2003 GMC Envoy Owner's Manual - Page 256

Driving Downhill When off-roading takes you downhill, you'll want to consider a number of things: e --[King when going down a hill can cause your brakes to overheat and fade. This could cause loss of control and a serious accident. Apply the brakes lightly when descending a hill and use a low gear to keep vehicle speed under control. I How steep is the downhill? Will I be able to maintain vehicle control? What's the surface like? Smooth? Rough? Slippery? Hard-packed dirt? Gravel? Are there hidden surface obstacles? Ruts? Logs? Boulders? e What's at the bottom of the hili? Is there a hidden creek bank or even a river bottom with large rocks? Q: Are there some things I should not do when driving down a hill? If you decide you can go down a hill safely, then try to keep your vehicle headed straight down, and use a low gear. This way, engine drag can help your brakes and they won't have to do all the work. Descend slowly, keeping your vehicle under control at all times. A: Yes! These are important because if you ignore them you could lose control and have a serious accident. When driving downhill, avoid turns that take you across the inclineof the hill. A hill that's nottoo steep to drive down may be too steep to drive across. You could roll over if you don't drive straight down. e Never go downhill with the transmission in NEUTRAL (N). This is called "free-wheeling." Your brakes willhave to do all the work and could overheat and fade. 4-23