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Off-road driving
Points to remember
 | Risk of accident |
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Drive slowly in rough terrain with which you are unfamiliar. This will allow you to detect unexpected obstacles more easily and to therefore reduce the risk of an accident.
Do not make U-turns on mountain roads. The vehicle could otherwise tip over. If a slope is too steep for the vehicle, drive back in reverse gear.
Do not drive at an angle up steep inclines. The vehicle could otherwise tip over. If you drive up a steep incline at an angle and the vehicle threatens to overturn, steer into the line of fall immediately.
Never allow the vehicle to roll backwards. The braking effect of the engine cannot be utilised in neutral. If you only use the service brake, you could lose control of the vehicle.
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| Risk of accident |
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Grains of sand, particles of dirt and other abrasive materials can enter the brake system. This can lead to excessive wear and unpredictable braking efficiency.
After the brakes have been exposed to dirty conditions, have them checked and cleaned at a qualified specialist workshop, e.g. a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. There is otherwise a risk that braking power may be insufficient in the event of an emergency, or that braking efficiency may be unpredictable.
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Read this section before driving your vehicle off-road. Practise by travelling over more gentle off-road terrain first.
The following driving systems are specially adapted to off-road driving:
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off-road drive program more
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LOW RANGE* off-road gear more
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off-road ABS more
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off-road 4-ETS more
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off-road ESP® more
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differential locks more
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AIRMATIC package (vehicle level) more
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DSR (Downhill Speed Regulation) more
Off-road driving
| Risk of accident |
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Damage to the vehicle creates the risk of an accident for yourself and other road users. If in doubt, have your vehicle checked at a qualified specialist workshop which has the necessary specialist knowledge and tools to carry out the work required. Mercedes-Benz recommends that you use a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre for this purpose.
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 | Environmental note |
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Protection of the environment is of primary importance. Treat nature with respect. Observe all prohibiting signs.
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General information
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Stop your vehicle and, if necessary, select the off-road drive program* more or the LOW RANGE* off-road gear more before driving off-road.
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Select a vehicle level* suitable for the off-road terrain. Make sure there is always sufficient ground clearance to prevent damage to the vehicle.
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Check that items of luggage and loads are stowed safely and are well secured more.
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Always keep the engine running and in gear when driving on a downhill gradient. Activate DSR.
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Drive slowly and evenly, if necessary at a walking pace.
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Ensure that the wheels are in contact with the ground at all times.
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Drive with extreme care on unknown off-road routes where visibility is poor. For safety reasons, get out of the vehicle first and survey the off-road route.
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Check the depth of water before fording rivers and streams.
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Look out for obstacles such as rocks, holes, tree stumps and furrows.
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Always keep the side windows and the sliding / tilting sunroof* closed during the journey.
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Do not stray from marked routes or paths.
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Information about retrofitting special all-terrain tyres is available from any Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
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Checklist before driving off-road
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Engine oil level: check the engine oil and top it up if necessary.
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Vehicle toolkit: check that the jack is working and make sure you have the wheelbrace, a robust tow cable and a folding spade in the vehicle.
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Wheels and tyres: check the tyre tread depth and tyre pressure.
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Check for damage and remove foreign objects, e.g. small stones, from the wheels/tyres.
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Replace any missing valve caps.
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Replace dented or damaged wheels.
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Checklist after driving off-road
Driving over rough terrain places greater demands on your vehicle than driving on normal roads. After driving off-road, check the vehicle. This allows you to detect damage promptly and reduce the risk of an accident to yourself and other road users.
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Deactivate the LOW RANGE* off-road gear more.
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Deactivate DSR more.
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Set the differential lock setting to AUTO on the selector wheel more.
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Lower the vehicle level* again to a level suitable to the road conditions, e.g. to the highway/high-speed level.*
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Clean the headlamps and rear lights and check for damage.
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Clean the front and rear licence plates.
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Clean the wheels/tyres with a water jet and remove any foreign objects.
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Clean the wheels, wheel arches and the vehicle underside with a water jet; check for foreign objects and damage.
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Check whether twigs or other parts of plants have become trapped. These increase the risk of fire and can damage fuel pipes, brake hoses or the rubber bellows of the axle joints and propeller shafts.
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After the trip, examine without fail the entire undercarriage, wheels, tyres, brakes, bodywork structure, steering, chassis and exhaust system for damage.
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After driving for extended periods across sand, mud, gravel, water or in similarly dirty conditions, have the brake discs, wheels, brake pads / linings and axle joints checked and cleaned.
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If you detect strong vibrations after off-road travel, check for foreign objects in the wheels and drive train and remove them if necessary. Foreign objects can disturb the balance and cause vibrations.
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Travelling uphill
Approach/departure angle
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 | Front approach/departure angle |
 | Rear approach/departure angle |
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The table shows approach and departure angles and when the vehicle is loaded and ready to drive.
For vehicles with steel springs, loaded and ready to drive means: a full tank, all fluids topped up and the driver is in the vehicle.
On vehicles with the AIRMATIC package* or the off-road engineering package* and on the ML 63 AMG, the approach/departure angles are not affected up to the maximum load.
