How to reverse your car on a slope?

NK@Hyd · 24th April 2009, 02:22

Say, you have parked your car in the parking area which is basically built as a slope? When you come back (and have released the hand brake) and try to reverse it, should you:

a)Switch on the ignition and simply let it roll down, controlling the brakes simultaneously?

b)Simply release the hand brake without starting the car and let the car roll down while controlling the brakes?

c)Switch on the ignition, put the car in reverse gear and then pull it back?

Please assume that the car was already parked on a slope.

itwasntme · 24th April 2009, 09:11

IMHO, a) or c).

b) is simply not an option in cars with power steering or assisted brakes.

RishiSuri · 24th April 2009, 09:14

option C is better than A. Cos being in reverse gear you are able to have more grip of car rather than being in neutral

Lu€iFer · 24th April 2009, 09:37

obviously C. A vehicle in gear is always a tamed beast.

HappyWheels · 24th April 2009, 09:40

Option B is dangerous! Never to be tried.

I would go for option A, but would slot into 1st gear with clutch closed and roll back slowly.

Option C would depend on how much of reverse I need to go. If long, then this option, else A.

amitoj · 24th April 2009, 09:53

Going by the options given, is it right to assume that the slope is downwards when you are reversing out? If so, then i would go for a). Although, if it is an absolutely deserted area, i would also be tempted to do c) + race down the slope and try to do a reverse 180

itwasntme · 24th April 2009, 10:17

Interesting answers: Switch engine on and roll back in neutral, first gear (clutch depressed) or reverse gear (clutch depressed)?

What if it's a very steep slope? Is first gear the best option then?

wanderernomad · 24th April 2009, 10:25

Just keep the car in Gear with the engine running.

NK@Hyd · 24th April 2009, 10:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by amitoj

Going by the options given, is it right to assume that the slope is downwards when you are reversing out? If so, then i would go for a). Although, if it is an absolutely deserted area, i would also be tempted to do c) + race down the slope and try to do a reverse 180

Yep, the slope is downwards.

Guys,

So am I correct to assume that when you are reversing on a downward slope, you have better control over brakes when the engine is on and better still, in reverse gear?

ashthedivx · 24th April 2009, 10:27

I believe A option will be the appropriate one as you need to control brake only, B is ruled completely as power steering will be non-operation which can be disastrous. C cannot be assumed as an option as while car is on a slope it will reverse of it's weight and you have to control brake and accelerator together i.e. more efforts.

opendro · 24th April 2009, 10:33

Why does this question arise in the first place? Whether you have to move forward or reverse, it always the same in a slope.

1. Parking is usually with hand brake on and in first or reverse gear, whichever is against the slope (meaning gear would be as if you want to go uphill)
2. When you want to leave from the parking, press clutch and brake.
3. Start the engine.
4. Double check if the gear is in the right position. If you want to go uphill (up the slope), the gear would be already in place if you had followed step-1.
5. Release hand brake.
6. From now on, it is your skill of releasing the clutch and releasing the brake gradually (assuming your car does not have hill holder or something like that). While doing this excercise making sure that vehicle does not roll down if intention is pulling up and also making sure that engine does not go off. Older generation people would easily do it by pressing the acceleration as well while depressing the brake with the same feet. But I don't think that modern cars need this excercise, specially I'm diesel fan and diesel engine pull up easily in half clutch.

Step-6 cannot have a concrete step. You just get to experience just as you would have experience the balance between the clutch and throttle on the plain surface.

If you think that you are bad in step 6, or you think that slope is too steep or you think that there is something dangerous just down a bit, the best thing to do is to put a stone or brick, whatever you can get, on the wheels to prevent rolling down. Chill!! Do whatever you want to do

By the way, what was the question? Was it for reversing down the slope or up the slope? If it is down the slope, question is even more silly.

NK@Hyd · 24th April 2009, 10:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by wanderernomad

Just keep the car in Gear with the engine running.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashthedivx

I believe A option will be the appropriate one as you need to control brake only, B is ruled completely as power steering will be non-operation which can be disastrous. C cannot be assumed as an option as while car is on a slope it will reverse of it's weight and you have to control brake and accelerator together i.e. more efforts.

When you say that the car should be in gear, are you talking about neutral, first or reverse gear? Also, irrespective of which gear is to be used, should you depress the clutch at all times? I tend to press the clutch only partially when reversing and fully depress it only to stop the car.

sandeep.mishra · 24th April 2009, 10:45

In my view while starting the car with the car facing the slope, engage first gear with hand brakes on. Crank the engine with the clutch pressed and release the handbrake simultaneously releasing the clutch and accelerate.

HappyWheels · 24th April 2009, 10:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by opendro

...By the way, what was the question? Was it for reversing down the slope or up the slope? If it is down the slope, question is even more silly.

Your answer in the first post itself:

Quote:

Originally Posted by NK@Hyd

...
a)Switch on the ignition and simply let it roll down, controlling the brakes simultaneously?
...

So it has to be for reversing down a slop.

And, why do you think this is a silly question? Care to enlighten us?

shabahmad · 24th April 2009, 10:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by NK@Hyd

parked your car in the parking area which is basically built as a slope? When you come back (and have released the hand brake) and try to reverse it, should you:

a)Switch on the ignition and simply let it roll down, controlling the brakes simultaneously?

b)Simply release the hand brake without starting the car and let the car roll down while controlling the brakes?

c)Switch on the ignition, put the car in reverse gear and then pull it back?

