1996 Chevrolet Blazer Owner's Manual - Page 179

Driving Across an Incline Sooner orlater, an off-road trail will probably go across the incline of a hill. If this happens, you have to decide whether to try to drive across theincline. Here are some things to consider: 0 Hidden obstacles can make the steepness of the incline even worse. If you drive across a rock with the uphill wheels, or if the downhill wheels drop into a rut or depression, your vehicle can tilt even more. For reasons like these, you need to decide carefully whether to try to drive acrossan incline. Just because the trail goes across the incline doesn't mean you have to drive it. The last vehicle to try it might have rolled over. A hill that can be driven straight up or down may be too steep to drive across. When you go straight up or down a hill, the length of the wheel base (the distance from the front wheels to the rear wheels) reduces the likelihood vehicle will tumble end the over end. But when you drive acrossan incline, the much more narrow track width (the distancebetween the left and right wheels) may not prevent the vehicle from tilting and rolling over. Also, driving across an incline puts more weight on the downhill wheels. This could cause a downhill slide or a rollover. 1 A CAUTION: I 0 Surface conditions can be a problem when you drive across a hill. Loose gravel, muddy spots, or even wet grass can cause your tires to slip sideways, downhill. If the vehicle slips sideways, it can hit something that will trip it (a rock, a rut, etc.) and roll over. Driving across an incline that's too steep will make your vehicle roll over. could be You seriously injuredor killed. If you have any doubt about the steepness the incline, don't drive of across it. Find another route instead. -1 I 4-25