Load Carrying
Vehicle Loading - with and without a Trailer
Before you load your vehicle, become familiar with the following terms for determining your vehicle’s weight rating, with or without a trailer, from the vehicle’s Tire and Loading Information label or Safety Compliance Certification label.
Payload
PAYLOAD
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When towing, trailer tongue weight or king pin weight is also part of payload.
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.
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating)
GAWR is the maximum allowable weight that a single axle (front or rear) can carry. These numbers are on the Safety Compliance Certification label. The label is located on 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.
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating)
GVWR is the maximum allowable weight of the fully loaded vehicle. This includes all options, equipment, passengers and cargo. It appears on the Safety Compliance Certification label.
The label is located on 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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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.
Maximum Loaded Trailer Weight
Maximum loaded trailer weight is the highest possible weight of a fully loaded trailer the vehicle can tow. Consult an authorized dealer (or the RV and Trailer Towing Guide available at an authorized dealer) for more detailed information.
GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating)
GCWR 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.
Note: For trailer towing information refer to the RV and Trailer Towing Guide available at an authorized dealer.
Do not exceed the GVWR or the GAWR specified on the
Safety Compliance Certification label.
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capacities than the original tires because they may lower your vehicle’s GVWR and GAWR limitations. Replacement tires with a higher limit than the original tires do not increase the GVWR and GAWR limitations.
Exceeding any vehicle weight rating limitation could result
in serious damage to your vehicle, personal injury or both.
Steps for determining the correct load limit:
(1400-750 (5 x 150) = 650 lb.)
Helpful examples for calculating the available amount of cargo and luggage load capacity
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
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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.
Special Loading Instructions for Owners of Pick-up Trucks and Utility-type Vehicles
Loaded vehicles may handle differently than unloaded
vehicles. Take extra precautions, such as slower speeds and increased stopping distance, when driving a heavily loaded vehicle.
BED RAMPS (If Equipped)
When sliding the ramp up or down, take care not to get your fingers or hands caught in the mechanism.
Failure to follow this instruction could result in personal injury.
Make sure that you correctly install the ramp to the tailgate plate. Failure to follow this instruction could result
in personal injury.
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Do not step or sit on the ramp when it is in the stowed position. Failure to follow this instruction could result in
personal injury.
Only install the ramp within the prescribed ramp angles. Failure to follow this instruction could result in
personal injury.
Note: The ramp maximum capacity is 800 lb (363 kg).
Note: Verify the ramp is on stable ground before usage.
Note: For loading and unloading equipment, your ramp should be set between 10 degrees upward and 26 degrees downward to avoid damage to the ramp claw and tailgate plate.
Note: When using your vehicle for off-road operation, remove the bed ramps from the vehicle and store them in a safe location away from your vehicle.
1. Remove the front and rear cables.
Note: You can use a smooth surface tool to rotate the stops.
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Note: Make sure you properly secure the locking cable. If the locking cable is unsecured, you may hear a rattling noise.
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6. Pull the location pin outward and extend the ramp until the pin is seated in the usage position, then set the ramp on even ground.
Note: Make sure the proper pin location has been applied for your bed size.
1. Hook the top of the ramp holder over the mounting plate and rotate the ramp holder into position.
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Note: The nut should be on the upper stud.
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