Please assume that the car was already parked on a slope.

Absolutely No to Option B, Since EPS works better when engine is ON, also in maruti the brakes dont work when engine is OFF (i dont know the name of this feature). When engine is Off, brake can be applied for 2-3 times and after that it becomes hard, cannot be applied.

My approach to move out of parking lot (with slope) in reverse,
1. You should start your car,
2. Put 1st gear, Press clutch, Release hand Brake.
3. Car will roll back slowly according to the slope.
4. Stop/Brake and release clutch to move car ahead.

As Opendro has allready said to put blocks while reversing, this can also be helpful.

Hope this might help. Members please correct if something i Missed.

regards.

24th April 2009, 02:22	#1
NK@Hyd BHPian Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 52 Thanked: 3 Times	How to reverse your car on a slope? Say, you have parked your car in the parking area which is basically built as a slope? When you come back (and have released the hand brake) and try to reverse it, should you: a)Switch on the ignition and simply let it roll down, controlling the brakes simultaneously? b)Simply release the hand brake without starting the car and let the car roll down while controlling the brakes? c)Switch on the ignition, put the car in reverse gear and then pull it back? Please assume that the car was already parked on a slope.
	() Thanks

24th April 2009, 09:11	#2
itwasntme Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: BANGALORE Posts: 6,980 Thanked: 12,532 Times View My Garage	IMHO, a) or c). b) is simply not an option in cars with power steering or assisted brakes.
	() Thanks

24th April 2009, 09:14	#3
RishiSuri BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sydney Posts: 264 Thanked: 84 Times View My Garage	option C is better than A. Cos being in reverse gear you are able to have more grip of car rather than being in neutral
	() Thanks

24th April 2009, 09:37	#4
Lu€iFer BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Ottawa Posts: 33 Thanked: 2 Times	obviously C. A vehicle in gear is always a tamed beast.
	() Thanks

24th April 2009, 09:40	#5
HappyWheels Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 4,106 Thanked: 537 Times	Option B is dangerous! Never to be tried. I would go for option A, but would slot into 1st gear with clutch closed and roll back slowly. Option C would depend on how much of reverse I need to go. If long, then this option, else A.
	() Thanks

24th April 2009, 09:53	#6
amitoj Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Windham, NH USA Posts: 3,348 Thanked: 3,105 Times View My Garage	Going by the options given, is it right to assume that the slope is downwards when you are reversing out? If so, then i would go for a). Although, if it is an absolutely deserted area, i would also be tempted to do c) + race down the slope and try to do a reverse 180
	() Thanks

24th April 2009, 10:17	#7
itwasntme Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: BANGALORE Posts: 6,980 Thanked: 12,532 Times View My Garage	Interesting answers: Switch engine on and roll back in neutral, first gear (clutch depressed) or reverse gear (clutch depressed)? What if it's a very steep slope? Is first gear the best option then?
	() Thanks

24th April 2009, 10:25	#8
wanderernomad Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Chandigarh Posts: 2,534 Thanked: 1,276 Times View My Garage	Just keep the car in Gear with the engine running.
	() Thanks

24th April 2009, 10:27	#10
ashthedivx Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 1,356 Thanked: 24 Times	I believe A option will be the appropriate one as you need to control brake only, B is ruled completely as power steering will be non-operation which can be disastrous. C cannot be assumed as an option as while car is on a slope it will reverse of it's weight and you have to control brake and accelerator together i.e. more efforts.
	() Thanks

24th April 2009, 10:33	#11
opendro BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: NA Posts: 824 Thanked: 108 Times	Why this question in the first place? Why does this question arise in the first place? Whether you have to move forward or reverse, it always the same in a slope. 1. Parking is usually with hand brake on and in first or reverse gear, whichever is against the slope (meaning gear would be as if you want to go uphill) 2. When you want to leave from the parking, press clutch and brake. 3. Start the engine. 4. Double check if the gear is in the right position. If you want to go uphill (up the slope), the gear would be already in place if you had followed step-1. 5. Release hand brake. 6. From now on, it is your skill of releasing the clutch and releasing the brake gradually (assuming your car does not have hill holder or something like that). While doing this excercise making sure that vehicle does not roll down if intention is pulling up and also making sure that engine does not go off. Older generation people would easily do it by pressing the acceleration as well while depressing the brake with the same feet. But I don't think that modern cars need this excercise, specially I'm diesel fan and diesel engine pull up easily in half clutch. Step-6 cannot have a concrete step. You just get to experience just as you would have experience the balance between the clutch and throttle on the plain surface. If you think that you are bad in step 6, or you think that slope is too steep or you think that there is something dangerous just down a bit, the best thing to do is to put a stone or brick, whatever you can get, on the wheels to prevent rolling down. Chill!! Do whatever you want to do By the way, what was the question? Was it for reversing down the slope or up the slope? If it is down the slope, question is even more silly. Last edited by opendro : 24th April 2009 at 10:35. Reason: What was the question?
	() Thanks

24th April 2009, 10:45	#13
sandeep.mishra BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: New Delhi Posts: 88 Thanked: 4 Times	In my view while starting the car with the car facing the slope, engage first gear with hand brakes on. Crank the engine with the clutch pressed and release the handbrake simultaneously releasing the clutch and accelerate.
	() Thanks