1998 Chevrolet Blazer Owner's Manual - Page 204

Driving Downhill When off-roading takesyou downhill, you'll wantto consider a number of things: 0 How steep is the downhill? WillI 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? 0 Heavy braking when goingdown a hill can cause This your brakes to overheat and fade. could cause loss of control and aserious accident. Apply the brakes lightly when descendinga hill and use a low gear to keep vehicle speed under control. - What's at the bottom of the hill? Is there a hidden creek bankor even a river bottom with large rocks? @ Are there some things I should not do when driving downa hill? Yes! These are important because if you ignore them you could control and have a lose serious accident. If you decide you cango down a hill safely, then try to keep your vehicle headedstraight down, and use a low gear. This way, engine drag help your brakes and can they won't have to do all the work. Descend slowly, keeping your vehicle under control all times. at A: 0 When driving downhill, avoid turns that take you across the incline of the hill. A hill that's nottoo steep to drive down may be too steep to drive across. You could roll over ifyou don't drive straight down. Never go downhill with the transmission in NEUTRAL (N), or with the clutch pedal depressed in a manual shift. This is called "free-wheeling." Your brakes will haveto do all the work and could overheat and fade. 0 4-22