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 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.
Driving Uphill
Once you decide you can safely drive up the hill,
you need to take some special steps:
• Use transmission and transfer case low gear
and get a firm grip on the steering wheel.
• Get a smooth start up the hill and try to
maintain your speed. Do not use more power
than you need, because you do not want
your wheels to start spinning or sliding.
• Let the traction system work to control any
wheel slippage. The traction control system
allows for moderate wheel spin with some
capability to dig in and power up the hill.
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