1996 FORD EXPLORER Owners Manual

Driving Your Explorer
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[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.
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[DR29525(ALL)09/95]
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.
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[DR29530(ALL)09/95]
RWARNING
Do not allow people to ride in any area of your vehicle
that is not equipped with seats and safety belts.
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[DR29535(ALL)09/95]
RWARNING
Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and using a
safety belt properly.
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[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.
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[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:
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17-1/2 pica
art:0090122-A
Safety Compliance Certification Label
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[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.
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[DR30001(ALL)06/92]
Understanding Loading/Towing Information
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[DR30050(ALL)03/94]
The following terms are used to describe the ability to carry or
tow a load:
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[DR30101(ALL)01/93]
n
Base Curb Weight
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[DR30150(ALL)01/93]
n
Payload
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[DR30200(ALL)01/93]
n
GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight)
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[DR30250(ALL)01/93]
n
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating)
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[DR30301(ALL)01/93]
n
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating)
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n
GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating)
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[DR30320(ALL)06/92]
n
Maximum Trailer Weight Rating
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[DR30330(ALL)06/92]
n
Maximum Trailer Weight
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[DR30340(ALL)06/92]
n
Trailer Weight Range
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[DR30351(ALL)03/91]
Base Curb Weight
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[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.
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[DR30451(ALL)03/91]
Payload
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[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.
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[DR30550(ALL)03/91]
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)
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[DR30601(ALL)05/95]
If you add base curb weight and the weight of a load (including
passengers, cargo and optional equipment) being carried at a
particular time, you get the Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW).
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[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.
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[DR30701(ALL)03/91]
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
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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.
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Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR)
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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.
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[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.
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[DR30950(ALL)06/92]
The rating is based on the carrying capacity of thelowest rated
axle 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.
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[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.
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[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.
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[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.
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[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.
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GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating)
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[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.
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[DR31140(ALL)06/92]
Maximum Trailer Weight Rating
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[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.
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[DR31160(ALL)06/92]
Maximum Trailer Weight
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[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.
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[DR31180(ALL)06/92]
Trailer Weight Range
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[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.
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Calculating The Load
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[DR31350(ALL)03/91]
To know how much weight your vehicle can carry:
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[DR31401(ALL)12/91]
n
Obtain ratings from your Safety Compliance Certification
Label, and the Trailer towing specifications in the owner
guide (refer to the Index)
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[DR31450(ALL)07/95]
Ð Refer to the following sample illustration to locate the
various ratings on your Safety Compliance Certification
Label.
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Ð If you do not plan on pulling a trailer, do not include
these ratings into your calculations.
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[DR31550(ALL)08/95]
n
Weigh your vehicle as you customarily operate the vehicle
(without cargo).
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[DR31601(ALL)03/91]
n
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.
[DR31650(ALL)04/94]
17-1/2 pica
art:0021184-A
Sample label
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[DR31702(ALL)03/91]
If you suspect that your payload is excessive, have your vehicle
weighed at a highway weigh station or appropriate commercial
facility. Weigh the total vehicle and trailer (if applicable), then
separately weigh the vehicle at the front and rear wheels. And
finally, weigh the trailer separately if applicable.
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Driving Your Explorer
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Use this chart to perform your calculations.
[DR31831( X)03/95]
twenty-six pica
chart:0090123-A*
[DR31851(ALL)03/91]
NOTE: The Truck Safety Compliance Certification Label has
two weight related entries that sometimes cause
confusion.
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Front Axle Reserve Capacity in Pounds (kgs): If this value is
given as 83 pounds (38 kgs) on the label, does this mean that
you are limited to adding only 83 pounds (38 kgs) of
accessories to the front end capacity? Not exactly. This says that
you can load 83 pounds (38 kgs) of options on the front axle,
add 150 pound (68 kgs) passengers to all seating positions, and
add evenly distributed cargo in the box without exceeding the
GAWR F.
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[DR31950(ALL)06/92]
It is possible to hang heavier equipment on the front as long as
the vehicle owner/operator compensates. This can be
accomplished, if necessary, by carrying fewer passengers, less
cargo or positioning cargo more toward the rear, which has the
effect of reducing the load on the front. Keep in mind that the
GAWR F, GAWR R, nor the GVWR should ever be exceeded.
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[DR32001(ALL)08/95]
Total Accessory Reserve Capacity in Pounds (kgs): If, for
example, this value is given as 112 pounds (51 kgs), does this
mean that you are limited to adding 112 pounds (51 kgs) of
accessories to your vehicle? Not exactly. This is a number that is
related to government crash test standards, and only indirectly
reflects on the amount of accessory weight that can be carried.
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[DR32050(ALL)06/94]
In the case of both these numbers (83 and 112 pounds) (38 and
51 kgs), the important thing to remember is that for safe
operation, an owner/operator should calculate the amount and
the distribution of all weights (passengers, accessory equipment
and cargo). These combined weights should fall below the
vehicle's GVWR and GAWR.
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[DR32201(ALL)01/93]
Trailers
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[DR32251(ALL)10/94]
Towing a trailer safely means having the proper weight on the
tongue (usually 10% of the trailer weight). Load-equalizing
hitches on large rigs may transfer weight to each of the vehicle's
axles. This weight must be included in capacity calculations
when determining if the vehicle is loaded within safe limits.
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