1996 FORD AEROSTAR Owners Manual

204
*
[DR29151(ALL)01/95]
q
Use extra caution when driving your vehicle
while you tow. (SeeDriving while you towin
this chapter.)
*
[DR29201(ALL)01/95]
q
Service your vehicle more frequently if you
tow a trailer. (SeeServicing your vehicle if you
towin this chapter.)
[DR29250(ALL)03/90]
Standard length vehicles adapted for trailer tow
may require relocation of the underbody spare
tire. It is recommended that you secure the tire
under the rear-most seat using the hold-down
hardware located with the jack.
[DR29301(ALL)03/91]
one third page art:0020268-A
Spare tire stowage (standard length model)
*
[DR29350(ALL)05/94]
Do not tow a trailer until your vehicle has been
driven at least 500 miles (800 km).
File:10cpdra.ex
Update:Tue Aug 29 17:45:28 1995

205
%*
[DR29401(ALL)06/92]
Vehicle Loading/Towing
Information
*
[DR29450(ALL)03/91]
Your vehicle's load capacity is designated by
weight, not volume, so you cannot necessarily
use all available space with large or heavy loads.
Maximum safe vehicle weights as well as tire,
rim sizes and inflation pressures are specified for
your vehicle at the assembly plant on the Safety
Compliance Certification Label. The Certification
Label is located on the left front door lock facing
or the door latch post pillar.
*
[DR29501(ALL)12/91]
Trucks, unlike passenger cars, are basically
custom vehicles designed to carry a load. Most
owners start with a base vehicle and add
production and dealer installed and/or
aftermarket components to suit their tastes and
purposes. Even trucks that are purchased for
personal transportation only are likely to have
considerable optional equipment, such as step
bumpers and light bars, for example.
[DR29504(ALL)08/95]
RWARNING
It is extremely dangerous to ride in a
cargo area, inside or outside of a vehicle.
In a collision, people riding in these areas
are more likely to be seriously injured or
killed.
File:10cpdra.ex
Update:Tue Aug 29 17:45:28 1995

206 [DR29510(ALL)08/95]
RWARNING
Do not allow people to ride in any area of
the vehicle that is not equipped with seats
and safety belts.
[DR29520(ALL)08/95]
RWARNING
Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a
seat and using a safety belt properly.
*
[DR29525(ALL)07/95]
RWARNING
Cargo should always be secured to
prevent it from shifting and causing
damage to the vehicle or harm to
passengers.
*
[DR29551(ALL)03/91]
Each additional item of equipment affects how
much cargo a vehicle can carry. If a vehicle is
overloaded, performance will suffer and service
concerns may arise.
File:10cpdra.ex
Update:Tue Aug 29 17:45:28 1995

207
*
[DR29601(ALL)04/95]
The following is a typical example of a Safety
Compliance Certification Label and an
explanation of how this information should be
used:
[DR29650(ALL)05/94]
half page art:0020148-G
Safety Compliance Certification Label
*
[DR29950(ALL)06/92]
Do not use the sample numbers on the Safety
Compliance Certification Label shown. Use the
actual numbers from your vehicle certification
label.
*
[DR30001(ALL)06/92]
Understanding Loading/Towing
Information
*
[DR30050(ALL)03/94]
The following terms are used to describe the
ability to carry or tow a load:
*
[DR30101(ALL)01/93]
q
Base Curb Weight
*
[DR30150(ALL)01/93]
q
Payload
*
[DR30200(ALL)01/93]
q
GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight)
*
[DR30250(ALL)01/93]
q
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating)
File:10cpdra.ex
Update:Tue Aug 29 17:45:28 1995

208
*
[DR30301(ALL)01/93]
q
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating)
[DR30305(ALL)08/95]
q
GAWR F (Gross Axle Weight Rating Front)
[DR30307(ALL)08/95]
q
GAWR R (Gross Axle Weight Rating Rear)
*
[DR30310(ALL)06/92]
q
GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating)
*
[DR30320(ALL)06/92]
q
Maximum Trailer Weight Rating
*
[DR30330(ALL)06/92]
q
Maximum Trailer Weight
*
[DR30340(ALL)06/92]
q
Trailer Weight Range
*
[DR30351(ALL)03/91]
Base Curb Weight
*
[DR30401(ALL)03/94]
The Base Curb Weight is the weight of the
vehicle including fuel, coolants, lubricants,
emergency tools, spare wheel and tire. It also
includes any equipment that isstandardon that
model. It does not include passengers, cargo or
optional equipment installed by factory, dealer,
aftermarket supplier or customer.
*
[DR30451(ALL)03/91]
Payload
*
[DR30501(ALL)03/91]
Payload is the combined, maximum allowable
weight of cargo, occupants and optional
equipment that the truck is designed to carry. It
is Gross Vehicle Weight Rating minus the base
curb weight.
*
[DR30550(ALL)03/91]
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)
*
[DR30650(ALL)08/95]
It is important to remember that GVWis not a
limit or a specification.If an owner loads up a
vehicle and weighs it, that's the GVW at that
moment. If the owner piles on more of a load
and weighs it again, that becomes the GVW.
File:10cpdra.ex
Update:Tue Aug 29 17:45:28 1995

