Jeep Grand Cherokee Quiz
Starting and operating

Hill Climbing

In this manual: Starting and operating
Introduction — 7Things to know before starting your vehicle — 107Understanding the features of your vehicle — 241Understanding your instrument panel — 150Starting and operating — 143What to do in emergencies — 19Maintaining your vehicle — 78Maintenance schedules — 3If you need consumer assistance — 21
~1min read

Before climbing a steep hill, shift the transmission to a lower gear and shift the transfer case to 4WD LOW. Use first gear and 4WD LOW for very steep hills.

If you stall or begin to lose forward motion while climbing a steep hill, allow your vehicle to come to a stop and immediately apply the brakes. Restart the engine, and shift into REVERSE. Back slowly down the hill, allowing the compression braking of the engine to help regulate your speed. If the brakes are required to control vehicle speed, apply them lightly and avoid locking or skidding the tires.

Remember, never drive diagonally across a hill always drive straight up or down.

If the wheels start to slip as you approach the crest of a hill, ease off the accelerator and maintain forward motion by turning the front wheels slowly. This may provide a fresh “bite” into the surface and will usually provide traction to complete the climb.

Test yourself

A quick Jeep Grand Cherokee quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.