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Log Crossing
Using the proper technique, your vehicle will cross logs
up to 10 inches (25.4 cm) in diameter. Approach the log
at approximately a 15° angle (A) with the transmission in
FIRST (1) and the transfer case in 4LO LOCK and “walk”
your vehicle over, one tire at a time. It may be necessary
to modulate your brake pedal and accelerator to avoid
spin-out. Ease the vehicle down from the log with
your brake.
Driving on Off-Road Hills
Off-road driving often takes you up, down, or across a
hill. Driving safely on hills requires good judgment
and an understanding of what your vehicle can and
cannot do. There are some hills that simply cannot be
driven, no matter how well built the vehicle.
{CAUTION:
Many hills are simply too steep for any vehicle.
If you drive up them, you will stall. If you drive
down them, you cannot control your speed.
If you drive across them, you will roll over.
You could be seriously injured or killed. If you
have any doubt about the steepness, do not
drive the hill.
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Approaching a Hill
When you approach a hill, you need to decide if it is
one of those hills that is just too steep to climb, descend,
or cross. Steepness can be hard to judge. On a very
small hill, for example, there may be a smooth, constant
incline with only a small change in elevation where
you can easily see all the way to the top. On a large hill,
the incline may get steeper as you near the top, but
you may not see this because the crest of the hill
is hidden by bushes, grass, or shrubs.
Here are some other things to consider as you approach
a hill:
Is there a constant incline, or does the hill get
sharply steeper in places?
Is there good traction on the hillside, or will the
surface cause tire slipping?
Is there a straight path up or down the hill so you
will not have to make turning maneuvers?
Are there obstructions on the hill that can
block your path, such as boulders, trees, logs,
or ruts?
What is beyond the hill? Is there a cliff, an
embankment, a drop-off, a fence? Get out and
walk the hill if you do not know. It is the smart way
to nd out.
Is the hill simply too rough? Steep hills often
have ruts, gullies, troughs, and exposed rocks
because they are more susceptible to the effects
of erosion.
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Sound the horn as you approach the top of the hill
to let opposing traffic know you are there.
Use your headlamps even during the day.
They make your vehicle more visible to
oncoming traffic.
{CAUTION:
Driving to the top (crest) of a hill at full speed
can cause an accident. There could be a
drop-off, embankment, cliff, or even another
vehicle. You could be seriously injured or
killed. As you near the top of a hill, slow down
and stay alert.There are some things you should do if the vehicle
stalls, or is about to stall, and you cannot make it
up the hill:
Push the brake pedal to stop the vehicle and
keep it from rolling backwards. Also, apply the
parking brake.
If your engine is still running, shift the transmission
to REVERSE (R), release the parking brake, and
slowly back down the hill in REVERSE (R).
If your engine has stopped running, you will need to
restart it. With the brake pedal pressed and the
parking brake still applied, shift the transmission to
PARK (P) and restart the engine. Then, shift to
REVERSE (R), release the parking brake, and
slowly back down the hill as straight as possible in
REVERSE (R).
As you are backing down the hill, put your left hand
on the steering wheel at the 12 o’clock position.
This way, you will be able to tell if your wheels are
straight and maneuver as you back down. It is
best that you back down the hill with your wheels
straight rather than in the left or right direction.
Turning the wheel too far to the left or right
will increase the possibility of a rollover.
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There are also some things you must not do if you stall,
or are about to stall, when going up a hill:
Never attempt to prevent a stall by shifting into
NEUTRAL (N) to rev-up the engine and regain
forward momentum. This will not work. Your vehicle
will roll backwards very quickly and you could go
out of control.
Instead, apply the regular brake to stop the
vehicle. Then apply the parking brake. Shift to
REVERSE (R), release the parking brake,
and slowly back straight down.
Never attempt to turn around if you are about to
stall when going up a hill. If the hill is steep
enough to stall your vehicle, it is steep enough to
cause you to roll over if you turn around. If you
cannot make it up the hill, you must back straight
down the hill.If, after stalling, you try to back down the hill and decide
you just cannot do it, set the parking brake, put your
transmission in PARK (P), and turn off the engine.
Leave the vehicle and go get some help. Exit on the
uphill side and stay clear of the path the vehicle would
take if it rolled downhill. Do not shift the transfer case
to NEUTRAL when you leave the vehicle. Leave it
in some gear.
{CAUTION:
Shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL can
cause your vehicle to roll even if the
transmission is in PARK (P). This is because
the NEUTRAL position on the transfer case
overrides the transmission. You or someone
else could be injured. If you are going to leave
your vehicle, set the parking brake and shift
the transmission to PARK (P). But do not shift
the transfer case to NEUTRAL. Leave the
transfer case in the 4 HI, 4 HI Lock, or 4 LO
Lock position.
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The Traction Control System (TCS) improves your
ability to accelerate when driving on a slippery road.