209 %
*
[DR30701(ALL)03/91]
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
*
[DR30750(ALL)10/94]
To avoid overloading a vehicle, the owner
should observe the manufacturer's specified
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. The GVWR is the
maximum total weight of base vehicle,
passengers, optional components and cargo that
a particular vehicle was designed to carry.
%*
[DR30801(ALL)01/93]
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR)
*
[DR30850(ALL)03/91]
We have all seen a car or a truck that is loaded
down in the rear and riding high in the front.
This is a dangerous condition that usually means
that the rear suspension components are under
severe strain and that vehicle handling is
impaired. There is more to carrying a load than
just payload or GVWR.
*
[DR30901(ALL)03/91]
Your Safety Compliance Certification Label not
only gives the GVWR, it also gives the Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) which is the
carrying capacity for each axle system. For
trucks, the rear axle will be designed to carry
more weight than the front.
*
[DR30950(ALL)06/92]
The rating is based on the carrying capacity of
thelowest ratedaxle and suspension component
as well as other factors. This is why it's so
important to observe vehicle loading ratings.
Overloading a vehicle punishes components and
can lead to shortened service life or outright
failure.
*
[DR31001(ALL)06/92]
The capacity of the tires is included as part of
the axle and suspension system, which is to be
considered when determining the lowest rated
component. Tires are rated to carry a specific
maximum load at a specific maximum tire
pressure.
File:10cpdra.ex
Update:Tue Aug 29 17:45:28 1995

210
*
[DR31050(ALL)06/92]
Passenger car type tires when installed on light
trucks and multipurpose passenger vehicles are
rated at 10% lower load carrying capacity due to
the differences in vehicle usages.
*
[DR31101(ALL)05/95]
The vehicle must not be loaded to both the front
and rear GAWR because the GVWR will be
exceeded. The GAWR of the front and rear axles
exceeds the GVWR when added together to
allow flexibility in fore and aft loading of cargo.
*
[DR31110(ALL)06/92]
With the tires inflated to the specified pressure
the total weight of your vehicle must not exceed
the GVWR and GAWR specified on the Safety
Compliance Certification Label. This includes full
fuel tank(s), vehicle equipment, and occupants as
well as the cargo load.
*
[DR31120(ALL)06/92]
GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating)
*
[DR31130(ALL)06/92]
GCWR is the maximum combined weight of the
towing vehicle (including passengers and cargo)
and the loaded trailer. The GCWR is specified
by the manufacturer to indicate the combined
maximum loaded weight that the vehicle is
designed to tow.
*
[DR31140(ALL)06/92]
Maximum Trailer Weight Rating
*
[DR31150(ALL)05/95]
The maximum trailer weight rating is the
maximum weight of a trailer the vehicle is
permitted to tow. It is specified by the
manufacturer and is determined by subtracting
the vehicle curb weight for each
engine/transmission combination, any required
option weight for trailer towing and the weight
of the driver from the GCWR for the towing
vehicle.
File:10cpdra.ex
Update:Tue Aug 29 17:45:28 1995

211
*
[DR31160(ALL)06/92]
Maximum Trailer Weight
*
[DR31170(ALL)05/95]
The maximum trailer weight is the maximum
weight of a trailer the loaded vehicle is
permitted to tow. It is determined by subtracting
the weight of the loaded towing
vehicle (including passengers and cargo) from
the GCWR for the towing vehicle.
*
[DR31180(ALL)06/92]
Trailer Weight Range
*
[DR31190(ALL)06/92]
The trailer weight range is a specified range by
weight, which the trailer must fall within,
ranging from zero to the maximum trailer
weight rating.
%*
[DR31301(ALL)03/91]
Calculating The Load
*
[DR31350(ALL)03/91]
To know how much weight your vehicle can
carry:
*
[DR31401(ALL)12/91]
q
Obtain ratings from your Safety Compliance
Certification Label, and the Trailer towing
specifications in the owner guide (refer to the
Index)
*
[DR31450(ALL)07/95]
Ð Refer to the following sample illustration
to locate the various ratings on your
Safety Compliance Certification Label.
*
[DR31501(ALL)03/91]
Ð If you do not plan on pulling a trailer, do
not include these ratings into your
calculations.
*
[DR31550(ALL)08/95]
q
Weigh your vehicle as you customarily
operate the vehicle (without cargo).
*
[DR31601(ALL)03/91]
q
Subtract the total weight of passengers, driver
and optional equipment added by the factory,
dealer or aftermarket supplier to determine
how much cargo weight you can carry.
File:10cpdra.ex
Update:Tue Aug 29 17:45:28 1995