1997 FORD F SERIES MOTORHOME AND COMMERCIAL CHASSIS weight

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[II02400( ALL)01/96]
Your Maintenance Schedule and
Record Booklet
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[II02500( ALL)01/96]
TheMaintenance Schedule and Recordbooklet lists
the services that are most important for keeping
your vehicle in good condition. A record log is
also provided to help you keep track of all
services performed.
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[II02600( ALL)01/96]
About the Warranties
[II02750( M)01/96]
Your vehicle is covered by four types of
warranties:
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[II02800( M)01/96]
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Basic Vehicle Warranty
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[II02900( M)01/96]
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Extended Warranties on certain parts
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[II03000( M)01/96]
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Emissions Warranties
[II03050( M)01/96]
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Noise Emissions Warranty Coverage;
applicable only on vehicles over 10,000 GVW
Ð Gross Vehicle Weight Ð in pounds.
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[II03100( ALL)01/96]
Read yourWarranty Information Bookletcarefully
to find out about your vehicle's warranties and
your basic rights and responsibilities.
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[II03250( ALL)01/96]
If you lose yourWarranty Information Booklet,you
can get a new one free of charge. Contact any
Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer, or refer to the
addresses and phone numbers on the first page
of this owner guide.
File:02ltiim.ex
Update:Fri Dec 13 11:16:51 1996

6 [II05550( M)01/96]The Vehicle Identification(VIN)is stamped on a
metal tag attached to the chassis front end
structure. It is visible from outside the vehicle
under the hood.
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Safety Compliance Certification Label
[II05650( M)01/96]
You'll also find theVINand other important
information on the Safety Compliance
Certification Label. It is required by the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration and is
made of special material. If someone tampers
with it, it will be destroyed and/or a destruction
pattern will appear.
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[II05700( ALL)01/96]
The label contains the name of the manufacturer,
the month and year of manufacture, the
certification statement and the Vehicle
Identification Number. The label also contains
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating and Gross Axle
Weight Ratings, wheel and tire data and
information codes for additional vehicle data.
For further information about the Safety
Compliance Certification Label and the
information contained on it, refer to the Index.
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[II05750( EFM)01/96]
Incomplete Vehicles
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[II05800( EFM)01/96]
On completed derivations of incomplete vehicles,
the Safety Compliance Certification Label is
affixed at a location determined by a subsequent
stage manufacturer of the completed vehicle. In
these cases the completed vehicle is
manufactured in two (or more) stages by two (or
more) separate manufacturers, with the
manufacture of the completed vehicle occurring
at a later date than the manufacture of the
incomplete vehicle. Consequently, the model
year of the completed vehicle may be later than
the model year of its chassis.
File:02ltiim.ex
Update:Fri Dec 13 11:16:51 1996

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Forced Downshifts
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To gain extra acceleration injOverdrive or
Drive (O/D OFF), push the accelerator to the
floor. The transmission will automatically
downshift to the appropriate gear: third, second
or first.
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[GF08600( ALL)01/96]
Power Braking
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[GF08625( ALL)01/96]
Increasing the engine speed above idle without
vehicle movement (such as holding the brake) in
a forward or reverse gear causes transmission
stall.
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[GF08650( ALL)01/96]
NOTE: Continued operation in the stall
condition can result in transmission
overheat, malfunction or fluid
expulsion.
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[GF20765( M)01/96]
Trailer Towing
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[GF20770( ALL)01/96]
All vehicles may tow a Class I trailer provided
the Gross Combined Weight (GCW) is less than
or equal to the GVWR shown on the Safety
Compliance Certification Label. For heavier
trailer applications, refer to the towing
information found later in this chapter.
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[GF20775( ALL)01/96]
Towing a trailer puts additional loads on your
vehicle's engine, transmission, axle, brakes, tires
and suspension. For your safety and for the
good of your vehicle, use the right equipment
for the type of trailer you tow.
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[GF20785( ALL)01/96]
Your trailer towing capability will vary based on
the standard and optional equipment on your
vehicle. Refer to the followingVehicle
Loading/Towing Informationand the Trailer
Towing Tables to determine the specific towing
capability of your vehicle.
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Update:Fri Dec 13 11:22:54 1996

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Stay within the load limits when you tow.
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Carefully and thoroughly prepare your
vehicle for towing, making sure to use the
right equipment and to attach it properly.
(SeePreparing to Towin this chapter.)
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Use extra caution when driving your vehicle
while you tow. (SeeDriving while you towin
this chapter.)
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Service your vehicle more frequently if you
tow a trailer. (SeeServicing your vehicle if you
towin this chapter.)
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[GF20810( ALL)01/96]
Do not tow a trailer until your vehicle has been
driven at least 500 miles (800 km).
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[GF20820( ALL)01/96]
Vehicle Loading/Towing
Information
[GF20830( M)01/96]
Your vehicle's load capacity is designed 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 on the Safety Compliance
Certification Label. A Safety Compliance
Certification Label was supplied by Ford Motor
Company to the Motorhome Manufacturer. The
manufacturer uses this information and supplies
a Compliance Certification Label which is
located inside the vehicle to the left of the
driver.
File:09ltgfm.ex
Update:Fri Dec 13 11:22:54 1996

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[GF20835( ALL)01/96]
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. Do not allow people to ride in any
area of your vehicle that is not equipped
with seats and safety belts. Be sure
everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and
using a safety belt properly.
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[GF20840( ALL)01/96]
RWARNING
Cargo should always be secured to
prevent it from shifting and causing
damage to the vehicle or harm to
passengers.
[GF20843( ALL)01/96]
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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[GF20845( ALL)01/96]
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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[GF20880( ALL)01/96]
Understanding Loading/Towing
Information
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[GF20885( ALL)01/96]
The following terms are used to describe the
ability to carry or tow a load:
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[GF20890( ALL)01/96]
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Base Curb Weight
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[GF20895( ALL)01/96]
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Payload
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[GF20900( ALL)01/96]
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GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight)
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GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating)
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GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating)
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GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating)
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Maximum Trailer Weight Rating
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[GF20930( ALL)01/96]
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Maximum Trailer Weight
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[GF20940( ALL)01/96]
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Trailer Weight Range
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[GF20950( ALL)01/96]
Base Curb Weight
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[GF20960( ALL)01/96]
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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[GF20970( ALL)01/96]
Payload
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[GF20980( ALL)01/96]
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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[GF20990( ALL)01/96]
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)
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[GF21000( ALL)01/96]
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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[GF21010( ALL)01/96]
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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Update:Fri Dec 13 11:22:54 1996

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[GF21020( ALL)01/96]
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
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[GF21030( ALL)01/96]
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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[GF21040( ALL)01/96]
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR)
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[GF21050( ALL)01/96]
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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[GF21060( ALL)01/96]
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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[GF21070( ALL)01/96]
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.
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[GF21080( ALL)01/96]
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:09ltgfm.ex
Update:Fri Dec 13 11:22:54 1996

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[GF21090( ALL)01/96]
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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[GF21110( ALL)01/96]
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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[GF21120( ALL)01/96]
GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating)
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[GF21130( ALL)01/96]
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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[GF21140( ALL)01/96]
Maximum Trailer Weight Rating
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[GF21150( ALL)01/96]
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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[GF21160( ALL)01/96]
Maximum Trailer Weight
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[GF21170( ALL)01/96]
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.
File:09ltgfm.ex
Update:Fri Dec 13 11:22:54 1996