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On-Road and Off-Road Driving
. 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 .
. Never equip your vehicle with tires larger than those specified in this manual .
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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 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 :
. When driving over bumps in the road , drive as slowly as possible to avoid damaging the wheels , underside of the vehicle , etc .
. If driving through water , such as when crossing shallow streams : – First , check the depth of the water and the bottom of the stream bed for firmness . – Next , ensure that the bed of the stream is flat . – Then , drive slowly and completely through the stream . The water should be shallow enough that it does not reach the vehicle ’ s undercarriage . . 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 .
. Do not perform the following operations . Doing so may cause the transmission to overheat or malfunction . – Depressing the accelerator pedal and brake pedal at the same time while the select lever is in a position other than “ P ” or “ N ”. – Depressing the accelerator to hold the vehicle in a stationary position while on a slope and while the select lever is in a position other than “ P ” or “ N ”. – Trying repeatedly to drive over a bump that the vehicle cannot climb over . . 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 ” FP373 .
. Do not rotate the tires at a high speed if the vehicle is stuck due to muddy , snowy , icy , or similar low-traction conditions , or if any tire is not touching the ground . Doing so may cause the tires to burst or lead to an accident due to abnormal overheating or damage to drivetrain components .
. On rough roads and roads with large undulations , have a leader guide you , or check the road surface in advance to select a road where the ground will not