weight LINCOLN MKS 2015 User Guide

Tire Label is the maximum payload
for the vehicle as built by the
assembly plant. If you install any
aftermarket or authorized-dealer
installed equipment on the vehicle,
you must subtract the weight of the
equipment from the payload listed
on the Tire Label in order to
determine the new payload.
WARNING
The appropriate loading
capacity of your vehicle can be
limited either by volume capacity
(how much space is available) or by
payload capacity (how much weight
the vehicle should carry). Once you
have reached the maximum payload
of your vehicle, do not add more
cargo, even if there is space
available. Overloading or improperly
loading your vehicle can contribute
to loss of vehicle control and vehicle
rollover. 188
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Cargo Weight - includes all weight
added to the Base Curb Weight,
including cargo and optional
equipment. When towing, trailer
tongue load or king pin weight is
also part of cargo weight.
GAW (Gross Axle Weight) - is the
total weight placed on each axle
(front and rear) including vehicle
curb weight and all payload.
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight
Rating) - is the maximum
allowable weight that can be carried
by a single axle (front or rear). These
numbers are shown on the Safety
Compliance Certification Label. The
label shall be affixed to either the door hinge pillar, door-latch post, or
the door edge that meets the
door-latch post, next to the driver
seating position.
The total load on
each axle must never exceed its
Gross Axle Weight Rating.
Note: For trailer towing information
refer to the RV and Trailer Towing
Guide available at an authorized
dealer.
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GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) - is
the Vehicle Curb Weight, plus cargo,
plus passengers. GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating) - is the maximum
allowable weight of the fully loaded
vehicle (including all options,
equipment, passengers and cargo).
It is shown on the Safety
Compliance Certification Label. The label shall be affixed to either the
door hinge pillar, door-latch post, or
the door edge that meets the
door-latch post, next to the driver
seating position.
The Gross Vehicle
Weight must never exceed the
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.
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WARNING
Exceeding the Safety
Compliance Certification Label
vehicle weight rating limits could
result in substandard vehicle
handling or performance, engine,
transmission and/or structural
damage, serious damage to the
vehicle, loss of control and personal
injury. 193
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GCW (Gross Combined Weight)
- is the Gross Vehicle Weight plus
the weight of the fully loaded trailer.
GCWR (Gross Combined Weight
Rating) -
is the maximum
allowable weight of the vehicle and
the loaded trailer, including all cargo
and passengers, that the vehicle can
handle without risking damage.
(Important: The towing vehicle ’s
braking system is rated for operation
at Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, not
at Gross Combined Weight Rating.)
Separate functional brakes should
be used for safe control of towed
vehicles and for trailers where the
Gross Combined Weight of the towing vehicle plus the trailer
exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating of the towing vehicle.
The
Gross Combined Weight must
never exceed the Gross
Combined Weight Rating.
Maximum Loaded Trailer Weight
-
is the highest possible weight of a
fully loaded trailer the vehicle can
tow. It assumes a vehicle with
mandatory options, driver and front
passenger weight (150 pounds [68
kilograms] each), no cargo weight
(internal or external) and a tongue
load of 10– 15% (conventional trailer) or king pin weight of 15–
25%
(fifth wheel trailer). Consult an
authorized dealer (or the RV and
Trailer Towing Guide available at an
authorized dealer) for more detailed
information.
Tongue Load or Fifth Wheel King
Pin Weight - refers to the amount
of the weight that a trailer pushes
down on a trailer hitch.
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GVW

Examples: For a 5000 pound
(2268 kilogram) conventional
trailer, multiply 5000 by 0.10 and
0.15 to obtain a proper tongue load
range of 500 to 750 pounds (227 to
340 kilograms). For an 11500 pound
(5216 kilogram) fifth wheel trailer,
multiply by 0.15 and 0.25 to obtain
a proper king pin load range of 1725
to 2875 pounds (782 to 1304
kilograms). WARNINGS
Do not exceed the GVWR or the
GAWR specified on the Safety
Compliance Certification Label. Do not use replacement tires
with lower load carrying
capacities than the original tires
because they may lower the
vehicle ’s GVWR and GAWR
limitations. Replacement tires with
a higher limit than the original tires
do not increase the GVWR and
GAWR limitations. WARNINGS
Exceeding any vehicle weight
rating limitation could result in
serious damage to the vehicle
and/or personal injury. Steps for determining the correct
load limit:
1. Locate the statement "The
combined weight of occupants
and cargo should never exceed
XXX kg or XXX lb." on your
vehicle ’s placard.
