2009 Jeep Patriot Owner's Manual - Page 280

278 STARTING AND OPERATING Driving Across An Incline If at all possible avoid driving across an incline. If it is necessary, know your vehicle's abilities. Driving across an incline places more weight on the down-hill wheels, which increases the possibilities of a down-hill slide or rollover. Make sure the surface has good traction with firm and stable soils. If possible transverse the incline at an angle heading slightly up or down. and hill descent braking to control the descent and apply your brakes if necessary, but do not allow the tires to lock. WARNING! If the engine stalls or you lose headway or cannot make it to the top of a steep hill or grade, never attempt to turn around. To do so may result in tipping and rolling the vehicle, which may result in severe injury. Always back carefully straight down a hill in REVERSE gear. Never back down a hill in NEUTRAL using only the vehicle brakes. Never drive diagonally across a hill, always drive straight up or down. Driving Through Water Extreme care should be taken crossing any type of water. Water crossings should be avoided if possible, and only be attempted when necessary in a safe responsible manner. You should only drive through areas which are WARNING! Driving across an incline increases the risk of a rollover, which may result in severe injury. If You Stall Or Begin To Lose Headway If you stall or begin to lose headway while climbing a steep hill, allow your vehicle to come to a stop and immediately apply the brake. Restart the engine and shift to REVERSE. Back slowly down the hill allowing engine