Land Rover Range Rover 98my Owners Nas Rover Manual

Parts & accessories
178 

Parts & accessories
179 

180 

181 This section of the handbook is devoted to
your vehicles superb off-road driving
capabilities.
Before venturing off-road however, it is
absolutely essentialthat inexperienced
drivers become fully familiar with the vehicles
controls, in particular the transfer gearbox,
and also study the off-road driving techniques
described on the following pages.
SECTION 7
Off-road driving
Section Contents Page
Basic off-road techniques 181........................
Driving on soft surfaces & dry sand 184...........

182 

Off-road driving
183
WARNING
Off-road driving can be hazardous!
·DO NOT take unnecessary risks.
·Be prepared for emergencies at all
times.
·Your Range Rover has higher ground
clearance and hence a higher centre of
gravity than an ordinary passenger car.
An abrupt manoeuvre at an inappropriate
speed or on an unstable surface could
cause the vehicle to go out of control.
·Familiarise yourself with the
recommended driving techniques in
order to minimise risks to yourself, your
vehicle AND your passengers....

Off-road driving
184 Use of engine for braking
Before descending steep slopes, stop the
vehicle at least its length before the descent,
move the gearshift lever to N, engage LOW
range and then select 1 or 2 in the main
gearbox 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...

Off-road driving
185 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 only
make matters worse. The electronic
traction control (ETC) will prevent rear
wheel spin; drive will be diverted from a
spinning wheel and the remaining wheel
will then provide the traction necessary to
overcome difficult driving conditions.
·Remove obstacles rather than forcing the
vehicle across them.
·Clear clogged tyre treads....

Off-road driving
186 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.
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...

Off-road driving
187
CLIMBING STEEP SLOPES
ALWAYS follow the 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....