trailer MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 2016 MY16 Operator’s Manual

Maximum permissible gross vehicle
weight rating
:Maximum number of seats
;Maximum permissible gross vehicle weight
rating
XSpecification for maximum gross vehicle
weight;is listed in the Tire and Loading
Information placard: "The gross weight of
occupants and luggage must not exceed XXX
kilograms or XXX lbs."
The gross weight of all vehicle occupants, cargo,
luggage and trailer load/noseweight (if applica-
ble) must not exceed the specified value.
iThe details on the Tire and Loading Infor-
mation placard illustration are only an exam-
ple. The maximum permissible gross vehicle
weight rating is vehicle-specific and may dif-
fer from that which is illustrated. You can find
the valid maximum permissible gross vehicle
weight rating for your vehicle on the Tire and
Loading Information placard.
Number of seats
:Maximum number of seats
;Maximum permissible gross vehicle weight
rating Maximum number of seats
:determines the
maximum number of occupants allowed to
travel in the vehicle. This information can be
found on the Tire and Loading Information plac-
ard.
iThe details on the Tire and Loading Infor-
mation placard illustration are only an exam-
ple. The number of seats is vehicle-specific
and can differ from the details shown. The
number of seats in your vehicle can be found
on the Tire and Loading Information placard.
Determining the maximum load
Individual steps
The following steps have been developed as
required of all manufacturers under Title 49,
Code of U.S. Federal Regulations, Part 575 in
accordance with the "National Traffic and Motor
Vehicle Safety Act of 1966".
XStep 1: Locate the statement "The combined
weight of occupants and cargo should never
exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs." on your vehicle's
Tire and Loading Information placard.
XStep 2: Determine the combined weight of
the driver and passengers that will be travel-
ing in your vehicle.
XStep 3: Subtract the combined weight of the
driver and passengers from XXX kilograms or
XXX lbs.
XStep 4: The resulting figure equals the avail-
able amount of cargo and luggage load capa- city. For example, if the "XXX" amount equals
1400 lbs and there will be five 150 pound
passengers in your vehicle, the amount of
available cargo and luggage load capacity is
650 lbs (1400 Ò750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs).
XStep 5: Determine the combined weight of
luggage and cargo being loaded on the vehi-
cle. For reasons of safety, that weight must
not exceed the available cargo and luggage
cargo capacity calculated in step 4.
XStep 6 (if applicable): If you intend to tow a
trailer behind your vehicle, the load on the
trailer is transferred to your vehicle. Please
consult the Tire and Loading Information plac-
ard, to determine how this reduces the avail-
able cargo and luggage load capacity of your
vehicle.
Loading the vehicle259
Wheels and tires
Z

Example: Steps 1 to 3
The following table shows examples of how to calculate total load and cargo capacities with varyingseating configurations and number and size of occupants. The following examples use a maximum
load of 1500 lbs (680 kg). This is for illustration purposes only. Make sure you are using the
actual load limit for your vehicle stated on your vehicle's Tire and Loading Information placard .
Example 1Example 2Example 3
Step 1Combined maximum
weight of occupants
and cargo (data from
the Tire and Loading
Information placard)1500 lbs
(680 kg)1500 lbs
(680 kg)1500 lbs
(680 kg)
Example 1Example 2Example 3
Step 2Number of people in
the vehicle (driver and
occupants)531
Distribution of the
occupantsFront: 2
Rear: 3Front: 1
Rear: 2Front: 1
Weight of the occu-
pantsOccupant 1:
150 lbs (68 kg)
Occupant 2:
180 lbs (82 kg)
Occupant 3:
160 lbs (73 kg)
Occupant 4:
140 lbs (63 kg)
Occupant 5:
120 lbs (54 kg)Occupant 1:
200 lbs (91 kg)
Occupant 2:
190 lbs (86 kg)
Occupant 3:
150 lbs (68 kg)Occupant 1:
150 lbs (68 kg)
Gross weight of all
occupants750 lbs (340 kg)540 lbs (245 kg)150 lbs (68 kg)
Example 1Example 2Example 3
Step 3Permissible cargo and
trailer load/nose-
weight (maximum
gross vehicle weight
rating from the Tire
and Loading Informa-
tion placard minus the
gross weight of all
occupants)1500 lbs
(680 kg) Ò750 lbs
(340 kg) =
750 lbs (340 kg)1500 lbs
(680 kg) Ò540 lbs
(245 kg) =
960 lbs (435 kg)1500 lbs
(680 kg) Ò150 lbs
(68 kg) =
1350 lbs
(612 kg)
The greater the combined weight of the occupants, the lower the maximum luggage load.
Further information can be found under "Towing a trailer" (
Ypage 159).
260Loading the vehicle
Wheels and tires

