load capacity SUBARU OUTBACK 2007 4.G Owners Manual

6-16Interior equipment
Convenient tie-down hooks
(if equipped)
CAUTION
The convenient tie-down hooks are
designed only for securing light
cargo. Never try to secure cargo
that exceeds the capacity of the
hooks. The maximum load capacity
is 44 lbs (20 kg) per hook.
The cargo area is equipped with four tie-
down hooks so that cargo can be secured
with a luggage net or ropes.
When using the tie-down hooks, turn them
down out of the storing recesses. When
not in use, put the hooks up into the storing recesses.
Under-floor storage compart- ment
The subfloor storage compartment is
located under the floor of the trunk or
cargo area and can be used to store small
items. To open the lid, pull the tab or
handle up. NOTE
When storing a flat tire, put the sub-
floor storage in the trunk or cargo area.
CAUTION
. Always keep the lid of the sub-
floor storage compartment
closed while driving to reduce
the risk of injury in the event of
sudden stop or an accident.
. Do not store spray cans, contain-
ers with flammable or corrosive
liquids or any other dangerous
items in the subfloor storagecompartment.

New vehicle break-in driving–the first
1,000 miles (1,600 km) ..................................... 8-2
Fuel economy hints ............................................ 8-2
Engine exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide) ........... 8-2
Catalytic converter .............................................. 8-3
Periodic inspections ........................................... 8-4
Driving in foreign countries ............................... 8-4
Driving tips for AWD vehicles ............................ 8-5
Off road driving ................................................... 8-6
All AWD models except OUTBACK ...................... 8-6
OUTBACK ........................................................... 8-6
Winter driving ...................................................... 8-8
Operation during cold weather ............................. 8-8
Driving on snowy and icy roads .......................... 8-9
Corrosion protection .......................................... 8-10
Snow tires ......................................................... 8-10 Tire chains
........................................................ 8-12
Rocking the vehicle ........................................... 8-13
Loading your vehicle ......................................... 8-13
Vehicle capacity weight ...................................... 8-14
GVWR and GAWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating and Gross Axle Weight Rating) ........................ 8-15
Roof rail and crossbar (if equipped) ................... 8-15
Trailer hitch (if equipped) .................................. 8-19
Connecting a trailer ........................................... 8-20
When you do not tow a trailer .. .......................... 8-21
Trailer towing ..................................................... 8-21
Warranties and maintenance .............................. 8-21
Maximum load limits .......................................... 8-22
Trailer hitches .................................................... 8-25
Connecting a trailer ........................................... 8-26
Trailer towing tips .............................................. 8-27Driving tips
8

8-14Driving tips
possible.
. When you carry something inside
the vehicle, secure it whenever
you can to prevent it from being
thrown around inside the vehicle
during sudden stops, sharp turns
or in an accident.
. Do not pile heavy loads on the
roof. These loads raise the vehi-cle ’s center of gravity and make it
more prone to tip over.
. Secure lengthy items properly to
prevent them from shooting for-
ward and causing serious injury
during a sudden stop.
. Never exceed the maximum load
limit. If you do, some parts on
your vehicle can break, or it can
change the way your vehicle
handles. This could result in loss
of control and cause personal
injury. Also, overloading can
shorten the life of your vehicle. .
Do not place anything on the rear
shelf behind the rear seatback
(for Sedan) or the extended lug-
gage cover (for Station wagon).
Such items could tumble forward
in the event of a sudden stop or a
collision. This could cause ser-
ious injury.
CAUTION
Do not carry spray cans, containers
with flammable or corrosive liquids
or any other dangerous items inside
the vehicle.
NOTE
For better fuel economy, do not carry
unneeded cargo. &
Vehicle capacity weight
The load capacity of your vehicle is
determined by weight, not by available
cargo space. The maximum load you can
carry in your vehicle is shown on the
vehicle placard attached to the driver ’s

