GMC 2011 Sierra - Manual (Page 306)

Black plate (12,1) GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
9-12 Driving and Operating
Driving on 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 the
vehicle can and cannot do. There
are some hills that simply cannot be
driven, no matter how well built the
vehicle.
{
WARNING
Many hills are simply too steep
for any vehicle. If you drive up
them, you will stall. If you drive
down them, you cannot 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, do not drive the hill.
Approaching a Hill
When you approach a hill, decide
if it is 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 might not see this because the
crest of the hill is hidden by bushes,
grass, or shrubs.
Consider this 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.