Vehicle identification plate
Even if you have calculated the total cargo care-
fully, you should still make sure that the gross
vehicle weight rating and the gross axle weight
rating are not exceeded. Details about this can
be found on the vehicle identification plate on
the driver seat frame of your vehicle
(
Ypage 276).
Gross vehicle weight: the gross weight of the
vehicle, all passengers, cargo and trailer load/
noseweight (if applicable) must not exceed the
permissible gross vehicle weight.
Gross axle weight rating: the maximum per-
missible load that can be carried by one axle
(front or rear axle).
To ensure that your vehicle does not exceed the
maximum permissible values (gross vehicle
weight and maximum gross axle weight rating),
have your loaded vehicle (including driver, occu-
pants, cargo, and full trailer load if applicable)
weighed on a suitable vehicle weighbridge.
Trailer load/noseweight
The trailer load/noseweight affects the gross
weight of the vehicle. If a trailer is attached, the
trailer load/noseweight is included in the load
along with occupants and luggage. The trailer
load/noseweight is usually approximately 10%
of the gross weight of the trailer and its load.
What you should know about wheels
and tires
Tire labeling
Overview
:DOT, Tire Identification Number
(Ypage 263)
;Maximum tire load (Ypage 263)
=Maximum tire pressure (Ypage 252)
?Manufacturer
ATire material (Ypage 264)
BTire size designation, load-bearing capacity
and speed index (Ypage 261)
CTire name
The markings described above are on the tire in addition to the tire name (sales designation) and
the manufacturer's name.
iTire data is vehicle-specific and may deviate
from the data in the example.
Tire size designation, load bearing index
and speed index
GWARNING
Exceeding the stated tire load-bearing capa-
city and the approved maximum speed could
lead to tire damage or the tire bursting. There is a risk of accident.
Therefore, only use tire types and sizes
approved for your vehicle model. Observe the
What you should know about wheels and tires261
Wheels and tires
Z

is marked with "3208", was manufactured in
week 32 in 2008.
iTire data is vehicle-specific and may deviate
from the data in the example.
Tire characteristics
This information describes the type of tire cord
and the number of layers in sidewall :and
under tire tread ;.
iTire data is vehicle-specific and may deviate
from the data in the example.
Definitions for tires and loading
Tire structure and characteristics
Describes the number of layers or the number of
rubber-coated belts in the tire tread and the tire
wall. These consist of steel, nylon, polyester,
and other materials.
Bar
Metric unit for tire pressure. 14.5038 pounds
per square inch (psi) and 100 kilopascals (kPa)
are the equivalent of 1 bar.
DOT (Department of Transportation)
DOT marked tires fulfill the requirements of the
United States Department of Transportation.
Average weight of vehicle occupants
The number of occupants for which the vehicle
is designed multiplied by 68 kilograms (150 lbs).
Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards
A uniform standard to grade the quality of tires
with regard to tread quality, traction and tem-
perature characteristics. The quality grading
assessment is made by the manufacturer fol- lowing specifications from the U.S government.
The quality grade of a tire is imprinted on the
sidewall of the tire.
Recommended tire pressure
The recommended tire pressures are the pres-
sures specified for the tires mounted on the
vehicle at the factory.
The tire and load information table
8contains the
recommended tire pressures for cold tires, the
maximum permissible load and the maximum
permissible vehicle speed.
The tire pressure table contains the recommen-
ded tire pressure for cold tires under various
operating conditions, i.e. loading and/or speed
of the vehicle.
Increased vehicle weight due to optional
equipment
The combined weight of all standard and
optional equipment available for the vehicle,
regardless of whether it is actually installed on
the vehicle or not.
Wheel rim
The part of the wheel on which the tire is moun-
ted.
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating)
GAWR is the maximum gross axle weight rating.
The actual load on an axle must never exceed
the gross axle weight rating. The Gross Axle
Weight Rating can be found on the vehicle iden-
tification plate on the driver seat frame
(
Ypage 276).
Speed index
The speed index is part of the tire identification.
It specifies the speed range for which the tire is
approved.
GTW (Gross Trailer Weight)
GTW is the total of weight of a trailer and the
weight of the load, accessories etc. on the
trailer.
GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight)
The gross vehicle weight includes the weight of the vehicle including fuel, tools, spare wheel,
accessories installed, occupants, luggage and
the drawbar noseweight if applicable. The gross
vehicle weight may never exceed the gross vehi-
8Only for vehicles with a gross weight of less than 10,000 lbs (4536 kg).
264What you should know about wheels and tires
Wheels and tires