side door pillar. It includes the total weight
of the driver and all passengers and their
belongings, any optional equipment such
as a trailer hitch, roof rack or bike carrier,
etc., and the tongue load of a trailer. &GVWR and GAWR (Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating and
Gross Axle Weight Rating)
Certification label
The certification label attached to the driver ’s side door shows GVWR (Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating) and GAWR (Gross
Axle Weight Rating).
The GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) must
never exceed the GVWR. GVW is the
combined total of weight of the vehicle,
fuel, driver, all passengers, luggage, any optional equipment and trailer tongue
load. Therefore, the GVW changes de-
pending on the situation.
In addition, the total weight applied to
each axle (GAW) must never exceed the
GAWR. The front and rear GAWs can be
adjusted by relocating luggage inside thevehicle.
Even if the total weight of your luggage is
lower than the vehicle capacity weight,
either front or rear GAW may exceed the
GAWR, depending on the distribution of
the luggage.
When possible, the load should be evenly
distributed throughout the vehicle.
If you carry heavy loads in the vehicle, you
should confirm that GVW and front and
rear GAWs are within the GVWR and
GAWR by putting your vehicle on a
vehicle scale, found at a commercial
weighing station.
Do not use replacement tires with a lower
load range than the originals because they
may lower the GVWR and GAWR limita-
tions. Replacement tires with a higher load
range than the originals do not increase
the GVWR and GAWR limitations.
&
Roof rail and crossbar (if equipped)
1) Crossbar kit
CAUTION
. For cargo carrying purposes, the
roof rail must be used together
with a roof crossbar kit and the
appropriate carrying attachment.
The roof rail must never be used
alone to carry cargo. Otherwise,
damage to the roof or paint or a
dangerous road hazard due to
loss of cargo could result.
. When using the roof crossbar kit,
make sure that the total weight of
the crossbars, carrying attach- Driving tips
8-15
– CONTINUED –

chain connection, refer to the instructions
for your hitch and trailer. !Side mirrors
After hitching a trailer to your vehicle,
check that the standard side mirrors
provide a good rearward field of view
without significant blind spots. If significant
blind spots occur with the vehicle ’s stan-
dard side mirrors, use towing mirrors that
conform with Federal, state/province and/
or other applicable regulations. ! Trailer lights
CAUTION
Direct splicing or other improper
connection of trailer lights may
damage your vehicle ’s electrical system and cause a malfunction of
your vehicle
’s lighting system.
Connection of trailer lights to your vehi-cle ’s electrical system requires modifica-
tions to the vehicle ’s lighting circuit to
increase its capacity and accommodate
wiring changes. To ensure the trailer lights
are connected properly, please consult
your SUBARU dealer. Check for proper
operation of the turn signals, the brake
lights and parking lights each time you
hitch up. ! Tires
WARNING
Never tow a trailer when the tem-
porary spare tire is used. The tem-
porary spare tire is not designed to
sustain the towing load. Use of the
temporary spare tire when towing
can result in failure of the spare tire
and/or less stability of the vehicle.
Make sure that all the tires on your vehicle
are properly inflated.
The recommended cold tire pressure
under trailer towing conditions is shown
in chapter 12, “Specifications ”and in
“ GAS STATION REFERENCE ”at the end of this manual. Adjust the rear tire
pressure to the recommended pressure
when the tires are cold. Normal pressure
should be maintained in the front tires.
Trailer tire condition, size, load rating and
proper inflation pressure should be in
accordance with the trailer manufacturer
’s
specifications.
In the event your vehicle gets a flat tire
when towing a trailer, ask a commercial
road service to repair the flat tire.
If you carry a regular size spare tire in your
vehicle or trailer as a precaution against
getting a flat tire, be sure that the spare
tire is firmly secured.
& Trailer towing tips
CAUTION
. Never exceed 45 mph (72 km/h)
when towing a trailer in hilly
country on hot days.
. When towing a trailer, steering,
stability, stopping distance and
braking performance will be dif-
ferent from normal operation. Forsafety ’s sake, you should employ
extra caution when towing a
trailer and you should never Driving tips
8-27
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13-6Consumer information and Reporting safety defects
! Vehicle placard
The vehicle placard is affixed to the driver ’s side B-pillar.
Example:
The vehicle placard shows original
tire size, recommended cold tire infla-
tion pressure on each tire at max-
imum loaded vehicle weight, seating
capacity and loading information. ! Adverse safety consequences
of under-inflation
Driving at high speeds with exces-
sively low tire pressures can cause
the tires to flex severely and to rapidly
become hot. A sharp increase in
temperature could cause tread se-
paration, and failure of the tire(s).
Possible resulting loss of vehicle
control could lead to an accident. ! Measuring and adjusting air
pressure to achieve proper in-
flation
Check and, if necessary, adjust the
pressure of each tire (including the
spare) at least once a month and
before any long journey. Check the
tire pressures when the tires are cold.
Use a pressure gauge to adjust the
tire pressures to the specific values.
Driving even a short distance warms
up the tires and increases the tire
pressures. Also, the tire pressures are affected by the outside temperature. It
is best to check tire pressure outdoors
before driving the vehicle. When a tire
becomes warm, the air inside it
expands, causing the tire pressure to
increase. Be careful not to mistakenly
release air from a warm tire to reduce
its pressure. &
Glossary of tire terminology
. Cold tire pressure
The pressure in a tire that has been
driven less than 1 mile or has been
standing for three hours or more. . Maximum inflation pressure
The maximum cold inflation pressure
to which a tire may be inflated. . Recommended inflation pres-
sure
The cold inflation pressure recom-
mended by a vehicle manufacturer. . Intended outboard sidewall
(1) The sidewall that contains a
whitewall, bears white lettering or
bears manufacturer, brand, and/or
model name molding that is higher
or deeper than the same molding
on the other sidewall of the tire, or (2) The outward facing sidewall of