2. Determine the combined weight
of the driver and passengers that
will be riding in your vehicle.
3. Subtract the combined weight of
the driver and passengers from
XXX kg or XXX lb. 4.
The resulting figure equals the
available amount of cargo and
luggage load capacity. For
example, if the “XXX” amount
equals 1,400 lb. and there will be
five 150 lb. passengers in your
vehicle, the amount of available
cargo and luggage load capacity
is 650 lb. (1400-750 (5 x 150) =
650 lb.)
5. Determine the combined weight
of luggage and cargo being
loaded on the vehicle. That
weight may not safely exceed the
available cargo and luggage load
capacity calculated in Step 4.
6. If your vehicle will be towing a
trailer, load from your trailer will
be transferred to your vehicle.
Consult this manual to determine
how this reduces the available
cargo and luggage load capacity
of your vehicle.
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The following gives you a few
examples on how to calculate the
available amount of cargo and
luggage load capacity:
*Suppose your vehicle has a
1400-pound (635-kilogram) cargo
and luggage capacity. You decide
to go golfing. Is there enough load
capacity to carry you, four of your
friends and all the golf bags? You
and four friends average 220
pounds (99 kilograms) each and
the golf bags weigh approximately
30 pounds (13.5 kilograms) each.
The calculation would be: 1400 - (5
x 220) - (5 x 30) = 1400 - 1100 - 150
= 150 pounds. Yes, you have enough
load capacity in your vehicle to
transport four friends and your golf
bags. In metric units, the calculation
would be: 635 kilograms - (5 x 99
kilograms) - (5 x 13.5 kilograms) =
635 - 495 - 67.5 = 72.5 kilograms.
*Suppose your vehicle has a
1400-pound (635-kilogram) cargo
and luggage capacity. You and one
of your friends decide to pick up
cement from the local home
improvement store to finish that
patio you have been planning for the
past two years. Measuring the inside
of the vehicle with the rear seat
folded down, you have room for
twelve 100-pound (45-kilogram)
bags of cement. Do you have
enough load capacity to transport
the cement to your home? If you
and your friend each weigh 220
pounds (99 kilograms), the
calculation would be: 1400 - (2 x
220) - (12 x 100) = 1400 - 440 -
1200 = - 240 pounds. No, you do not
have enough cargo capacity to carry
that much weight. In metric units,
the calculation would be: 635
kilograms - (2 x 99 kilograms) - (12
x 45 kilograms) = 635 - 198 - 540 =
-103 kilograms. You will need to
reduce the load weight by at least
240 pounds (104 kilograms). If you
remove three 100-pound(45-kilogram) cement bags, then
the load calculation would be:1400
- (2 x 220) - (9 x 100) = 1400 - 440
- 900 = 60 pounds. Now you have
the load capacity to transport the
cement and your friend home. In
metric units, the calculation would
be: 635 kilograms - (2 x 99
kilograms) - (9 x 45 kilograms) =
635 - 198 - 405 = 32 kilograms.
The above calculations also assume
that the loads are positioned in your
vehicle in a manner that does not
overload the Front or the Rear Gross
Axle Weight Rating specified for
your vehicle on the Safety
Compliance Certification Label. The
label shall be affixed to either the
door hinge pillar, door-latch post, or
the door edge that meets the
door-latch post, next to the driver
seating position.
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TOWING A TRAILER
WARNINGS
Do not exceed the GVWR or the
GAWR specified on the
certification label. Towing trailers beyond the
maximum recommended gross
trailer weight exceeds the limit of
your vehicle and could result in
engine damage, transmission
damage, structural damage, loss of
vehicle control, vehicle rollover and
personal injury. Note:
There may be electrical items
such as fuses or relays that can affect
trailer towing operation. See Fuses
(page 218).
The load capacity of your vehicle is
designated by weight not volume.
You may not necessarily be able to
use all available space when loading
your vehicle or trailer. Towing a trailer places extra load
on the engine, transmission, axle,
brakes, tires, and suspension.