TCS improves your ability to accelerate. SeeIf Your
Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow on
page 4-39. Even though you have TCS, slow down and
adjust your driving to the road conditions. Under
certain conditions, you might want to turn the TCS off,
such as when driving through deep snow and loose
gravel, to help maintain vehicle motion at lower speeds.
SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on page 4-5and
StabiliTrak
®System on page 4-7.
The Antilock Brake System (ABS) improves your
vehicle’s stability when you make a hard stop on a
slippery road. Even though you have ABS, begin
stopping sooner than you would on dry pavement.
SeeAntilock Brake System (ABS) on page 4-4.
Allow greater following distance on any slippery road.
Watch for slippery spots. The road might be ne
until you hit a spot that is covered with ice.
On an otherwise clear road, ice patches can appear
in shaded areas where the sun cannot reach, such
as around clumps of trees, behind buildings, or under
bridges. Sometimes the surface of a curve or an
overpass can remain icy when the surrounding roads
are clear. If you see a patch of ice ahead of you,
brake before you are on it. Try not to brake while you
are actually on the ice, and avoid sudden steering
maneuvers.
If You Are Caught in a Blizzard
If you are stopped by heavy snow, you could be in a
serious situation. You should probably stay with
your vehicle unless you know for sure that you are near
help and you can hike through the snow. Here are
some things to do to summon help and keep yourself
and your passengers safe:
Turn on the hazard warning ashers.
Tie a red cloth to your vehicle to alert police that
you have been stopped by the snow.
Put on extra clothing or wrap a blanket around you.
If you do not have blankets or extra clothing, make
body insulators from newspapers, burlap bags,
rags, oor mats — anything you can wrap around
yourself or tuck under your clothing to keep warm.
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You can run the engine to keep warm, but be careful.
{CAUTION:
Snow can trap exhaust gases under your
vehicle. This can cause deadly CO (carbon
monoxide) gas to get inside. CO could
overcome you and kill you. You cannot see it
or smell it, so you might not know it is in your
vehicle. Clear away snow from around the
base of your vehicle, especially any that is
blocking the exhaust pipe. And check around
again from time to time to be sure snow does
not collect there.
Open a window just a little on the side of the
vehicle that is away from the wind. This will
help keep CO out.
Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves
fuel. When you run the engine, make it go a little
faster than just idle. That is, push the accelerator
slightly. This uses less fuel for the heat that you get
and it keeps the battery charged. You will need a
well-charged battery to restart the vehicle, and possibly
for signaling later on with the headlamps. Let the
heater run for a while.
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Front Mounted Receiver
Your vehicle is equipped with a front mounted receiver.
You can use the receiver with a power winch platform
(described later in this section) or with other
accessories.
Never use the front mounted receiver to tow a trailer.
You can use the front mounted receiver to tow your
vehicle behind another. SeeRecreational Vehicle
Towing on page 4-51.
Power Winch Platform
You can use the power winch platform (if equipped)
with an aftermarket winch. Connect the winch to
the platform and wiring to the vehicle following the
winch manufacturer’s guidelines.
Notice:Do not use the winch platform to winch at
a tension of more than 9,000 lbs. (4 082 kg). This
would damage your vehicle’s frame. This damage
would not be covered by your vehicle’s warranty.
If you are using a winch to pull out another vehicle,
follow the winch manufacturer’s guidelines and observe
the following to prevent damage to your vehicle:
If possible, have your vehicle anchored from the
opposite side of the winch to a solid, immovable
object.
If winching from the front, use both of the rear
recovery loops. If winching from the rear, use both
of the front recovery loops.
Put your transmission in NEUTRAL (N).
Use your regular brakes to hold your vehicle in
place and block the wheels to keep the vehicle
from moving.
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Notice:Using a power winch with the transmission
in gear to pull out another vehicle may damage
the transmission. When operating a power winch,
always leave the transmission in NEUTRAL (N).
Notice:Driving your vehicle through an automatic
car wash with the winch installed, can cause
damage to your vehicle and the car wash. Always
remove the winch from your vehicle before using an
automatic car wash. SeeWashing Your Vehicle
on page 5-103for more information.
If you are using a winch to pull out your own vehicle,
follow the winch manufacturer’s guidelines for self
recovery and observe the following to prevent damage
to your vehicle:
Do not self recover your vehicle by wrapping the
winch cable around an object (such as a pulley
block or tree) and attaching it back to your vehicle’s
recovery loops.
Always attach the winch cable directly to a solid
anchor directly in front of your vehicle to achieve
a straight line pull.
Loading Your Vehicle
It is very important to know how much weight your
vehicle can carry. This weight is called the vehicle
capacity weight and includes the weight of all
occupants, cargo, and all nonfactory-installed
options. Two labels on your vehicle show how much
weight it may properly carry, the Tire and Loading
Information label and the Certi cation/Tire label.
{CAUTION:
Do not load your vehicle any heavier than
the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR),
or either the maximum front or rear Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). If you do,
parts on your vehicle can break, and it
can change the way your vehicle handles.
These could cause you to lose control
and crash. Also, overloading can shorten
the life of your vehicle.
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