2009 GMC Canyon Owner's Manual - Page 208

Approaching a Hill When you approach a hill, decide if it is too steep to climb, descend, or cross. Steepness can be hard to judge. On a very small hill, for example, there may be a smooth, constant incline with only a small change in elevation where you can easily see all the way to the top. On a large hill, the incline may get steeper as you near the top, but you might not see this because the crest of the hill is hidden by bushes, grass, or shrubs. Consider this as you approach a hill: Driving Uphill Once you decide it is safe to drive up the hill: • Use a low gear and get a firm grip on the steering wheel. • Get a smooth start up the hill and try to maintain speed. Not using more power than needed can avoid spinning the wheels or sliding. • Is there a constant incline, or does the hill get sharply steeper in places? { CAUTION: Turning or driving across steep hills can be dangerous. You could lose traction, slide sideways, and possibly roll over. You could be seriously injured or killed. When driving up hills, always try to go straight up. • Is there good traction on the hillside, or will the surface cause tire slipping? • Is there a straight path up or down the hill so you will not have to make turning maneuvers? • Are there obstructions on the hill that can block your path, such as boulders, trees, logs, or ruts? • What is beyond the hill? Is there a cliff, an embankment, a drop-off, a fence? Get out and walk the hill if you do not know. It is the smart way to find out. • Try to drive straight up the hill if at all possible. If the path twists and turns, you might want to find another route. • Ease up on the speed as you approach the top of the hill. • Is the hill simply too rough? Steep hills often have ruts, gullies, troughs, and exposed rocks because they are more susceptible to the effects of erosion. 4-18