an asymmetrical tire that has a
particular side that must always
face outward when mounting on a
vehicle.
. Accessory weight
The combined weight (in excess of
those standard items which may be
replaced) of floor mats, leather seats
and cross bars to the extent that these
items are available as factory-in-
stalled equipment (whether installed
or not). . Curb weight
The weight of a motor vehicle with
standard equipment including the
maximum capacity of fuel, oil, and
coolant and air conditioning. . Maximum loaded vehicle weight
The sum of curb weight, accessory
weight, vehicle capacity weight and
production options weight. . Normal occupant weight
150 lbs (68 kg) times the number of
occupants (3 occupants). . Occupant distribution
Distribution of occupants in a vehicle,
2 in front, 1 in rear seat. . Production options weight The combined weight of those in-
stalled regular production options
weighing over 5.1 lbs (2.3 kg) in
excess of those standards items
which they replace, not previously
considered in curb weight or acces-
sory weight. .
Vehicle capacity weight
The total weight of cargo, luggage
and occupants that can be added to
the vehicle. . Vehicle maximum load on a tire
Load on an individual tire that is
determined by distributing to each
axle its share of the maximum loaded
vehicle weight and dividing by two. . Vehicle normal load on a tire
Load on an individual tire that is
determined by distributing to each
axle its share of the curb weight,
accessory weight, and normal occu-
pant weight and dividing by two. & Tire care –maintenance and
safety practices
. Check on a daily basis that the tires
are free from serious damage, nails,
and stones. At the same time, check
the tires for abnormal wear. .
Inspect the tire tread regularly and
replace the tires before their tread
wear indicators become visible. When
a tire ’s tread wear indicator becomes
visible, the tire is worn beyond the
acceptable limit and must be replaced
immediately. With a tire in this condi-
tion, driving at even low speeds in wet
weather can cause the vehicle to
hydroplane. Possible resulting loss
of vehicle control can lead to an
accident. . To maximize the life of each tire
and ensure that the tires wear uni-
formly, it is best to rotate the tires
every 7,500 miles (12,500 km). Rotat-
ing the tires involves switching the
front and rear tires on the right-hand
side of the vehicle and similarly
switching the front and rear tires on
the left-hand side of the vehicle.
(Each tire must be kept on its original
side of the vehicle.) Replace any
damaged or unevenly worn tire at
the time of rotation. After tire rotation,
adjust the tire pressures and make
sure the wheel nuts are correctly
tightened. A tightening torque specifi-
cation and a tightening sequence
Consumer information and Reporting safety defects
13-7
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13-8Consumer information and Reporting safety defects
specification for the wheel nuts can be found “Flat tires ”section in chapter 9.
& Vehicle load limit –how to
determine
The load capacity of your vehicle is
determined by weight, not by avail-
able cargo space. The load limit of
your vehicle is shown on the vehicle
placard attached to the driver ’s side
B-pillar. Locate the statement “The
combined weight of occupants and
cargo should never exceed XXX kg or
XXX lbs ”on your vehicle ’s placard.
The vehicle placard also shows seat-
ing capacity of your vehicle.
The total load capacity includes the
total weight of driver and all passen-
gers and their belongings, any cargo,
any optional equipment such as a
trailer hitch, roof rack or bike carrier,
etc., and the tongue load of a trailer.
Therefore cargo capacity can be
calculated by the following method.
Cargo capacity = Load limit (total
weight of occupants + total weight of
optional equipment + tongue load of a
trailer (if applicable)) For towing capacity information and
weight limits, refer to
“Trailer towing ”
section in chapter 8. ! Calculating total and load ca-
pacities varying seating con-
figurations
Calculate the available load capacity
as shown in the following examples:
Example 1A
Vehicle capacity weight of the vehicle
is 800 lbs (363 kg), which is indicated
on the vehicle placard with the state-
ment "The combined weight of occu-
pants and cargo should never exceed
363 kg or 800 lbs". For example, if the vehicle has one
occupant weighing 154 lbs (70 kg)
plus cargo weighing 551 lbs (250 kg).
1. Calculate the total weight.
2. Calculate the available load capa-
city by subtracting the total weight
from the vehicle capacity weight of
800 lbs (363 kg).
3. The result of step 2 shows that a
further 95 lbs (43 kg) of cargo can be
carried.