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Steel-spring vehicles
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27°
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22°
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26°
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Vehicles with the AIRMATIC package*
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Raised level
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31°
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25°
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29°
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Highway level
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25°
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18°
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24°
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ML 63 AMG
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Raised level
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24°
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26°
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Highway level
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19°
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21°
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Vehicles with the Off-Road Pro engineering package*
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Off-road level 3
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33°
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27°
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30°
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Off-road level 2
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31°
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25°
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29°
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Off-road level 1
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28°
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22°
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26°
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Highway level
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25°
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18°
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24°
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Follow the line of fall when driving on slopes and steep inclines.
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Before driving on extreme uphill and downhill gradients, select the off-road drive program or the LOW RANGE* off-road gear.
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Observe the warnings for off-road driving more.
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Drive slowly.
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Accelerate gently and make sure that the wheels are gripping.
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Avoid high engine speeds, except when driving on sandy and muddy routes with high driving resistance.
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Select a shift range appropriate to the gradient.
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Before tackling steep downhill gradients, select shift range 1.
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The vehicle will not roll backwards when stopping on an uphill gradient if:
Depress the brake pedal when stopping on steep uphill gradients. Hill start assist will aid you when you pull away again more.
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Maximum gradient-climbing capability
On good road surfaces and with the LOW RANGE* off-road gear selected, the full gradient-climbing capability is available.
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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. 4-ETS recognises this and brakes the wheels accordingly. The rear wheel torque is increased and it is easier to pull away.
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Brow of hill
When driving up an uphill gradient, slightly reduce pressure on the accelerator immediately before reaching the brow of the hill. Make use of the vehicle’s own impetus to travel over the brow.
This style of driving prevents:
Driving downhill
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Drive slowly.
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Do not drive at an angle down steep inclines. Steer into the line of fall and drive with the front wheels aligned straight. The vehicle could otherwise slip sideways, tip and overturn.
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Before tackling steep downhill gradients, select shift range 1.
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Activate DSR. 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.
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Check that the brakes are working normally after a long downhill stretch.
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Off-road ABS is activated when the off-road drive program or LOW RANGE* off-road gear is selected.
At speeds below 30 km/h, the front wheels lock cyclically during braking. The digging-in effect achieved in the process reduces the stopping distance when driving off-road. The steerability of the vehicle is considerably reduced when the wheels lock.
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Driving over obstacles
Observe the following rules when driving over tree stumps, large stones and other obstacles:
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Select the off-road drive program more or the LOW RANGE* off-road gear more.
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Avoid high engine speeds.
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Select shift range 1.
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Drive very slowly.
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As far as possible, try to drive straight over the centre of obstacles, front wheel first, then rear wheel.
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Obstacles could damage the floor of the vehicle or components of the chassis. Ask passengers for guidance when driving over large obstacles. Any damage to the vehicle always increases the risk of an accident.
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Fording
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| Fording
depth |
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The table shows fording capability
when the
vehicle is loaded and ready to depart.
Loaded and ready to depart means: a full fuel tank, all fluid
levels topped up and the driver is in the vehicle.
On vehicles with the AIRMATIC package* or the Off-Road Pro engineering
package* and on the ML
63 AMG, loads up to the maximum load have no influence on fording
capability.
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Fording
depth
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Steel-spring
vehicles
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50
cm
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Vehicles with
the AIRMATIC package* or ML 63
AMG
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Raised
level
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50
cm
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Vehicles with
the Off-Road Pro engineering package*
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Off-road level
3
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60
cm
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Off-road level
2
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50
cm
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Off-road level
1
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50
cm
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The depth of water must not exceed the value specified in the table. Note that the possible fording depth is less in flowing water.
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Establish how deep
the water is and the characteristics of the body of water before fording.
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Select the highest
possible vehicle level.*
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Select the off-road
drive program
more or the LOW RANGE* off-road gear
more.
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Select the off-road
drive program*
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Restrict the shift
range to 1 or 2.
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Avoid high engine
speeds.
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Enter and exit the
water at a flat place and at a steady walking pace.
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Under no circumstances should you accelerate before entering the water. The bow wave could cause water to enter and damage the engine and neighbouring assemblies.
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Drive slowly and at
an even speed through the water.
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Do not stop.
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Do not open any of
the vehicle's doors while fording. Water could otherwise get into the vehicle
interior and damage the vehicle's electronics and interior
equipment.
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Water offers a high
degree of resistance, and the ground is slippery and in some cases unstable. It
is therefore difficult and dangerous to pull away in the water.
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Ensure that a bow
wave does not form as you drive.
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Clean any mud from
the tyre tread after crossing a ford.
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Apply the brakes to
dry them after crossing a ford.
Driving on sand
Observe the following rules when driving on sand:
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Select a higher vehicle level*.
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Select a shift range appropriate to the terrain.
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Drive quickly to overcome the rolling resistance. The vehicle could otherwise dig itself into the sand.
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Drive in the tracks of other vehicles, if possible. Make sure that the ruts are not too deep, that the sand is firm enough and that your vehicle has sufficient ground clearance.
Ruts
Observe the following rules when driving along ruts in off-road terrain or on roads with loose gravel:
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Check that the ruts are not too deep and that your vehicle has sufficient clearance. Otherwise, your vehicle could be damaged or bottom out and get stuck.
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Select the off-road drive program more or the LOW RANGE* off-road gear more.
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Select a higher vehicle level*.
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Avoid high engine speeds.
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Select shift range 1.
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Drive slowly.
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Where ruts are too deep, drive with the wheels on one side on the middle section of turf if possible.
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