Land Rover Defender Owners Handbook Rover

							178 
						

							Off-road driving
179
WARNING
Off-road driving can be hazardous!
·DO NOT take unnecessary risks.
·Be prepared for emergencies at all
times.
·Familiarise yourself with the
recommended driving techniques in
order to minimise risks to yourself, your
vehicle AND your passengers.
·Always use a seat belt for personal
protection in all off-road driving
conditions.
·DO NOT drive if the fuel level is low -
undulating ground and steep inclines
could cause fuel starvation to the engine
and consequent damage to the catalytic
converter (if fitted).
·Driving off-road with a loaded roof rack
is not recommended. If it is necessary to
stow luggage on the roof-rack while
driving off-road, all loads MUST be
removed before traversing side slopes.
BASIC OFF-ROAD TECHNIQUES
These basic driving techniques are an
introduction to the art of off-road driving and
do not necessarily provide the information
needed to successfully cope with every single
off-road situation.
We strongly recommend that owners who
intend to drive off-road frequently, should
seek as much additional information and
practical experience as possible.Gear selection
Correct gear selection is possibly the single
most important factor for safe and successful
off-road driving. While only experience will tell
you which is the correct gear for any section
of ground, the following basic rules apply:
1.NEVER change gear or de-clutch while
negotiating difficult terrain - the drag on
the wheels may cause the vehicle to stop
when the clutch is depressed and
restarting may be difficult.
2.Generally, and especially where slippery or
soft ground conditions prevail, the higher
the gear you select the better.
3.When descending very steep slopes
always select 1st gear in LOW range.
Inexperienced drivers are advised to stop the
vehicle and carefully consider which gear will
be most appropriate for each manoeuvre
before continuing.
Slipping the clutch
Use of excessive clutch slip to prevent the
engine stalling will result in premature clutch
wear. Always select a gear low enough to
enable the vehicle to proceed without the need
to slip the clutch.
DO NOT drive with your foot resting on the
clutch pedal; driving across uneven terrain
could cause you to inadvertently depress the
clutch, resulting in loss of control of the
vehicle. 
						

							Off-road driving
180 Transfer gears
High range gears should be used whenever
possible - only change to low range when
ground conditions become very difficult. The
DIFF LOCK should be engaged whenever there
is a risk of losing wheel grip, and disengaged
as soon as firm, level, non-slippery ground is
reached.
Braking
As far as possible, vehicle speed should be
controlled through correct gear selection.
Application of the brake pedal should be kept
to an absolute minimum. Harsh braking on
wet, muddy or loose surfaces could prove
dangerous.
NOTE:If the correct gear has been selected,
braking will be largely unnecessary.
Use of engine for braking
Before descending steep slopes, stop the
vehicle at least a length before the descent,
select neutral in the main gearbox, engage
LOW range and then select first or second
gear depending on the severity of the incline.
While descending the slope it should be
remembered that the engine will provide
sufficient braking effort to control the rate of
descent, and that the brakes should not be
applied.
Accelerating
Use the accelerator with care - any sudden
surge of power may induce wheel spin and
result in loss of control of the vehicle.Steering
WARNING
DO NOT hold the steering wheel with your
thumbs inside the rim - a sudden kick of
the wheel as the vehicle negotiates a rut or
boulder could seriously injure them.
ALWAYS grip the wheel on the outside of the
rim (as shown) when traversing uneven
ground.
Survey the ground before driving
Before negotiating difficult terrain, it is wise to
carry out a preliminary survey on foot. This
will minimise the risk of your vehicle getting
into difficulty through a previously unnoticed
hazard. 
						