Example 1B
For example, if a person weighing 176
lbs (80 kg) now enters the same
vehicle (bringing the number of occu-
pants to two), the calculations are as
follows:
1. Calculate the total weight.
2. Calculate the available load capa-
city.
3. The total weight now exceeds the
capacity weight by 81 lbs (37 kg), so
the cargo weight must be reduced by
81 lbs (37 kg) or more.
Example 2A
Vehicle capacity weight of the vehicle
is 800 lbs (363 kg), which is indicated
on the vehicle placard with the state-ment
“The combined weight of occu-
pants and cargo should never exceed
363 kg or 800 lbs ”.
For example, the vehicle has one
occupant weighing 165 lbs (75 kg)
plus cargo weighing 265 lbs (120 kg).
In addition, the vehicle is fitted with a
trailer hitch weighing 22 lbs (10 kg), to
which is attached a trailer weighing
1,764 lbs (800 kg). 10% of the trailer
weight is applied to the trailer tongue
(i.e. Tongue load = 176 lbs (80 kg)).
1. Calculate the total weight.
Consumer information and Reporting safety defects 13-9
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13-10Consumer information and Reporting safety defects
2. Calculate the available load capa-
city.
3. The result of step 2 shows that a
further 172 lbs (78 kg) of cargo can be
carried.
Example 2B
For example, if a person weighing 143
lbs (65 kg) and a child weighing 40 lbs
(18 kg) now enter the same vehicle
(bringing the number of occupants to three), and a child restraint system
weighing 11 lbs (5 kg) is installed in
the vehicle for the child to use, the
calculations are as follows:
1. Calculate the total weight.
2. Calculate the available load capa-
city.
3. The total weight now exceeds the
capacity weight by 22 lbs (10 kg), so
the cargo weight must be reduced by
22 lbs (10 kg) or more. &
Determining compatibility of
tire and vehicle load capaci- ties
The sum of four tires ’maximum load
ratings must exceed the maximum
loaded vehicle weight ( “GVWR ”). In
addition, sum of the maximum load
ratings of two front tires and of two
rear tires must exceed each axle ’s
maximum loaded capacity ( “GAWR ”).
Original equipment tires are designed
to fulfill those conditions.
The maximum loaded vehicle weight
is referred to Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating (GVWR). And each axle ’s
maximum loaded capacity is referred
to Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR).
The GVWR and each axle ’sGAWR
are shown on the vehicle certification
label affixed to the driver ’s door.
The GVWR and front and rear
GAWRs are determined by not only
the maximum load rating of tires but
also loaded capacities of the vehicle ’s