Load bearing index
The load bearing index (also load index) is a code
that contains the maximum load bearing capa-
city of a tire.
Traction
Traction is the result of friction between the tires
and the road surface.
TWR (permissible trailer drawbar load)
The TWR is the maximum permissible weight
that may act on the ball coupling of the trailer
tow hitch.
Wear indicator
Narrow bars (tread wear bars) that are distrib-
uted over the tire tread. If the tire tread is level
with the bars, the wear limit ofáin(1.6 mm )
ha sbeen re ached.
Distribution of the vehicle occupants
The distribution of vehicle occupants over des-
ignated seat positions in a vehicle.
Maximum permissible payload weight
Nominal load and goods/luggage load plus
68 kg (150 lbs) multiplied by the number of
seats in the vehicle.
Flat tire
General notes
If your vehicle is equipped with a spare wheel,
the spare wheel is under the rear of the vehicle
(
Ypage 272).
Information about installing a wheel can be
found in the "Wheel change" section
(
Ypage 267).
Changing wheels
Rotating the wheels
GWARNING
Interchanging the front and rear wheels may
severely impair the driving characteristics if
the wheels or tires have different dimensions. The wheel brakes or suspension components
may also be damaged. There is a risk of acci-
dent.
Rotate front and rear wheels only if the wheels and tires are of the same dimensions.
!On vehicles equipped with a tire pressure
monitor, electronic components are located
in the wheel.
Tire-mounting tools should not be used near
the valve. This could damage the electronic
components.
Only have tires changed at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
Always observe the instructions and safety
notes in the "Mounting a wheel" section
(
Ypage 267).
The wear patterns on the front and rear tires
differ, depending on the operating conditions.
Rotate the wheels before a clear wear pattern
has formed on the tires. Front tires typically
wear more on the shoulders and the rear tires in
the center.
If your vehicle's tire configuration allows, you
can rotate the wheels according to the intervals
in the tire manufacturer's warranty book in your
vehicle documents. If no warranty book is avail-
able, the tires should be rotated every 3,000 to
6,000 miles (5,000 to 10,000 km), or earlier if
tire wear requires. Do not change the direction
of rotation.
Clean the contact surfaces of the wheel and the brake disc thoroughly every time a wheel is rota-
ted.
Check the tire pressure and reactivate the tire
pressure monitor if necessary.
Diagram showing tire rotation for single and dual
tires
Single tires: if the tires are of identical dimen-
sions, you can rotate both wheels on both the
front and rear axles so that the tires' original
direction of rotation is maintained. On unidirec-
266Changing wheels
Wheels and tires

