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On-Road and Off-Road Driving
ently from many passenger vehicles both on-road and off-road, so take time to become familiar with your vehicle. Note, however, that your vehicle is not a conventional off-road vehicle or an all-terrain vehicle, and it should not be operated like one. A higher center of gravity in relation to the tread width as compared with ordinary passenger cars makes vehicles 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 highspeed cornering comparable to ordinary passenger cars and that your vehicle could roll over if you make a sharp turn at high speed. If you do take your SUBARU offroad, certain common sense precautions such as those in the following list should be taken.
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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.
. 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.