1998 Nissan Frontier Owner's Manual - Page 122

DRIVING YOUR FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE SAFELY Your NISSAN is designed for both normal and off-road use. It has a higher ground clearance and a narrower track to make it suitable for off-road use. These characteristics give the vehicle a higher center of gravity than ordinary passenger cars. An advantage of the higher ground clearance is a better view of your surroundings, allowing you to anticipate problems. However, avoid driving in deep water or mud as your NISSAN is mainly designed for leisure use, unlike a conventional off-road vehicle. Please observe the following precautions: WARNING ● Drive carefully when off the road and avoid dangerous areas. Always wear your seat belts to help keep you and your passengers in position when driving over rough terrain. ● Do not drive across steep slopes. Instead drive either straight up or straight down the slopes. Off-road vehicles can tip over sideways much more easily than they can forward or backward. ● Many hills are too steep for any vehicle. If you drive up them, you may stall. If you drive down them, you may not be able to control your speed. If you drive across them, you may roll over. ● Stay alert when driving to the top of a hill. At the top there could be a drop-off or other hazard that could cause an accident. ● If your engine stalls or you cannot make it to the top of a steep hill, never attempt to turn around. Your vehicle could tip or roll over. Always back straight down in reverse gear. Never back down in N (neutral) or with the clutch depressed, using only the brake, as this could cause loss of control. ● Heavy braking going down a hill could cause your brakes to overheat and fade, resulting in loss of control and an accident. Apply brakes lightly and use a low gear to control your speed. ● If at all possible, avoid sharp turning maneuvers, particularly at high speeds. Your NISSAN four-wheel drive vehicle has a higher center of gravity than a two-wheel drive vehicle and can tip over more easily. The vehicle is not designed for cornering at the same speeds as conventional two-wheel drive vehicles any more than lowslung sports cars are designed to perform satisfactorily under off-road conditions. Failure to operate this vehicle correctly could result in loss of control and/or a rollover accident. ● Unsecured cargo can be thrown around when driving over rough terrain. Properly secure it so that it will not be thrown forward and cause injury to you or your passengers. ● Avoid raising the center of gravity by loading things on the roof or equipping the vehicle with tires larger than specified in this manual. This could cause your vehicle to roll over. Put heavy loads in the cargo area as far forward and as low as possible. ● Do not grip the inside or spokes of the steering wheel when driving offroad. The steering wheel could jerk and injure your hands. Instead drive with your fingers and thumbs on the outside of the rim. Starting and driving 5-21