WARNING
.It is extremely dangerous to
ride in a cargo area inside the
vehicle. In a collision, people
riding in these areas are more
likely to be seriously injured or
killed.
.Do not allow people to ride in
any area of vehicle that is not
equipped with seats and seat
belts.
.Be sure everyone in your ve-
hicle is in a seat and using a
seat belt properly.
TERMS
It is important to familiarize yourself with
the following terms before loading your
vehicle:
. Curb Weight (actual weight of your
vehicle) - vehicle weight including:
standard and optional equipment,
fluids, emergency tools, and spare tire assembly. This weight
does not
include passengers and cargo.
. GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) - curb
weight plus the combined weight of
passengers and cargo.
. GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rat-
ing) - maximum total combined
weight of the unloaded vehicle, pas-
sengers, luggage, hitch, trailer tongue
load and any other optional equip-
ment. This information is located on
the F.M.V.S.S./C.M.V.S.S. label.
. GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating) -
maximum weight (load) limit specified
for the front or rear axle. This informa-
tion is located on the F.M.V.S.S./C.M.
V.S.S. label.
. GCWR (Gross Combined Weight
Rating) - The maximum total weight
rating of the vehicle, passengers,
cargo, and trailer.
. Vehicle Capacity Weight, Load limit,
Total load capacity - maximum total
weight limit specified of the load
(passengers and cargo) for the vehi- cle. This is the maximum combined
weight of occupants and cargo that
can be loaded into the vehicle. If the
vehicle is used to tow a trailer, the
trailer tongue weight must be in-
cluded as part of the cargo load. This
information is located on the Tire and
Loading Information label.
. Cargo capacity - permissible weight
of cargo, the weight of total occu-
pants weight subtracted from the
load limit.
Technical and consumer information10-13
VEHICLE LOADING INFORMATION
4. The resulting figure equals the avail-able amount of cargo and luggage
load capacity. For example, if the XXX
amount equals 1400 lbs. and there
will be five 150 lb. passengers in your
vehicle, the amount of available cargo
and luggage load capacity is 650 lbs.
(1400 í750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs) or
(640 í340 (5 x 70) = 300 kg.)
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 trans-
ferred to your vehicle. Consult this
manual to determine how this re-
duces the available cargo and lug-
gage load capacity of your vehicle.
Before driving a loaded vehicle, confirm
that you do not exceed the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR) or the Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for your vehicle. (See “Measurement of weights”
(P.10-16) .)
Also check tires for proper inflation
pressures. See the Tire and Loading
Information label.
cargo higher than the seatbacks. In
a sudden stop or collision, unse-
cured cargo could cause personal
injury.
. The child restraint top tether strap
may be damaged by contact with
items in the cargo area. Secure any
items in the cargo area. Your child
could be seriously injured or killed
in a collision if the top tether strap is
damaged.
. Do not load your vehicle any heavier
than the GVWR or the maximum
front and rear GAWRs. If you do,
parts of your vehicle can break, tire
damage could occur, or it can
change the way your vehicle han-
dles. This could result in loss of
control and cause personal injury.
LOADING TIPS
.The GVW must not exceed GVWR or
GAWR as specified on the F.M.V.S.
S./C.M.V.S.S. certification label.
.Do not load the front and rear axle to
the GAWR. Doing so will exceed the
GVWR.
outside temperatures on graded roads can
affect engine performance and cause overheat-
ing. The transmission high fluid temperature and
engine protection mode, which helps reduce the
chance of transmission and engine damage,
could activate and automatically decrease en-
gine power. Vehicle speed may decrease under
high load. Plan your trip carefully to account for
trailer and vehicle load, weather and road
conditions.