Inspect these components before,
during and after towing.
Load Placement
To help minimize how trailer
movement affects the vehicle when
driving:
•
Load the heaviest items closest
to the trailer floor.
• Load the heaviest items in the
center of the left and right side
trailer tires. •
Load the heaviest items above
the trailer axles or just slightly
forward toward the trailer
tongue. Do not allow the final
trailer tongue weight to go above
or below 10-15% of the loaded
trailer weight.
• Select a tow bar with the correct
rise or drop. When both the
loaded vehicle and trailer are
connected, the trailer frame
should be level, or slightly angled
down toward the vehicle, when
viewed from the side.
When driving with a trailer or
payload, a slight takeoff vibration or
shudder may be present due to the
increased payload weight.
Additional information regarding
proper trailer loading and setting
your vehicle up for towing is located
in the Load Carrying chapter. See
Load Limit (page 187). You can also
find the information in the
RV &
Trailer Towing Guide, available at
an authorized dealer.
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RECOMMENDED TOWING
WEIGHTS
Note:
Do not exceed the trailer
weight for your vehicle configuration
listed in the chart below.
Note: Be sure to take into
consideration trailer frontal area. Do
not exceed 12 feet 2
(1.11 meters 2
)
trailer frontal area. Note:
For high altitude operation,
reduce the gross combined weight
by 2% per 1000 feet (300 meters)
starting at the 1000 foot (300 meter)
elevation point.
Note: Certain states require electric
trailer brakes for trailers over a
specified weight. Be sure to check
state regulations for this specified
weight. The maximum trailer weights
listed may be limited to this specified
weight, as the vehicle ’s electrical
system may not include the wiring
connector needed to use electric
trailer brakes. Your vehicle may tow a Class I trailer
provided the maximum trailer
weight is less than or equal to the
maximum trailer weight listed for
your vehicle configuration on the
following chart. If your vehicle is
equipped with 3.7L engine, it cannot
tow a trailer. Maximum trailer weight
Powertrain
No trailer towing permitted
3.7L TiVCT front-wheel drive
No trailer towing permitted
3.7L TiVCT all-wheel drive
1000 lb (454 kg)
3.5L GTDI all-wheel drive
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ESSENTIAL TOWING CHECKS
Follow these guidelines for safe towing:
•
Do not tow a trailer until you drive your
vehicle at least 1000 miles (1600
kilometers).
• Consult your local motor vehicle laws for
towing a trailer.
• See the instructions included with towing
accessories for the proper installation
and adjustment specifications.
• Service your vehicle more frequently if
you tow a trailer. See your scheduled
maintenance information.
• If you use a rental trailer, follow the
instructions the rental agency gives you.
You can find information on load
specification terms found on the tire label
and Safety Compliance label as well as
instructions on calculating your vehicle's load
in the Load Carrying chapter. See Load Limit
(page 187).
Remember to account for the trailer tongue
weight as part of your vehicle load when
calculating the total vehicle weight. Hitches
Do not use a hitch that either clamps onto
the bumper or attaches to the axle.
Distribute the trailer load so 10-15% of the
total trailer weight is on the tongue.
Safety Chains
Note:
Never attach safety chains to the
bumper.
Always connect the safety chains to the hook
retainers of your vehicle hitch.
To connect the safety chains, cross them
under the trailer tongue and allow enough
slack for turning tight corners. Do not allow
the chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes WARNING
Do not connect a trailer's hydraulic
brake system directly to your vehicle's
brake system. Your vehicle may not
have enough braking power and your chances
of having a collision greatly increase. Electric brakes and manual, automatic or
surge-type trailer brakes are safe if you install
them properly and adjust them to the
manufacturer's specifications. The trailer
brakes must meet local and federal
regulations.
The rating for the tow vehicle's braking
system operation is at the gross vehicle
weight rating, not the gross combined
weight rating.
Trailer Lamps
WARNING
Never connect any trailer lamp wiring
to the vehicle's tail lamp wiring; this
may damage the electrical system
resulting in fire. Contact your authorized
dealer as soon as possible for assistance in
proper trailer tow wiring installation.
Additional electrical equipment may be
required. Trailer lamps are required on most towed
vehicles. Make sure all running lights, brake
lights, turn signals and hazard lights are
working.
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