Fuel additives
!Do not add gasoline or kerosene todiesel
fuel to improve its flow characteristics. Gas-
olin e or kerosene impairs the lubricating
properties of the diesel fuel. This can result in
damage to the fuel injection system, for
example.
Information on fuel consumption
HEnvironmental note
CO
2(carbon dioxide) is the gaswhich scien-
tists believe to be prin cipally responsible for
global warming (the greenhouse effect). Your veh icle'sCO
2emissions are directly related to
fuel consumption and therefore depend on:
Reff icie nt use of the fuel bythe engine
Rdriv ing style
Rother non-technical factors, such as envi-
ronmental influences, road conditions or
traff icflow
You can min imize your veh icle'sCO
2emis-
sions by driv ing carefully and having itserv-
iced regularly.
Fuel consumption depends on:
Rthe vehicleversion
Rthe style of driving
Rthe operating conditions
Rthe type or quality of the fuel used
The veh icle will use more fuel than usual inthe
fol lowin g situations:
Rat very low outside temperatures
Rincity traff ic
Rduring short journeys
Ron mountainous terrain
Rwhen to winga trailer
To keep fuel consumption low,observe the
advice inthe "Protection of the environment"
section (
Ypage 24).
The fol lowing components of the different veh i-
cle versions influence fuel consumption:
Rtire sizes, tire tread, tire pressure, tire cond i-
tion
Rbody
Rtransmission ratios for the drive assemblies
Radditional equipment (e.g. air-conditioning
system, auxil iary heating system)
For these reasons, the actual consumption fig-
ures for your vehicle may deviate from the con-
sumption figures determined according to EU
Directive 80 /1268/EE C.
Data concerning fuel consumption are recorded
in the on-board computer; use the steering
wheel buttons to call up the Trip computer
menu (
Ypage 174).
Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF)
General notes
HEnvironmental note
Dispose of DEF in an environmentally respon-
sible manner.
When opening the DEF tank filler cap at high
outside temperatures, ammonia vapors may
escape.
Ammonia vapors have a pungent smell and pri-
marily cause irritation of the:
Rskin
Rmucous membranes
Reyes
You may experience a burning sensation in your
eyes, nose and throat, as well as coughing and
watering of the eyes.
Do not inhale ammonia vapors. Avoid contact
with DEF.
Do not allow DEF to come into direct contact
with your skin; it is hazardous to your health.
Rinse any affected areas off with plenty of clean water. Consult a doctor if necessary.
If DEF heats up, e.g. in direct sunlight, in the DEF
supply reservoir for some time to over 122 ‡
(50 †), ammonia vapor will develop.
To conform to emission regulations, you must
operate the vehicle with DEF and refill the supply
regularly. The engine management recognizes
attempts to operate the vehicle without DEF,
with thinned DEF or with another reducing
agent. After previous warning messages, the
engine management then prevents a further
engine start.
When the number of remaining engine starts is 0
the engine management prevents the vehicle
from being driven at a speed exceeding 5 mph
Service products and capacities279
Technical data
Z

The values specified apply only to loads placed
on the cargo compartment floor if:
Rthe load is secured to 2 cargo tie-down points
on the rail and
Rthe distance to the nearest load-securing
point on the same rail is approximately 3 ft
(1 m).
Roof carrier
GWARNING
When you load the roof, the center of gravity
of the vehicle rises and the driving character-
istics change. If you exceed the maximum roof
load, the driving characteristics, as well as
steering and braking, will be greatly impaired.
There is a risk of an accident.
Never exceed the maximum roof load and
adjust your driving style.
GWARNING
If you distribute the load unevenly in the vehi- cle, the handling as well as the steering and
braking characteristics are severely affected.
There is a risk of an accident.
Distribute the load evenly in the vehicle.
Secure the load to prevent it from slipping.
!The weight of any load carried on the roof,
including the roof carrier, must not exceed
the maximum permissible roof load.
The roof carrier supports must be mounted at
equal distances.
We recommend that you have a stabilizer
installed on the front axle.
!For safety reasons, we recommend that you
only use roof carrier systems that have been
tested and approved for the Sprinter. This will
help to avoid damage. The data is valid for a load distributed evenly
over the entire roof area. Maximum roof load
and minimum number of pairs of roof carrier
supports on vehicles with:
Maximum
roof loadMinimum
number of
pairs of sup- ports
Standard
roof660 lbs
(300 kg)6
High roof330 lbs
(150 kg)3
Reduce the load on shorter roof carriers pro-
portionately. The maximum load per pair of roof
carrier supports is 110 lbs (50 kg).
Loading directions and other information con-
cerning load distribution and load securing can
be found in the "Transporting" section
(
Ypage 212).
Trailer tow hitch
General notes
We recommend that you have the trailer tow
hitch mounted at an authorized Sprinter Dealer. Use only a trailer tow hitch that has been tested
and approved specially for your vehicle by the
distributor named on the inside of the front
cover. Only use a ball coupling that is approved for your vehicle and Sprinter trailer tow hitch.
You can also find information on the permitted
dimensions of the ball coupling on the identifi-
cation plate of the trailer tow hitch.
You can obtain advice from a qualified specialist
workshop. Also observe the information on tow-
ing a trailer in the "Driving and parking" section
(
Ypage 155).
286Vehicle data
Technical data

