KIA Sorento (2009) User Manual

Page 219

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Driving tips

Off-road driving with your four-
wheel drive vehicle

Off-road driving can be great fun. But it
has definite hazards. The greatest of
these is the terrain itself.
“Off-roading” means you’ve left the paved
road system behind. Traffic lanes are not
marked. Curves are not banked.
There are no carefully engineered road
signs to warn you of dangerous condi-
tions or to advise you of a safe speed.
You have to assess the environment
yourself. Surfaces can be slippery, rough,
uphill or downhill.
Off-road driving involves learning new
skills. That’s why it’s important that you
read and understand this section. You’ll
find useful driving information and sug-
gestions. These will help make your off-
road driving safer and more enjoyable.

Before you go off-roading

There are some things to do before you
leave the paved roads. Be sure to have
all necessary maintenance and service
work done beforehand. Be sure to read
all the information about your four-wheel
drive vehicle in this manual. Is there
enough fuel? Is the spare tire fully inflat-
ed? Are the fluid levels at the proper lev-
els? What are the local laws that apply to
off-roading where you’ll be driving? If you
don’t know, you should check with law
enforcement people in the area. Will you
be on someone’s private land? If so, be
sure to get the necessary permission.

Loading your vehicle for off-road
driving

There are some important items to
remember about how to properly load
your vehicle.
• The heaviest things should be in the

cargo area and forward of your rear
axle. Place heavier items as far forward
as you can.

• Be sure the load is properly secured,

so driving over off-road terrain doesn’t
shift your load or throw items toward
the driver or passengers.

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