2003 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Owner Guide 1st Printing (Spanish) - Page 354

Driving "Tread Lightly" is an educational program designed to increase public awareness of land-use regulations and responsibilities in our nations wilderness areas. Ford joins the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management in encouraging you to help preserve our national forest and other public and private lands by "treading lightly." Driving on hilly or sloping terrain Avoid driving crosswise or turning on steep slopes or hills. Your vehicle may lose traction and slip sideways and possibly roll over. Do not drive in reverse over a hill without the aid of an observer. When climbing a steep slope or hill, start in a lower gear rather than downshifting to a lower gear from a higher gear once the ascent has started. This reduces the possibility of the vehicle stalling. If your vehicle does stall, do not try to turn around because your vehicle may roll over. Apply just enough power to the wheels to climb the hill. Too much power will cause the tires to slip or spin, resulting in loss of vehicle control. When descending a hill, use the same gear you would use to climb up the hill and do not descend the hill with the transmission in neutral. Disengage overdrive or manually shift to a lower gear. When descending a steep hill, avoid sudden hard braking as you could lose control. When you brake hard, the front wheels can't turn. Rapid pumping of the brake pedal will help you slow the vehicle and still maintain steering control. 124