Maximum permitted weights and loads
!On vehicles with a permissible gross vehicle weight of 11030 lbs (5003 kg), the permissible
gross combination weight is less than the total of the permissible gross vehicle weight and the
permissible trailer load. Exceeding the permissible gross combination weight can lead to damage
to the drivetrain, to the transmission or to the trailer tow hitch.
If the vehicle or the trailer is fully laden, the relevant value for the permissible gross vehicle weight
or the permissible trailer load is therefore lower. In this case, the trailer or the vehicle may only
be partially loaded.
The permissible weights and loads which cannot be exceeded can also be found:
Rin your vehicle documents and
Ron the identification plates of the trailer tow hitch, trailer and vehicle (Ypage 276).
You will find the basic values approved by the manufacturer in the following table. If the values differ,
the lowest value applies.
Make sure that you adhere to the weight restrictions by having the weight checked on a calibrated
weighbridge.
Vehicle
typePermissi-
ble gross
weight
GVWRGross
front axle
load
GAWR
(FA)Gross rear
axle load
GAWR
(RA)Maximum
permissi-
ble gross
weight of
vehicle/
trailer com-
bination
13
GCWR
Trailer
load14GTW
Maximum
permissi-
ble nose
weight
TWR
25008550 lbs
(3878 kg)3970 lbs
(1801 kg)5360 lbs
(2431 kg)13550 lbs (6146 kg)5000 lbs
(2268 kg)500 lbs
(227 kg)
35009900 lbs
(4490 kg)
Canada only4080 lbs
(1851 kg)7060 lbs
(3202 kg)14900 lbs
(6759 kg)155000 lbs
(2268 kg)15500 lbs
(227 kg)15
4410 lbs
(2000 kg)15250 lbs
(6917 kg)167500 lbs
(3402 kg)16750 lbs
(340 kg)16
9990 lbs
(4531 kg) USA only4080 lbs
(1851 kg)7060 lbs
(3202 kg)14990 lbs
(6799 kg)155000 lbs
(2268 kg)15500 lbs
(227 kg)15
4410 lbs
(2000 kg)15250 lbs
(6917 kg)167500 lbs
(3402 kg)16750 lbs
(340 kg)16
10141 lbs (4600 kg)4080 lbs
(1851 kg)7060 lbs
(3202 kg)14990 lbs
(6799 kg)155000 lbs
(2268 kg)15500 lbs
(227 kg)15
4410 lbs
(2000 kg)15250 lbs
(6917 kg)167500 lbs
(3402 kg)16750 lbs
(340 kg)16
13Maximum permissible gross weight of the vehicle and trailer14Maximum permissible gross weight of the trailer15Only for extra-long vehicles with an overall length of 289.2 in (7344 mm).16Not for extra-long vehicles with an overall length of 289.2 in (7344 mm).
Vehicle data287
Technical data
Z

Vehicle
typePermissi-
ble gross
weight
GVWRGross
front axle
load
GAWR
(FA)Gross rear
axle load
GAWR
(RA)Maximum
permissi-
ble gross
weight of
vehicle/
trailer com-
bination
13
GCWR
Trailer
load14GTW
Maximum
permissi-
ble nose
weight
TWR
11030 lbs(5003 kg)4080 lbs
(1851 kg)7720 lbs
(3502 kg)15250 lbs (6917 kg)5000 lbs
(2268 kg)15500 lbs
(227 kg)15
4410 lbs
(2000 kg)7500 lbs
(3402 kg)16750 lbs
(340 kg)16
13Maximum permissible gross weight of the vehicle and trailer14Maximum permissible gross weight of the trailer15Only for extra-long vehicles with an overall length of 289.2 in (7344 mm).16Not for extra-long vehicles with an overall length of 289.2 in (7344 mm).
288Vehicle data
Technical data