Good Driving Practices

• Never move the shift lever from P (Park) or N (Neutral) to any other position while the accelerator pedal is depressed.
• Never shift the shift lever to P (Park) while the vehicle is moving.
• Make sure the vehicle is completely stopped before attempting to shift into R (Reverse) or D (Drive).
• Never turn off the engine and coast down a hill. This may be extremely dangerous. Always leave the vehicle in gear while driving.
• Do not ride the brakes. This may cause them to overheat and fail. Instead, when driving down a long grade, reduce speed and shift to a lower gear. In this case, engine braking will help reduce vehicle speed.
• Slow down before downshifting. Otherwise, the lower gear may not engage.
• Always use the parking brake. Do not rely on shifting into P (Park) to keep the vehicle from moving.

WARNING

Exercise extreme caution when driving on slippery surfaces. Be especially careful when braking, accelerating, or shifting gears. On slippery surfaces, sudden changes in vehicle speed may cause the drive wheels to lose traction with the road and the vehicle to lose control.

• Optimum vehicle performance and fuel economy are achieved by smoothly depressing and releasing the accelerator pedal.

WARNING

• Always wear your seat belt! In a collision, an unbelted passenger is much more likely to suffer serious injury or death than a properly belted passenger.
• Avoid high speeds when driving through curves or turns.
• Do not make sudden steering movements, such as quick lane changes or rapid, sharp turns.
• The risk of rollover increases significantly if you lose control of your vehicle at highway speeds.
• Loss of control often occurs when two or more wheels leave the paved road surface and the driver steers to return to the road.
• If your vehicle leaves the paved surface, do not steer sharply. Instead, brake gently before returning to the lane.
• Never exceed the posted speed limits.

WARNING

If your vehicle is stuck in snow, mud, sand, etc., you may try to rock the vehicle by shifting it back and forth between forward and reverse. Do not attempt this procedure if people or objects are anywhere near the vehicle. While rocking, the vehicle may suddenly move forward or backward as it frees itself, which may cause injury to, or damage to, nearby people or objects.

Starting on a Steep Uphill Slope

To drive up a steep slope from a standstill, depress the brake pedal, release the parking brake, and move the shift lever to the D (Drive) position. Select the appropriate gear depending on the cargo weight and steepness of the slope, then release the parking brake. Gradually depress the accelerator pedal while releasing the service brakes.

When accelerating from a standstill on a steep slope, the vehicle may tend to roll backward. Shifting the gear selector lever to 2 (second gear) helps prevent the vehicle from rolling backward.