2002 GMC Sonoma Owner's Manual - Page 240

Driving Downhill When off-roading takes you downhill, you'll want to consider a number of things: CAUTION: Heavy braking 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. D How steep is the downhill? Will I be able to maintain vehicle control? D What's the surface like? Smooth? Rough? Slippery? Hard-packed dirt? Gravel? D Are there hidden surface obstacles? Ruts? Logs? Boulders? D What's at the bottom of the hill? Is there a hidden creek bank or even a river bottom with large rocks? Q: A: 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. Are there some things I should not do when driving down a hill? Yes! These are important because if you ignore them you could lose control and have a serious accident. D When driving downhill, avoid turns that take you across the incline of the hill. A hill that's not too steep to drive down may be too steep to drive across. You could roll over if you don't drive straight down. NEUTRAL (N), or with the clutch pedal pressed down in a manual shift. This is called "free-wheeling." Your brakes will have to do all the work and could overheat and fade. D Never go downhill with the transmission in 4-22