2013 YAMAHA RHINO 700 Owners Manual

7-17
Braking
When slowing down or stopping, take your
foot off the accelerator pedal and press the
brake pedal smoothly. Improper use of the
brakes can cause the tires to lose traction, re-
ducing control of the vehicle and increasing
the possibility of an accident.
Braking ability is affected by type of terrain. In
most cases, gradual application of the brakes
is more effective than abrupt braking, particu-
larly on loose surfaces, such as gravel. Al-
ways allow for greater braking distance on
rough, loose, or slippery surfaces.Engine braking
Engine compression braking is designed to
assist you when operating your Rhino off-
road. With this feature, the engine helps slow
the vehicle down after you take your foot off
the accelerator. Engine braking is more no-
ticeable in four-wheel drive. Application of ve-
hicle brakes provides additional stopping
power.1RB7A_EE.book Page 17 Tuesday, April 24, 2012 9:07 AM

7-18
Leaving the vehicle
Do not get out of the vehicle while the engine
is running and the drive select lever is in any
gear. There is a risk of injury because:●
Children or others may accidentally press
the accelerator pedal.
●
Objects tossed into the vehicle may strike
the accelerator pedal.
●
The parking brake may not keep the vehi-
cle from accelerating.
Unwanted vehicle movement can cause seri-
ous injury or death, and it may be dangerous
to try to stop the vehicle. Parking on a flat area
When parking on a flat area, stop the engine
and shift the drive select lever into the neutral
position. Apply the parking brake to help pre-
vent the vehicle from rolling.
Parking on a slope
The parking brake acts only on the rear
wheels when in “2WD”. For the parking brake
to take effect on all four wheels, shift to
“LOCK” before stopping the engine.
If you park on a hill that is too steep the vehi-
cle may roll out of control. Never park on hills
that are so steep you cannot walk up them
easily. If you must park on an incline follow
these instructions:
1. Bring the vehicle to a stop by applying the
brake pedal.
2. Put the vehicle in “LOCK”.
3. Turn the key to “OFF”.
1RB7A_EE.book Page 18 Tuesday, April 24, 2012 9:07 AM

7-19
4. With the brake pedal applied, set theparking brake.
5. Block the front and rear wheels with
rocks or other objects.
Loading
The total weight of operator, passenger, ac-
cessories, cargo, trailer tongue weight, and
the vehicle itself must not exceed 907 kg
(2000 lb). Vehicle loading can affect handling.
See “Loading” on pages 6-9–6-10. Operation on different surfaces and
terrains
Go slowly and proceed with caution when op-
erating on an unfamiliar surface or terrain.
This vehicle may handle differently in certain
types of terrains or on certain surfaces. You
may come upon hidden rocks, bumps, or
holes without enough time to react. To avoid
loss of control or rollover, always be alert to
changing surfaces or terrain when operating
the vehicle.
The Rhino has higher ground clearance and
other features to handle rugged terrain, and
as a result, can overturn in situations where
some vehicles may not. Abrupt maneuvers or
aggressive driving can cause loss of control,
including rollovers – even on flat, open areas.
These rollovers can result in crushed limbs
and other serious injuries or death to drivers
or passengers.
1RB7A_EE.book Page 19 Tuesday, April 24, 2012 9:07 AM

7-20
Hills
Choose carefully which hills you attempt to
climb or descend. Avoid hills with slippery sur-
faces or those where you will not be able to
see far enough ahead of you. Use common
sense and remember that some hills are too
steep for you to climb or descend. Use proper
driving techniques to avoid rearward, forward,
or sideways rollovers on hills and slopes.
Drive straight up and down inclines, not
across them. If crossing a hill is unavoidable,
drive slowly. Turn downhill immediately if you
feel the vehicle may tip.
If you think or feel the Rhino may tip or
roll:●
Brace yourself by pressing your feet firmly
on the floorboards and keep a firm grip on
the steering wheel or handholds.
●
Do not put your hands or feet outside of the
vehicle for any reason.
1RB7A_EE.book Page 20 Tuesday, April 24, 2012 9:07 AM

