load capacity FORD F SERIES MOTORHOME AND COMMERCIAL CHASSIS 2000 10.G Owners Manual

•towing a trailer up or down steep hills.
•additional engine downhill braking is desired. If towing a trailer, refer
toDriving while you towin theTrailer towingsection.
To return to
(Overdrive) mode, press the transmission control switch
(TCS). The TCIL (the word OFF) will no longer be illuminated.
Each time the vehicle is started, the transmission will automatically
return to normal overdrive mode.
Every time the vehicle is shut off and restarted, you must press the
transmission control switch to cancel overdrive operation if driving in
overdrive is not desired.
2 (Second)
Use 2 (Second) to start-up on
slippery roads or to provide
additional engine braking on
downgrades.
1 (First)
Use 1 (Low) to provide maximum
engine braking on steep
downgrades. Upshifts can be made
by shifting to 2 (Second) or to
(Overdrive). Selecting 1 (Low) at
higher speeds causes the transmission to shift to a lower gear, and will
shift to 1 (Low) after vehicle decelerates to the proper speed.
Forced Downshifts
To gain acceleration in
(Overdrive) or Drive (O/D OFF) when
passing another vehicle, push the accelerator to the floor. The
transmission will downshift to the appropriate gear: third, second or first
gear.
VEHICLE LOADING
Your vehicle’s load capacity is designed by weight, not volume, so you
cannot necessarily use all available space with large or heavy loads.
Maximum safe vehicle weights as well as tire, rim sizes and inflation
pressures are specified for your vehicle on the Safety Compliance
Certification Label. A Certification Label was supplied by Ford Motor
Company to the Motorhome Manufacturer. The manufacturer uses this
Driving
33

information and supplies a Certification Label which is located inside the
vehicle to the left of the driver.
Before loading a vehicle, familiarize yourself with the following terms:
•Base Curb Weight:Weight of the vehicle including any standard
equipment, fluids, lubricants, etc. It does not include passengers or
aftermarket equipment.
•Payload:Combined maximum allowable weight of cargo, passengers
and optional equipment. The payload equals the gross vehicle weight
rating minus base curb weight.
•GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight):Base curb weight plus payload
weight. The GVW is not a limit or a specification.
•GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating):Maximum total weight of
the base vehicle, passengers, optional equipment and cargo. The
GVWR is specific to each vehicle and is listed on the Certification
Label, located near the driver’s seat or on the driver’s door pillar.
•GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating):Carrying capacity for each axle
system. The GAWR is specific to each vehicle and is listed on the
Certification Label, located near the driver’s seat or on the driver’s
door pillar.
•GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating):Maximum combined
weight of towing vehicle (including passengers and cargo) and the
trailer.
•Maximum Trailer Weight Rating:Maximum weight of a trailer the
loaded vehicle (including passengers and cargo) is permitted to tow.
The maximum trailer weight rating is determined by subtracting the
vehicle curb weight for each engine/transmission combination, any
required option weight for trailer towing and the weight of the driver
from the GCWR for the towing vehicle.
•Trailer Weight Range:Specified weight range that the trailer must
fall within that ranges from zero to the maximum trailer weight rating.
Remember to figure in the tongue load of your loaded trailer when
figuring the total weight.
Do not exceed the GVWR or the GAWR specified on the
certification label.
Do not use replacement tires with lower weight capacities than the
originals because they may lower the vehicle’s GVWR and GAWR
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Improperly inflated tires can affect vehicle handling and can fail
suddenly, possibly resulting in loss of vehicle control.
Tire rotation
Because your vehicle’s tires perform different jobs, they often wear
differently. To make sure your tires wear evenly and last longer, rotate
them as indicated in the Scheduled Maintenance Guide. If you notice
that the tires wear unevenly, have them checked.
Replacing the tires
Replace the tires when the wear
band is visible through the tire
treads.
When replacing full size tires, never mix radial bias-belted, or
bias-type tires. Use only the tire sizes that are listed on the
Certification Label. Make sure that all tires are the same size, speed
rating, and load-carrying capacity. Use only the tire combinations
recommended on the label. If you do not follow these precautions,
your vehicle may not drive properly and safely.
Make sure that all replacement tires are of the same size, type,
load-carrying capacity and tread design (e.g., “All Terrain”, etc.),
as originally offered by Ford.
Failure to follow these precautions may adversely affect the
handling of the vehicle and make it easier for the driver to lose
control and roll over.
Maintenance and care
77

The amount of empty reserve varies and should not be relied
upon to increase driving range. When refueling your vehicle after
the fuel gauge indicates empty, you might not be able to refuel
the full amount of the advertised capacity of the fuel tank due to
the empty reserve still present in the tank.
For consistent results when filling the fuel tank:
•Use the same filling rate setting (low — medium — high) each time
the tank is filled.
•Allow three automatic click-offs when filling.
•Always use fuel with the recommended octane rating.
•Use a known quality gasoline, preferably a national brand.
•Use the same side of the same pump and have the vehicle facing the
same direction each time you fill up.
•Have the vehicle loading and distribution the same every time.
Your results will be most accurate if your filling method is consistent.
Calculating fuel economy
1. Fill the fuel tank completely and record the initial odometer reading
(in kilometers or miles).
2. Each time you fill the tank, record the amount of fuel added (in liters
or gallons).
3. After at least three to five tank fill-ups, fill the fuel tank and record
the current odometer reading.
4. Subtract your initial odometer reading from the current odometer
reading.
5. Follow one of the simple calculations in order to determine fuel
economy:
Multiply liters used by 100, then divide by total kilometers
traveled.
Divide total miles traveled by total gallons used.
Keep a record for at least one month and record the type of driving (city
or highway). This will provide an accurate estimate of the vehicle’s fuel
economy under current driving conditions. Additionally, keeping records
during summer and winter will show how temperature impacts fuel
economy. In general, lower temperatures give lower fuel economy.
Maintenance and care
83

Power distribution box
(see Fuses) .................................44
Power steering
fluid, checking and adding ......69
fluid, refill capacity ..................93
fluid, specifications ..............94,95
Relays .....................................41,48
Safety belts
(see Safety restraints) ...............11
Safety defects, reporting ............97
Safety restraints
warning light and chime .......7,11
Servicing your vehicle ................57
Spark plugs, specifications ....92,95
Special notice ...........................3,96
Specification chart,
lubricants ................................94,95
Speed control ..............................18
Speedometer ...............................14
Starting your vehicle .............23,25
jump starting ............................52
Tachometer .................................15
Tires ...................................48,75,76
changing ...............................48,49
checking the pressure ..............76
replacing ...............................50,77rotating ......................................77
snow tires and chains ..............78
tire grades .................................76
treadwear ..................................75
Towing ....................................35,76
trailer towing ............................35
wrecker ......................................56
Transmission ...............................30
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) ...............................70
fluid, refill capacities ................93
lubricant specifications ............95
Trip odometer .............................14
Turn signal ..................................11
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ............................................95
Vehicle loading ............................33
Ventilating your vehicle .............26
Warning chimes ...........................11
Warning lights (see Lights) .........6
Water, Driving through ...............38
Windshield washer
fluid and wipers
operation ...................................21
Wrecker towing ...........................56
Index
100