Polaris Scrambler 500 4x4 - Manual (Page 52)

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OPERATION
Driving Safely
Hauling Cargo
WARNING
Hauling cargo improperly can alter vehicle handling and may
cause loss of control or brake instability and result in serious
injury or death. Always follow these precautions when hauling
cargo:
S
REDUCE SPEED AND ALLOW GREATER DISTANCE FOR
BRAKING WHEN HAULING CARGO.
S
CARGO WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION should be 1/3 on the front
rack and 2/3 on the rear rack. When operating over rough or
hilly terrain, reduce speed and cargo to maintain stable driving
conditions. Carrying loads on one rack only increases the pos-
sibility of vehicle overturn.
S
LOADS MUST BE CARRIED AS LOW ON THE RACKS AS
POSSIBLE. Carrying loads high on the racks raises the center
of gravity of the vehicle and creates a less stable operating
condition. When cargo loads are carried high on the racks, the
weight of the loads must be reduced to maintain stable operat-
ing conditions.
S
ALL LOADS MUST BE SECURED BEFORE OPERATING.
Unsecured loads can create unstable operating conditions,
which could result in loss of control of the vehicle.
S
OPERATE ONLY WITH STABLE AND SAFELY ARRANGED
LOADS. When handling off-centered loads that cannot be cen-
tered, securely fasten load and operate with extra caution. Al-
ways attach the tow load to the hitch point designated for your
vehicle.
S
HEAVY LOADS CAN CAUSE BRAKING AND CONTROL
PROBLEMS. Use extreme caution when applying brakes with a
loaded vehicle. Avoid terrain or situations that may require
backing downhill.
S
EXTREME CAUTION MUST BE USED when operating with
loads extending over the rack sides. Stability and maneuver-
ability may be adversely affected, causing the machine to over-
turn.
S
DO NOT BLOCK THE FRONT HEADLIGHT BEAM when carry-
ing loads on the front rack.
S
DO NOT TRAVEL FASTER THAN THE RECOMMENDED
SPEEDS. Vehicle should never exceed 10 mph (16 kph) while
towing a load on a level grass surface. Vehicle speed should
never exceed 5 mph (8 kph) when towing loads in rough terrain,
while cornering, or while ascending or descending a hill.