							Off-road driving
181 Ground clearance
Dont forget to allow for ground clearance
beneath the chassis, axles, and under the
front and rear bumpers. Note that the axle
differentials are situated BELOW the chassis
and are positioned slightly to the RIGHT of the
centre of the vehicle. Note also that there are
other parts of the vehicle which may come
into contact with the ground; take care not to
ground the vehicle.
Ground clearance is particularly important at
the bottom of steep a slope, or where wheel
ruts are unusually deep and where sudden
changes in the slope of the ground are
experienced.
On soft ground the axle differentials will clear
their own path in all but the most difficult
conditions. However, on frozen, rocky or hard
ground, hard contact between the differentials
and the ground will generally result in the
vehicle coming to a sudden stop.
Always attempt to avoid obstacles that may
foul the chassis or axle differentials.Loss of traction
If the vehicle is immobile due to loss of wheel
grip, the following hints could be of value:
·Avoid prolonged wheel spin; this will make
matters worse.
·Remove obstacles rather than forcing the
vehicle across them.
·Clear clogged tyre treads.
·Reverse as far as possible, then attempt
an increased speed approach - additional
momentum may overcome the obstacle.
·Brushwood, sacking or any similar
material placed in front of the tyres will
improve tyre grip. 
						

							Off-road driving
182 IMPORTANT INFORMATION
After driving off-road
Before rejoining the public highway, or
driving at speeds above 40 km/h (25
mph), consideration should be given to
the following:
·Wheels and tyres must be cleaned of
mud and inspected for damage -
ensure there are no lumps or bulges
in the tyres or exposure of the ply or
cord structure.
·Brake discs and calipers should be
examined and any stones or grit that
may affect braking efficiency
removed.
Servicing requirements
Vehicles operating in arduous conditions,
particularly on dusty, muddy, or wet
terrain, and vehicles undergoing frequent
or deep wading conditions will require
more frequent servicing. See Owner
maintenance and contact a Land Rover
dealer for advice.
In addition:
After wading in salt water or driving on
sandy beaches, use a hose to thoroughly
wash the underbody components and any
exposed body panels with fresh water.
This will help to protect the vehicles
cosmetic appearance. 
						

							Off-road driving
183 DRIVING ON SOFT SURFACES & DRY SAND
The ideal technique for driving on soft ground
and dry sand, requires the vehicle to be kept
moving at all times - soft ground and sand
causes excessive drag on the wheels,
resulting in a rapid loss of motion once
driving momentum is lost. For this reason,
gear changing should be avoided.
·Engage the DIFF LOCK.
·Select the highest suitable gear and
REMAIN in that gear until a firm surface is
reached. It is generally advisable to use
LOW range gears, as these will enable you
to accelerate through worsening
conditions without the risk of being unable
to restart.
·Disengage the DIFF LOCK as soon as firm
ground is reached.Stopping the vehicle on soft ground, in sand
or on an incline
If you do stop your vehicle, remember:
Starting on an incline or in soft ground or
sand is almost impossible. Always park on a
firm level area, or with the vehicle facing
downhill.
To avoid wheel spin, select second or third
gear, and use the MINIMUM throttle
necessary to get the vehicle moving.
If forward motion is lost, avoid excessive use
of the throttle - this will cause wheel spin and
tend to dig the vehicle into the sand. Clear
sand from around the tyres and ensure that
the chassis and axles are not bearing on the
sand before again attempting to move.
If the wheels have sunk, use an air bag lifting
device or high lift jack to raise the vehicle, and
then build up sand under the wheels so that
the vehicle is again on level ground. If a
restart is still not possible, place sand mats or
ladders beneath the wheels. 
						

							Off-road driving
184 DRIVING ON SLIPPERY SURFACES
(ice, snow, mud, wet grass)
·With the DIFF LOCK engaged, select the
highest gear possible.
·Drive away using the MINIMUM possible
throttle opening.
·Drive slowly at all times, keeping braking
to a minimum and avoiding violent
movements of the steering wheel.
·Disengage the DIFF LOCK as soon as a
non slippery surface is reached.DRIVING ON ROUGH TRACKS
Although rough tracks can sometimes be
negotiated in normal drive, it is advisable to
lock the differential if excessive suspension
movement is likely to induce wheel spin.
On very rough tracks, engage LOW range to
enable a steady, low speed to be maintained
without constant use of the brake and clutch
pedals.
Always disengage the DIFF LOCK when
smooth, firm ground is reached. 
						

