1996 FORD F250 Owners Manual

215
*
[DR29350( ALL)05/94]
Do not tow a trailer until your vehicle has been
driven at least 500 miles (800 km).
*
[DR29401( ALL)06/92]
Vehicle Loading/Towing
Information
*
[DR29450(BEF )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.
*
[DR29525( ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
Passengers should not be allowed to ride
in the cargo area. Persons not riding in a
seat with a fastened seat belt are much
more likely to suffer serious injury in a
collision. 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.
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216
*
[DR29601(BEF )04/95]
The following is a typical example of a Safety
Compliance Certification Label and an
explanation of how this information should be
used:
*
[DR29850( F )03/91]
half page art:0020152-C
Safety Compliance Certification Label
*
[DR29950(BEF )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)
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217
*
[DR30301( ALL)01/93]
q
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating)
*
[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)
*
[DR30601( ALL)03/91]
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).
*
[DR30650( ALL)10/94]
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...until such time as the vehicle is unloaded.
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218
*
[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.
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219
*
[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(BEF )07/92]
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
exceed 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)06/92]
The maximum weight of a trailer the vehicle is
permitted to tow. The maximum trailer weight
rating 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.
*
[DR31160( ALL)06/92]
Maximum Trailer Weight
*
[DR31170( ALL)06/92]
The maximum weight of a trailer the loaded
vehicle is permitted to tow. The maximum
weight of the trailer is determined by subtracting
the weight of the loaded towing
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220vehicle (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.
*
[DR31201( F )03/91]
Refer to the truck camper loading sheet in your
vehicle glove box or to the Consumer
Information dealer folder on truck camper
loading for recommendations on slide-in camper
carrying capability with your specific vehicle.
*
[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)09/93]
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)03/91]
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.
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221
*
[DR31650(B FM)03/94]
half page art:0020837-B
Sample label
*
[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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Update:Thu May 9 15:17:55 1996
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222
*
[DR31751( ALL)03/91]
Use this chart to perform your calculations.
*
[DR31801(B FM)03/94]
twenty-six pica chart:0020838-D
*
[DR31851( ALL)03/91]
NOTE: The Truck Safety Compliance
Certification Label has two weight
related entries that sometimes cause
confusion.
*
[DR31901( ALL)10/94]
Front Axle Reserve Capacity in Pounds:On the
sample label, this value is given as 83 pounds
(38 kgs). 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
File:ltdrf.ex
Update:Thu May 9 15:17:55 1996
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