Toro 07253TC Operator's Manual page 6

Note: If the vehicle is on an incline, block the
wheels after getting off of the vehicle.
Braking
• Slow down before you approach an obstacle. This
gives you extra time to stop or turn away. Hitting
an obstacle can damage the vehicle and its
contents. More important, it can injure you and
your passenger.
• Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) has a major impact
on your ability to stop and/ or turn. Heavy loads
and attachments make a vehicle harder to stop or
turn. The heavier the load, the longer it takes to
stop.
• Decrease the vehicle speed if the cargo box has
been removed and there is no attachment on the
vehicle. The braking characteristics change and
fast stops may cause the rear wheels to lock up,
which may affect the control of the vehicle.
• Turf and pavement are much slipperier when they
are wet. It can take 2 to 4 times as long to stop on
wet surfaces as on dry surfaces. If you drive
through standing water deep enough to get the
brakes wet, they will not work well until they are
dry. After driving through water, you should test
the brakes to make sure they work properly. If
they do not, drive slowly while putting light
pressure on the brake pedal. This will dry the
brakes out.
Operating on Hills
WARNING
Operating the vehicle on a hill may cause tipping or
rolling of the vehicle, or the engine may stall and
you could lose headway on the hill. This could
result in personal injury.
• Do not exceed slopes greater than 12°.
• Do not accelerate quickly or slam on the brakes
when backing down a hill, especially with a
load.
• If the engine stalls or you lose headway on a
hill, slowly back straight down the hill. Never
attempt to turn the vehicle around.
• Never drive across a steep hill; always drive
straight up or down or go around the hill.
• Avoid turning on a hill.
• Reduce your load and the speed of the vehicle.
• Avoid stopping on hills, especially with a load.
These extra cautions need to be taken when operating
the vehicle on a hill:
• Slow down before starting up or down a hill.
• If the engine stalls or you begin to lose headway
while climbing a hill, gradually apply the brakes
and slowly back straight down the hill.
• Turning while traveling up or down hills can be
dangerous. If you have to turn while on a hill, do
it slowly and cautiously. Never make sharp or fast
turns.
• Heavy loads affect stability. Reduce the weight of
the load and your speed when operating on hills or
if the load has a high center of gravity. Secure the
load to prevent it from shifting.
• Avoid stopping on hills, especially with a load.
Stopping while going down a hill will take longer
than stopping on level ground. If the vehicle must
be stopped, avoid sudden speed changes, which
may initiate tipping or rolling of the vehicle. Do
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