
Operation
•Theoperatorandpassengershouldremainseated
wheneverthevehicleisinmotion.Theoperatorshould
keepbothhandsonthesteeringwheel,whenever
possible,andthepassengershouldusethehandholds
provided.Keeparmsandlegswithinthevehiclebody
atalltimes.
•Driveslowerandturnlesssharplywhenyouarecarrying
apassenger.Rememberyourpassengermaynotbe
expectingyoutobrakeorturnandmaynotbeready.
Nevercarrypassengersintheboxoronattachments.
•Neveroverloadyourvehicle.Thenameplate(located
underthemiddleofthedash)showstheloadlimitsfor
thevehicle.Neveroverllattachmentsorexceedthe
vehiclemaximumgrossvehicleweight(GVW).
•Usingthemachinedemandsattention.Failuretooperate
machinesafelymayresultinanaccident,tipoverofthe
machine,andseriousinjuryordeath.Drivecarefully.
Topreventtippingorlossofcontrol,takethefollowing
precautions:
–Useextremecaution,reducespeed,andmaintain
asafedistancearoundsandtraps,ditches,creeks,
ramps,anyunfamiliarareas,orotherhazards.
–Watchforholesorotherhiddenhazards.
–Usecautionwhenoperatingthevehicleonasteep
slope.Normally,travelstraightupanddownslopes.
Reducespeedwhenmakingsharpturnsorwhen
turningonhillsides.Avoidturningonhillsides
wheneverpossible.
–Useextracautionwhenoperatingthemachineon
wetsurfaces,athigherspeeds,orwithafullload.
Stoppingtimewillincreasewithafullload.
–Whenloadingthebed,distributetheloadevenly.
Useextracautioniftheloadexceedsthedimensions
ofthevehicle/bed.Operatethemachinewithextra
cautionwhenhandlingoff-centerloadsthatcannot
becentered.Keeploadsbalancedandsecureto
preventthemfromshifting.
–Avoidsuddenstopsandstarts.Donotgofrom
reversetoforwardorforwardtoreversewithoutrst
comingtoacompletestop.
–Donotattemptsharpturnsorabruptmaneuversor
otherunsafedrivingactionsthatmaycausealossof
controlofthemachine.
–Donotpassanothermachinetravelinginthesame
directionatintersections,blindspots,oratother
dangerouslocations.
–Whendumping,donotletanyonestandbehind
machineanddonotdumptheloadonanyone’sfeet.
Releasethetailgatelatchesfromthesideofbox,not
frombehind.
–Keepallbystandersaway.Beforebackingup,lookto
therearandensurethatnooneisbehindthevehicle.
Backupslowly.
–Watchoutfortrafcwhennearorcrossingroads.
Alwaysyieldtherightofwaytopedestriansand
othervehicles.Alwayssignalyourturnsorstopearly
enoughsootherpersonsknowwhatyouplantodo.
Obeyalltrafcrulesandregulations.
–Neveroperatethemachineinornearanareawhere
thereisdustorfumesintheairwhichareexplosive.
Theelectricalsystemofthemachinecanproduce
sparkscapableofignitingexplosivematerials.
–Alwayswatchoutforandavoidlowoverhangssuch
astreelimbs,doorjambs,overheadwalkways,etc.
Makesurethereisenoughroomoverheadtoeasily
clearthemachineandyourhead.
–Ifyouareeverunsureaboutthesafeoperationofthe
machine,stopyourworkandaskyoursupervisor.
•Beforegettingofftheseat:
1.Stopthemovementofthemachine.
2.Settheparkingbrake.
3.TurnthekeytotheOffposition.
4.Removethekey.
Note:Ifthemachineisonanincline,blockthe
wheelsaftergettingoffofthemachine.
•Ifthemachineevervibratesabnormally,stopimmediately,
waitforallmotiontostop,andinspectthemachinefor
damage.Repairalldamagebeforecommencingoperation.
•Lightningcancausesevereinjuryordeath.Iflightning
isseenorthunderisheardinthearea,donotoperate
themachine;seekshelter.
Braking
•Slowdownbeforeyouapproachanobstacle.This
givesyouextratimetostoporturnaway.Hittingan
obstaclecandamagethemachineanditscontents.More
important,itcaninjureyouandyourpassenger.
•Grossmachineweight(GVW)hasamajorimpactonyour
abilitytostopand/orturn.Heavyloadsandattachments
makeamachinehardertostoporturn.Theheavierthe
load,thelongerittakestostop.RefertoLoadingthe
CargoBox(page24)formoreinformation.
•Decreasethemachinespeedifthecargoboxhasbeen
removedandthereisnoattachmentonthemachine.The
brakingcharacteristicschangeandfaststopsmaycause
therearwheelstolockup,whichmayaffectthecontrol
ofthemachine.
•Turfandpavementaremuchmoreslipperywhenthey
arewet.Itcantake2to4timesaslongtostoponwet
surfacesasondrysurfaces.Ifyoudrivethroughstanding
waterdeepenoughtogetthebrakeswet,theywillnot
workwelluntiltheyaredry.Afterdrivingthroughwater,
youshouldtestthebrakestomakesuretheywork
properly.Iftheydonot,driveslowlywhileputtinglight
pressureonthebrakepedal.Thiswilldrythebrakesout.
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