
be tossed about when driving over rough
terrain. You or your passengers can
be struck by flying objects. Secure the
cargo properly.
Heavy loads on the roof raise the vehicle's
center of gravity, making it more likely to
roll over. You can be seriously or fatally
injured if the vehicle rolls over. Put heavy
loads inside the cargo area, not on the roof.
Keep cargo in the cargo area as far forward
and low as possible.
You'll find other important information in this manual.
See ªVehicle Loading,º ªLuggage Carrierº and ªTiresº
in the Index.
Page 304 of 443
5-21
Suburban/Yukon XL Models
A. Bottle Jack
B. Wheel Blocks
C. Wing Nut
D. Mounting Bracket
E. Removable TrayF. Retaining Hook
G. Retaining Bracket
and Wing Nut
H. Tool Kit with Jack
Tools and GlovesThe equipment you'll need is under the storage tray in
the left trim panel for Suburban/Yukon XL models.
For Tahoe/Yukon models, the equipment is located
under the rear seat behind the driver's seat and behind
the left trim panel in the rear of the vehicle. Skip the
first step and follow the last three.
1. Remove the tray to access the tools.
2. There is a wing nut used to retain the tool kit.
To remove it, turn the wing nut counterclockwise.
3. To release the bottle jack from its holder, turn the
knob on the bottle jack counterclockwise to lower
the jack head.
4. The wheel blocks and the wheel block
retainer can be removed by turning the
wing nut counterclockwise.
You'll use the jack handle extensions and the wheel
wrench to remove the underbody
-mounted spare tire.
Page 305 of 443
5-22
A. Hoist Assembly
B. Wheel Wrench
C. Jack Handle Extensions
D. Hoist Shaft
E. Valve Stem, Pointed Up
F. Spare Tire
G. Tire Retainer
H. Hoist Cable
I. Hoist Lock
J. Hoist Shaft Access Hole
K. Hoist End of Extension Tool
Page 306 of 443

5-23
Follow these instructions to lower the spare tire:
1. If the vehicle is equipped with a hoist lock, open the
spare tire lock cover on the bumper and use the
ignition key to remove the lock.
2. Assemble the wheel wrench and the two jack handle
extensions as shown. Insert the hoist end (open end)
of the extension through the hole in the rear bumper.
Be sure the hoist end of the extension connects into
the hoist shaft (the ribbed square end of the
extension is used to lower the spare tire).
3. Turn the wheel wrench counterclockwise to lower
the spare tire to the ground. Continue to turn the
wheel wrench until the spare tire can be pulled out
from under the vehicle. The wheel wrench has a
hook that allows you to pull the hoist cable towards
you, to assist in reaching the spare tire.
4. When the tire has been lowered, tilt the retainer at
the end of the cable so it can be pulled up through
the wheel opening.
5. Put the spare tire near the flat tire.
The tools you'll be using include the bottle jack (A), the
wheel blocks (B), the jack handle (C), the jack handle
extensions (D), and the wheel wrench (E).
If the flat tire is on the rear of the vehicle, you'll need to
use both jack handle extensions.
Page 308 of 443
5-25
If your vehicle has wheel
nut caps, loosen them by
turning the wheel wrench
counterclockwise. If you
have a center cap with
wheel nut caps, the wheel
nut caps are designed to
remain with the center cap.
Remove the center cap.
If the wheel has a smooth center piece, place the chisel
end of the wheel wrench in the slot on the wheel and
gently pry out.Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire
1. Use the wheel wrench
to loosen all the
wheel nuts. Turn the
wheel wrench
counterclockwise to
loosen the wheel nuts.
Don't remove the wheel
nuts yet.
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5-27
Front Position
Rear Position
1500 SeriesRear Position
2500 Series
3. Make sure the jack head is positioned so that the rear
axle is resting securely between the grooves that are
on the jack head. Turn the wheel wrench clockwise
to raise the vehicle. Raise the vehicle far enough off
the ground so there is enough room for the spare tire
to fit back underneath the rear of the vehicle.
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5-28
4. Remove all the wheel
nuts and take off the
flat tire.
5. Remove any rust or dirt
from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces and
spare wheel.
CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on the wheel, or on the parts to
which it is fastened, can make the wheel nuts
become loose after a time. The wheel could come
off and cause an accident. When you change a
wheel, remove any rust or dirt from the places
where the wheel attaches to the vehicle. In an
emergency, you can use a cloth or a paper towel
to do this; but be sure to use a scraper or wire
brush later, if you need to, to get all the rust or
dirt off.
CAUTION:
Never use oil or grease on studs or nuts. If you
do, the nuts might come loose. Your wheel could
fall off, causing a serious accident.
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5-29
6. After mounting
the spare, put the
wheel nuts back
on with the
rounded end of
the nuts toward
the wheel. Tighten
each wheel nut by
hand using the
wheel wrench until
the wheel is held
against the hub.
Front Position