On-road and off-road driving 421 |
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hicles of this type more likely to roll over . In reality , utility vehicles have a significantly higher rollover rate than other types of vehicles . The high ground clearance of this vehicle is a real advantage , giving you a better view of the road and allowing you to anticipate problems earlier . However , remember that your utility vehicle is not designed for high-speed cornering comparable to ordinary passenger cars and that your vehicle could roll over if you make a sharp turn at a high speed .
If you take your SUBARU off-road , certain common sense precautions such as those in the following list should be taken .
& Before driving
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. Make certain that you and all of your passengers are wearing seatbelts .
. Carry some emergency equipment , such as a towing rope or chain , a shovel , wheel blocks , first aid kit and cell phone or citizens band radio .
. Secure all cargo carried inside the vehicle and make certain that it is not piled higher than the seatbacks . During sudden stops or jolts , unsecured cargo could be thrown around in the vehicle and cause injury . Do not pile heavy loads on the roof . Those loads raise the vehicle ’ s center of gravity and make it more prone to tip over .
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. Never equip your vehicle with tires larger than those specified in this manual .
& During driving
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General precautions :
. Drive carefully . Do not take unnecessary risks by driving in dangerous areas or over rough terrain .
. Slow down and employ extra caution at all times . When driving off-road , you will not have the benefit of marked traffic lanes , banked curves , traffic signs and the like .
. Do not drive across steep slopes . Instead , drive either straight up or straight down the slopes . A vehicle can much more easily tip over sideways than it can end over end . Avoid driving straight up or down slopes that are too steep .
. Avoid sharp turning maneuvers , especially at higher speeds .
. Do not grip the inside or spokes of the steering wheel . A bad bump could jerk the wheel and injure your hands . Instead , drive with your fingers and thumbs on the outside of the rim .
. Do not drive or park over or near flammable materials such as dry grass or fallen leaves , as they may burn
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easily . The exhaust system is very hot while the engine is running and right after the engine stops . This could create a fire hazard .
Precautions when driving under especially dangerous situations :
. If you must rock the vehicle to free it from sand or mud , depress the accelerator pedal slightly and move the select lever back and forth between “ D ” and “ R ” repeatedly . Do not race the engine . For the best possible traction , avoid spinning the wheels when trying to free the vehicle .
. When the road surface is extremely slippery , you can obtain better traction by starting the vehicle with the transmission in 2nd than 1st . Refer to “ Selection of manual mode ” FP359 .
& After driving
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. Always check your brakes for effectiveness immediately after driving in sand , mud or water . Do this by driving slowly and stepping on the brake pedal . Repeat that process several times to dry out the brake discs and brake pads .
. After driving through tall grass , mud , rocks , sand , rivers , etc ., check that there is no grass , bush , paper , rags , stones , sand , etc . adhering to or
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Driving tips |
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