Mercedes-Benz G-Class 2014 Owners Manual - Manual (Page 170)

R Avoid high engine speeds – drive at an
appropriate engine speed (maximum
3,000 rpm).
R When driving down an incline, make use of
the engine's braking effect. Observe the
engine speed; do not overrev the engine.
i Further information on the maximum
engine speed: (
Y
page 206).
R Select a shift range appropriate to the
gradient.
R Before tackling steep downhill gradients,
select shift range 1(
Y
page 150).
R Always check the brakes after driving off-
road.
i Hill start assist will aid you when pulling
away on a hill.
For more information, see "Hill start assist"
(
Y
page 141).
Maximum gradient-climbing capability
Accelerate carefully and make sure that the
wheels do not spin when driving on steep
terrain.
i If the load on the front axle is reduced
when pulling away on a steep uphill slope,
the front wheels have a tendency to spin.
4ETS detects this and brakes the wheels
accordingly. The rear wheel torque is
increased, making it easier to drive off.
Always observe the maximum gradient
climbing ability values (
Y
page 351).
Hilltops
When driving on an uphill gradient, reduce
pressure slightly on the accelerator
immediately before reaching the top of the hill
(do not shift the transmission to position N).
Use the vehicle's own impetus to drive over
the top of the hill.
This style of driving prevents:
R the vehicle from lifting off the ground on the
brow of a hill
R loss of traction
R the vehicle from traveling too quickly down
the other side
Driving downhill
R Before tackling steep downhill gradients,
select shift range 1(
Y
page 150).
This way you use the engine's braking
effect to reduce the speed. If this is not
sufficient, brake gently. When doing so,
make sure that the vehicle is facing in the
direction of the line of fall.
R Observe the notes on driving in
mountainous terrain (
Y
page 168).
R Drive slowly.
R Do not drive at an angle down steep
inclines. Steer into the line of fall and drive
with the front wheels aligned straight.
Otherwise, the vehicle could slip sideways,
tip and roll over.
R Check that the brakes are working normally
after a long downhill stretch.
i The special off-road ABS setting
(
Y
page 61) enables repeated, brief,
precise locking of the front wheels, which
leads to the wheels digging into the loose
ground. Note that when the front wheels
are fully braked, they slide easily over the
surface of the ground, making it difficult to
steer.
Driving systems
Cruise Control
Important safety notes
G WARNING
The brake pedal moves when cruise control
brakes the vehicle. A foot in the area under
the brake pedal could become trapped. The
movement of the pedal, and therefore the
168
Driving systems
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