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 can’t
do. There are some hills that simply can’t be driven,
matter how well bui” ‘he
;title.
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.
Many hills are simply too steep for any vehicle.
If
you drive up them, you will stall.
If
you drive
down them, you can’t 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, don’t
drive the hill.
Approaching
a
Hill
When you approach a
hill,
you need to decide
if
it’s one
of those hills that’s 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
e
e
e
e
e
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
won’t have to make turning maneuvers?
Are there obstructions on the hill that can block
your path (boulders, trees, logs or ruts)?
What’s beyond the
hill?
Is
there a cliff, an
embankment, a drop-off, a fence? Get out and walk
the hill
if
you don’t know. It’s the smart way to
find 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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