2003 Mercury Mountaineer Driving Your SUV or Truck 1st Printing - Page 9

Driving Off-Road DRIVING OFF-ROAD When using 4WD or AWD, maintain steering wheel control at all times, especially in rough terrain. Since sudden changes in terrain can result in abrupt steering wheel motion, make sure you grip the steering wheel from the outside. Do not grip the spokes. Drive cautiously to avoid vehicle damage from concealed objects such as rocks and stumps. You should either know the terrain or examine maps of the area before driving. Map out your route before driving in the area. To maintain steering and braking control of your vehicle, you must have all four wheels on the ground and they must be rolling, not sliding or spinning. Sand Ford Motor Company designs its vehicles to operate within its intended use (not misusing the vehicle, not overloading, etc.) and at the tire inflation pressures specified on the tire decal. It is not recommended that you deflate the tires for any reason including operation in sand. In the event you have reduced the inflation pressure to below the specified pressure on the tire decal while operating in sand, you must reinflate the tires to the specified pressure before you resume driving on the road. Failure to do so could result in an increased risk of loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover, personal injury and death. When driving over sand, try to keep all four wheels on the most solid area of the trail. Avoid reducing the tire pressure. Instead, shift to a lower gear and drive steadily through the terrain. Apply the accelerator slowly and avoid spinning the wheels. If you must reduce the tire pressure for whatever reason in sand, make sure you reinflate the tires as soon as possible. Avoid excessive speed because vehicle momentum can work against you and cause the vehicle to become stuck to the point that assistance may be required from another vehicle. Remember, you may be able to back out the way you came if you proceed with caution. Mud Be cautious of sudden changes in vehicle speed or direction when you are driving in mud. Even 4WD and AWD vehicles can lose traction in slick mud. As when you are driving over sand, apply the accelerator slowly and avoid spinning your wheels. If the vehicle does slide, steer in the direction of the slide until you regain control of the vehicle. After driving through mud, clean off residue stuck to rotating driveshafts and tires. Excess mud stuck on tires and rotating driveshafts causes an imbalance that could damage vehicle components. 9