Get Off-road driving situations -> Driving crosswise on a slope Guide for Volkswagen Tiguan 4 Door First Generation (2007-2016)

WARNING

Never try to drive up or down slopes that are too steep for your vehicle. The vehicle could

slide away, tip over, or roll over.

ꢀ Never take routes or risks that could put you or your passengers in danger. If you cannot

go on or have doubts about the safety of your route, turn back and take a new route.

ꢀ

The lateral angle must never be more than the maximum angle approved for the vehicle.

Always drive along the fall line when driving up or down a slope.

Never try to turn the vehicle around on a slope. The vehicle could tip over or roll down the

slope.

ꢀ

If the engine stalls or you can no longer drive up the slope for any reason, stop and apply

the foot brake. If stalled, apply the foot brake and restart the engine. Then shift into Reverse

(R) and carefully back your vehicle straight down the slope along the fall line. Keep the

vehicle speed slow and even.

ꢀ

If the engine will not restart, apply constant pressure to the foot brake and carefully back

straight down the slope the same way you drove up. Keep the vehicle speed slow and even.

If the engine is running, select Reverse (R) and carefully back straight down the slope the

ꢀ

same way you drove up. Use engine braking power and the foot brake to keep the vehicle

speed slow and even.

ꢀ Never just roll down a slope with the clutch depressed or the transmission in Neutral (N).

You could lose control of the vehicle.

Driving crosswise on a slope

Fig. 165 Steer downhill along the fall line.

Fig. 166 On a slope, always exit on the uphill side of the vehicle.

ꢀ Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

page 307.

Driving crosswise on a slope is one of the most dangerous off-road driving situations ⇒ꢀ

Even if it seems harmless, never underestimate the difficulties and hazards when driving crosswise on

a slope. A vehicle perpendicular to the slope of the hill can become uncontrollable and slide away, tip,

or roll over. This could cause severe or fatal injuries to all occupants.

Driving at an angle to the slope

Before driving crosswise on a slope, check whether there is a different, safer route.

If you have to drive across a slope, first make sure the ground is firm and even along your route. If the

ground is soft or slippery, the vehicle is more likely to slip away to the side. Make sure that the angle

does not become too great due to surface unevenness. This can make the vehicle tip and roll over.

The steeper the slope across which the vehicle is moving, the more important it becomes to make

sure the wheels on the lower side do not run over holes or depressions. The wheels on the high side

must never run over protruding rocks, tree stumps, or other obstacles.

If the vehicle threatens to tip, immediately steer downhill into the “fall line” and gently accelerate

⇒ꢀfig. 165. If it is not possible to steer down the fall line, steer uphill and gently accelerate.

The vehicle center of gravity should be as low as possible. The weight of all passengers should be

evenly distributed. Taller or heavier passengers should sit on the higher side of the vehicle. Luggage

on the roof should be removed and heavy objects should be secured, as the vehicle could tilt due to

the sudden shifting of objects in the vehicle ⇒ꢀ

While driving across the slope, passengers on the rear bench should always sit on the uphill side of

the vehicle. In extreme cases, passengers on the downhill side must get out of the vehicle until the hill

has been safely crossed.

Exiting on a hillside

If the vehicle comes to a standstill at a significantly tilted angle on the hillside, all passengers should

exit the vehicle on the uphill side ⇒ꢀfig. 166. This applies even if the uphill door is hard to open. The

uphill-side door may swing shut due to its weight or carelessness.

WARNING

Never try to drive crosswise on a slope, especially one that is too steep for your vehicle. The

vehicle could slide sideways and tumble down the slope. To reduce the risk of accidents and

serious injuries:

ꢀ

Never underestimate the difficulties and dangers of driving crosswise on a slope. Never

take routes or risks that could put you or your passengers in danger. If you cannot go on or

have doubts about the safety of your route, turn back and take a different route.

ꢀ

When driving crosswise on a hill, the vehicle can lose its hold, slide sideways, tip or turn

over and roll down the hill.

Make certain that the wheels on the downhill side of the vehicle do not run over holes or

ꢀ

depressions. Make certain that the wheels on the high side of the vehicle do not run over

rocks, tree stumps, or protruding objects.

ꢀ Before driving crosswise on a hill, check whether it is possible to steer into the fall line

along the selected route. If this is not possible, select a different route. If the vehicle

threatens to tip, immediately steer downhill into the fall line and gently accelerate ⇒ꢀfig. 165.

ꢀ

If the vehicle is stopped a hillside and is laterally tilted, avoid sudden and uncontrolled

movement in the vehicle The vehicle can lose its hold, slide sideways, tip, or turn over and

roll down the hill.

ꢀ

If the vehicle is stopped at while pointed crosswise on a steep slope, make certain that no

one exits the vehicle through a door on the downhill side. This can shift the vehicle center of

gravity to the downhill side. The can tilt or roll over and roll down the hill. To help minimize

this risk, always exit the vehicle through the doors that are facing uphill ⇒ꢀfig. 166.

ꢀ When getting out, make certain that doors opened on the uphill side are not closed

carelessly and do not swing shut due to their own weight and injure anybody.

Avoiding deep ruts and depressions

ꢀ Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

Ruts are very common on forest trails, in grassland and fields, as well an on much-used cross-country

lanes.

If the ruts and depressions are firm and shallow, simply follow the ruts.

Do not drive in ruts and depressions that are too deep ⇒ꢀ

. If deep ruts and depressions cannot be

avoided, turn around.

NOTICE

If ruts and depressions become too deep, the vehicle underbody can bottom out and get stuck.

This can damage or even disable the vehicle.

Crossing ditches

ꢀ Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

ꢀ Check whether the approach/departure angle and the lateral angle (tilt) are small enough to allow

the vehicle to cross the ditch.

ꢀ

If possible, cross the ditch at an acute angle ⇒ꢀ

This is only possible if the lateral angle (side-to-side tilt) is not too large.

Off-road driving situations -> Driving crosswise on a slope for Your Volkswagen Tiguan 4 Door First Generation (2007-2016)

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