The Basics Of Off-Road Driving

You will encounter many types of terrain driving offroad.

You should be familiar with the terrain and area before proceeding. There are many types of surface conditions: hard-packed dirt, gravel, rocks, grass, sand, mud, snow and ice. Every surface has a different effect on your vehicle’s steering, handling and traction. Controlling your vehicle is one of the keys to successful off-road driving, so always keep a firm grip on the steering wheel and maintain a good driving posture. Avoid sudden accelerations, turns or braking. In most cases, there are no road signs, posted speed limits or signal lights. Therefore, you will need to use your own good judgment on what is safe and what is not. When on a trail, you should always be looking ahead for surface obstacles and changes in terrain. The key is to plan your future driving route while remembering what you are currently driving over.

CAUTION!
Never park your vehicle over dry grass or other combustible materials. The heat from your vehicle exhaust system could cause a fire.

WARNING!
Always wear your seat belt and firmly tie down cargo. Unsecured cargo can become projectiles in an off-road situation.

    See also:

    Elapsed Time
    Shows the total elapsed time of travel since the last reset. Elapsed time will increment when the ignition switch is in the RUN or START position. Elapsed time is displayed as follows: hours:minute ...

    FCW Unavailable Warning
    If the system turns off, and the EVIC displays “ACC/ FCW Unavailable, Vehicle System Error”, there may be a temporary malfunction that limits FCW functionality. Although the vehicle is still ...

    Front Heated Seats
    There are two heated seat switches that allow the driver and passenger to operate the seats independently. The controls for each heater are located near the bottom center of the instrument panel ...