Land Rover Discovery Series Ii 2002my Owners Handbook Nas Rover

140 

Off-Road Driving
141
Off-Road Driving
Off-Road DrivingBEFORE YOU DRIVE
Before venturing off-road, it is absolutely         
essential that inexperienced drivers become 
fully familiar with the vehicles controls, in 
particular the transfer gearbox, and also study 
the off-road driving techniques described on 
this and the following pages.
WARNING
Off-road driving can be hazardous!
•DO NOT take unnecessary risks and be 
prepared for emergencies at all times.
•Your Discovery has a higher ground 
clearance...

Off-Road Driving
142
Braking
As far as possible, vehicle speed should be 
controlled through correct gear selection and 
the use of Hill Descent Control (HDC). 
Application of the brake pedal should be kept to 
a minimum. In fact, if the correct gear and HDC 
have been selected, braking will be largely 
unnecessary.
If the brake pedal is depressed when HDC is 
active, HDC is overridden and the brakes will 
perform as normal. If the brake pedal is then 
released, HDC will recommence operating, if...

Off-Road Driving
143
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 slopes, or where...

Off-Road Driving
144
AFTER DRIVING OFF-ROAD
SERVICING REQUIREMENTS
Vehicles operated 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’, page 160 and 
contact a Land Rover dealer for advice.
After wading in salt water or driving on sandy 
beaches, use a hose to wash the underbody 
components and any exposed body panels with 
fresh water. This will help to protect...

Driving Techniques
145
Driving TechniquesDRIVING ON SOFT SURFACES & DRY 
SAND
The ideal technique for driving on soft surfaces 
(dry sand for example) requires the vehicle to 
be kept moving at all times - soft 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.
Select the highest suitable gear and REMAIN in 
that gear until a firm surface is reached. It is 
generally advisable to use LOW range...

Driving Techniques
146
CLIMBING STEEP SLOPES
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 your 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...

Driving Techniques
147
DESCENDING STEEP SLOPES
WARNING
Failure to follow these instructions may cause 
the vehicle to roll over.
•Stop the vehicle at least a vehicle length 
before the start of the slope and apply the 
parking brake. Engage first gear (‘1’) LOW 
range and hill descent control.
•Unless it is necessary to stop the vehicle in 
order to negotiate obstructions, DO NOT 
touch the brake during the descent - the 
engine and HDC will limit the speed, keeping 
the vehicle under perfect control...

Driving Techniques
148
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...

Driving Techniques
149
WADING
WARNING
The maximum advisable wading depth is 
20 inches (0,5 m).
Severe electrical damage may occur if the 
vehicle remains stationary for any length of 
time when the water level is above the door 
sills.
If the depth of water is likely to exceed 20 
inches (0,5 m), the following precautions 
should be observed:
•Fix a plastic sheet in front of the radiator 
grille to prevent water from soaking the 
engine and mud from blocking the radiator.
•Remove the CD autochanger
*....