							Off-road driving
185 CLIMBING STEEP SLOPES
Engage the DIFF LOCK and ALWAYS follow
the fall line of the slope - travelling diagonally
could encourage the vehicle to slide broadside
down the slope.
Steep climbs will usually require the LOW gear
range. If the surface is loose or slippery, use
sufficient speed in the highest practical gear
to take advantage of the vehicles momentum.
However, too high a speed over a bumpy
surface may result in a wheel lifting, causing
the vehicle to lose traction. In this case try a
slower approach. Traction can also be
improved by easing off the accelerator just
before loss of forward motion.
If the vehicle is unable to complete a climb, do
not attempt to turn it around while on the
slope. Instead, adopt the following procedure
to reverse downhill to the foot of the slope:
1.Hold the vehicle stationary using both foot
and hand brakes.
2.Restart the engine if necessary.
3.Engage reverse gear LOW range.
4.Release the handbrake. Then release the
foot brake and clutch simultaneously, and
allow the vehicle to reverse down the
slope using engine braking to control the
rate of descent.5.Unless it is necessary to stop the vehicle
in order to negotiate obstructions, DO NOT
apply the brake or clutch pedal during the
descent.
6.If the vehicle begins to slide, accelerate
slightly to allow the tyres to regain grip.
When the vehicle is back on level ground or
where traction can be regained, a faster
approach will probably enable the hill to be
climbed. However, DO NOT take unnecessary
risks, if the hill is too difficult to climb, find an
alternative route.
WARNING
The engine must be restarted before
reversing down the slope, as there will be
no servo assistance to the brakes unless the
engine is running. 
						

							Off-road driving
186
DESCENDING STEEP SLOPES
A.Stop the vehicle at least a vehicle length
before the slope and engage first gear
LOW range with the differential locked.
B.Unless it is necessary to stop the vehicle
in order to negotiate obstructions,DO NOT
touch the brake or clutch pedals during
the descent - the engine will limit the
speed, keeping the vehicle under control
provided the front wheels are turning. If
the vehicle begins to slide, accelerate
gently to maintain directional stability - DO
NOT use the brakes or attempt to change
gear.C.Once level ground is reached, unlock the
differential and select a suitable gear for
the next stage of your journey.
WARNING
Failure to follow these instructions may
cause the vehicle to roll over. 
						

							Off-road driving
187 TRAVERSING A SLOPE
Before crossing a slope, ALWAYS observe the
following precautions:
·Check that the ground is firm and not
slippery.
·Check that the wheels on the downhill side
of the vehicle are not likely to drop into
any depressions in the ground and that the
uphill wheels will not run over rocks, tree
roots, or similar obstacles that could
suddenly increase the angle of tilt.
·Ensure that passenger weight is evenly
distributed, that all roof rack luggage is
removed and that all other luggage is
properly secured and stowed as low as
possible. Always remember; any sudden
movement of the load could cause the
vehicle to overturn.
·Rear seat passengers should sit on the
uphill side of the vehicle or, in extreme
conditions, should vacate the vehicle until
the sloping ground has been safely
negotiated.
NEGOTIATING A V SHAPED GULLY
Observe extreme caution! Steering up either
of the gully walls could cause the side of the
vehicle to be trapped against the opposite
gully wall.DRIVING IN EXISTING WHEEL TRACKS
As far as possible allow the vehicle to steer
itself along the bottom of the ruts. However,
always keep a light hold of the steering wheel
to prevent it from spinning free.
Particularly in wet conditions, if the steering
wheel is allowed to spin free, the vehicle may
appear to be driving straight ahead in the ruts,
but in actual fact (due to the lack of traction
caused by the wet ground) is unknowingly on
full right or left lock. Then, when level ground
is reached, or if a dry patch is encountered,
the wheels will find traction and cause the
vehicle to suddenly veer to left or right.
CROSSING A RIDGE
Approach at right angles so that both front
wheels and then both rear wheels cross the
ridge together - an angled approach could
cause traction to be lost through diagonally
opposite wheels lifting from the ground at the
same time.
CROSSING A DITCH
With the DIFF LOCK engaged, cross ditches at
an angle so that three wheels always maintain
contact with the ground (if approached head
on, both front wheels will drop into the ditch
together, possibly resulting in the chassis and
front bumper being trapped on opposite sides
of the ditch).