1995 GMC Sonoma Owner's Manual - Page 148

Getting Familiar with Off-Road Driving It's a good idea to practice in an area that's safe and close to home before you go into the wilderness. Off-road driving does require some new and different drivingskills. Here's what we mean. Tune your senses to different kinds of signals. Your eyes, for example, need to constantly sweepthe terrain for unexpected obstacles. Your ears need to listen for unusual tire or engine sounds. With your arms, hands, feet, and body you'll need to respond to vibrations and vehicle bounce. Controlling your vehicle is the key to successful off-road driving. One of the best ways to control your vehicle is to control your speed. Here are some things to keep in mind. At higher speeds: 0 you approach things faster and you have less time to scan the terrain for obstacles. you have less time to react. 0 0 you have more vehicle bounce when you drive over obstacles. you'll need more distance for braking, especially since you're on an unpaved surface. 0 1A CAUTION: When you're driving road, bouncing and quick changes in off of direction can easily throw you outposition. This could cause So, you to lose control and crash. whether you're driving on or off the road, you and your passengers should wear safety belts. Scanning the Terrain Off-road driving can take you over many different kinds of terrain. You need to be familiar with the terrain and its many different features. Here are some thingsto consider. Su$uce Conditions. Off-roading can take you over hard-packed dirt, gravel, rocks, grass, sand, mud, snow or ice. Each of these surfaces affects the steering, acceleration, and braking of your vehicle in different ways. Depending upon the kind of surface you are on, you may experience slipping, sliding, wheel spinning, delayed acceleration, poor traction, and longer braking distances. 4- '14