Q:What is 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 would not 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 x it.
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Q:Am I likely to stall when going downhill?
A:It is much more likely to happen going uphill. But if
it happens going downhill, here is what to do.
1. Stop your vehicle by applying the regular brakes.
Apply the parking brake.
2. Shift to PARK (P), or to NEUTRAL with the manual
transmission, and, while still braking, restart the
engine.
3. Shift back to a low gear, release the parking brake,
and drive straight down.
4. If the engine will not start, get out and get help.
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.
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There is also important loading information for off-road
driving in this manual. See“Loading Your Vehicle for
Off-Road Driving”underOff-Road Driving on page 4-15.
Remember not to exceed the Gross Axle Weight
rating (GAWR) of the front or rear axle.
Two-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.
Any load that extends beyond the vehicle’s taillamp
area must be properly marked according to local laws
and regulations.
Remember not to exceed the Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR) of the rear axle.
Add-On Equipment
When you carry removable items, you may need to put a
limit on how many people you carry inside your vehicle.
Be sure to weigh your vehicle before you buy and install
the new equipment.
Notice:Overloading your vehicle may cause
damage. Repairs would not be covered by your
warranty. Do not overload your vehicle.
Remember not to exceed the Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR) of the rear axle.
A reinforcement kit for mounting a toolbox is
recommended. See your dealer.
Truck-Camper Loading Information
Your vehicle was not designed to carry a slide-in
camper.
Pickup Conversion to Chassis Cab
General Motors is aware that some vehicle owners
may consider having the pickup box removed and a
commercial or recreational body installed. However, we
recommend that conversions of this type not be done to
pickups. Owners should be aware that, as manufactured,
there are differences between a chassis cab and a pickup
with the box removed which may affect vehicle safety.
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{CAUTION:
Poorly maintained and improperly used tires
are dangerous.
Overloading your tires can cause
overheating as a result of too much friction.
You could have an air-out and a serious
accident. SeeLoading Your Vehicle on
page 4-44.
Underin ated tires pose the same danger
as overloaded tires. The resulting accident
could cause serious injury. Check all tires
frequently to maintain the recommended
pressure. Tire pressure should be checked
when your tires are cold. SeeInflation - Tire
Pressure on page 5-58.
Overin ated tires are more likely to be
cut, punctured, or broken by a sudden
impact — such as when you hit a pothole.
Keep tires at the recommended pressure.
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If your
tread is badly worn, or if your tires have
been damaged, replace them.
Tire Sidewall Labeling
Useful information about a tire is molded into its
sidewall. The examples below show a typical passenger
vehicle tire and a compact spare tire sidewall.
(A) Tire Size:The tire size is a combination of letters
and numbers used to de ne a particular tire’s width,
height, aspect ratio, construction type and service
description. See the “Tire Size” illustration later in
this section for more detail.Passenger Vehicle Tire Example
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