7-21
Uphill
Do not attempt to climb hills until you have
mastered basic maneuvers on flat ground.
Drive straight up hills, and avoid crossing the
side of a hill, which increases your risk of roll-
over. Practice first on gentle slopes before at-
tempting steeper hills. Always check the
terrain carefully before attempting any hill.
To climb a hill, you need traction, momentum,
and steady throttle. For more traction and
control for climbing steeper and/or rougher
slopes, shift into low gear and select “4WD” or
“LOCK”. Travel fast enough to maintain mo-
mentum, but not so fast that you cannot react
to changes in the terrain as you climb.Slow down when you reach the crest of the hill
if you cannot see clearly what is on the other
side – there could be another person, an ob-
stacle, or a sharp drop-off.
If you start to lose traction or momentum
when climbing, and decide you will be unable
to continue, use the brakes to stop. Do not at-
tempt to turn the vehicle around. With your
foot on the brake pedal, look behind you and
plan your descent. Shift the drive select lever
into reverse so you can use engine braking to
slow your descent. Release the brake and be-
gin to coast down the hill. Use engine braking
as much as possible, gently applying the
brakes when necessary.1RB7A_EE.book Page 21 Tuesday, April 24, 2012 9:07 AM

7-22
Downhill
Check the terrain carefully before going
downhill. When possible, choose a path that
lets you drive your vehicle straight downhill.
Choose your path carefully and drive slowly
enough to be able to react to obstacles that
you encounter.
For more traction and control, before going
down steeper and/or rougher slopes, shift into
low gear and select “4WD” or “LOCK”. Engine
braking will help you go downhill slowly. Go as
slowly as possible. If you begin to go too fast,
apply the brakes gently. Avoid hard applica-
tion of the brakes, which could cause the vehi-
cle to slide.If you are sliding or skidding, try to steer in the
direction the vehicle is sliding, to regain con-
trol. For example, if you feel the back of the
vehicle start to slide to your right, steer to the
right.
If you must turn on the hill to avoid an obsta-
cle, do so slowly and carefully. If the vehicle
starts to tip, immediately steer in the downhill
direction if there are no obstacles in your path.
As you regain proper balance, gradually steer
again in the direction you want to go.1RB7A_EE.book Page 22 Tuesday, April 24, 2012 9:07 AM

7-23
Rough terrain
Operation over rough terrain should be done
with caution.●
Look for and avoid obstacles that could
cause damage to the vehicle or could lead
to a rollover or accident.
●
Do not drive in a way that will get the Rhino
airborne, as injury, loss of control, and
damage to the vehicle could occur.
Pavement
This vehicle is designed for off-road use only.
Avoid paved surfaces. Turn gradually and go
slowly if you must drive on pavement. Water
If you must cross shallow, slow-moving water
up to the depth of the vehicle’s floorboards,
choose your path carefully to avoid sharp
drop-offs, large rocks, or slippery surfaces
that could cause the vehicle to overturn. Nev-
er operate through water deeper than 33 cm
(13 in) or fast-flowing water. Choose a path
where both your entrance into and exit point
from the water is a gradual incline. Determine
the water depth and currents before crossing.
Operating this vehicle through deep or fast-
flowing water can lead to loss of control or
overturn. To reduce your risk of drowning or
other injuries, use care when crossing
through water.
Wet brakes may have reduced effectiveness.
After leaving the water, test your brakes. If
necessary, apply the brakes several times to
let friction dry out the linings.
1RB7A_EE.book Page 23 Tuesday, April 24, 2012 9:07 AM

7-24
NOTICEAfter driving your vehicle in water, be sure
to drain the trapped water by removing the
check hoses at the bottom of the air filter
case and air duct, the V-belt cooling duct
check hose, the drive select lever box
check hose and the V-belt case drain plug.
Wash the vehicle in fresh water if it has
been operated in salt water or muddy con-
ditions.
Loose terrain/slippery terrain
When driving on slippery terrain, including
wet, muddy, or icy conditions, as well as loose
gravel, be aware that you could begin skid-
ding or sliding. To avoid loss of control, slow
down and put the Rhino in four-wheel drive
before driving on a slippery surface and plan
your path to avoid making abrupt maneuvers.
If you feel the Rhino begin to slide sideways or
the back wheels slide during a turn, steer into
the direction of the slide if possible, to regain
directional control. For example, if you feel the
back of the vehicle start to slide to your right,
steer to the right.
1RB7A_EE.book Page 24 Tuesday, April 24, 2012 9:07 AM