1993 GMC Sonoma Owner's Manual - Page 177

Remember:Therearwheelantilockbrakingsystem (RWAL) helps avoid only arearbrakingskid. In abraking skid (wherethefrontwheelsarenolonger rolling),release enough pressure on the brakes to getthefrontwheelsrolling again.Thisrestoressteeringcontrol.Push the brake pedal downsteadily when youhave to stopsuddenly.Aslongasthefrontwheelsarerolling,you willhavesteeringcontrol.Steerthewayyouwant to go. OffmRoad Driving with Your Four-wheel Drive Vehicle Thisoff-roadguide is forvehiclesthathavefour-wheeldrive.Also,see "AntilockBrakes'' in the Index. If yourvehicledoesn'thavefour-wheeldrive, youshouldn'tdrive off-road unlessyou'reon a level,solidsurface. Off-roaddrivingcanbegreatfun.But it doeshavesomedefinitehazards. Thegreatest of theseistheterrainitself. "Off-roading"meansyou'veleftthegreatNorthAmericanroadsystembehind. Trafficlanesaren'tmarked.Curvesaren'tbanked.Therearenoroadsigns. Surfacescanbeslippery,rough,uphillordownhill.Inshort,you'vegoneright back to nature. Off-road drivinginvolvessomenewskills.Andthat's why it'sveryimportant thatyoureadthisguide. You'll find manydrivingtipsandsuggestions.These willhelp make your off-road drivingsaferandmoreenjoyable. Before You Go Off-Roading Therearesomethings to dobefore you goout.Forexample,besure to haveallnecessarymaintenanceandserviceworkdone.Besureyoureadall theinformationaboutyourfour-wheeldrivevehicle in thismanual. Is there enough fuel? Is the sparetirefullyinflated?Arethefluidlevelsupwhere theyshouldbe?Whatarethelocallawsthatapply to off-roadingwhereyou'll bedriving? If you don'tknow,youshouldcheckwithlawenforcementpeople in thearea.Willyou be onsomeone'sprivateland?If so, besure to getthe necessarypermission. Loading Your Vehicle for Off-Road Driving Therearesomeimportantthings vehicle. to rememberabouthow to loadyour ofyourrear The heaviestthingsshouldbeonthe load floorandforward axle.Putheavieritemsasfarforwardasyoucan. Be surethe load is securedproperly, so drivingontheoff-roadterrain doesn'ttossthingsaround. 4-23