1997 Mercury Mountaineer tow

²Maximum Trailer Weight Rating:
Maximum weight of a trailer the
vehicle is permitted to tow. The
maximum trailer weight rating
equals 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.
²Maximum Trailer Weight:
Maximum weight of a trailer the
loaded vehicle (including
passengers and cargo) is
permitted to tow. It is
determined by subtracting the
weight of the loaded towing
vehicle from the GCWR for the
towing vehicle.
²Trailer Weight Range: Specified
weight range that the trailer
must fall within that ranges from
zero to the maximum trailer
weight rating.
Remember to figure in the tongue
load of your loaded trailer when
figuring the total weight.
If the GVWR or the GAWR
specified on the Safety
Compliance Certification Label is
exceeded, your vehicle may be
damaged or you may lose control
and injure someone.
To obtain correct weights, try
taking your vehicle to a shipping
company or an inspection station
for trucks.
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Do not use replacement tires with
lower weight capacities than the
original because they may lower
the vehicle's GVWR and GAWR
limitations. Replacement tires with
a higher weight limit than the
originals do not increase the
GVWR and GAWR limitations.
TRAILER TOWING
Your vehicle may tow a Class I or
II trailer provided the maximum
trailer weight is less than or equal
to the maximum trailer weight
listed for your engine and rear axle
ratio. See theTrailer towing table
later in this chapter.
Do not exceed the maximum loads
stated on the Safety Compliance
Certification Label. Refer to
Vehicle loadingfor a definition of
the terms on the label.
Your vehicle's load capacity is
designated by weight, not by
volume, so you cannot necessarily
use all available space when
loading a vehicle.
Distribute the trailer load so that
only 10 to 15% of the total weight
of the trailer is on the tongue. Tie
down the load so that it does not
shift and change the weight on the
hitch.
Towing a trailer places an
additional load on your vehicle's
engine, transmission, axle, brakes,
tires and suspension. Inspect these
components carefully before and
after any towing operation.
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If the GVWR or the GAWR
specified on the Safety
Compliance Certification Label is
exceeded, your vehicle may be
damaged or you may lose control
and injure someone.
Towing trailers beyond the
maximum recommended
gross trailer weight exceeds the
limits of the vehicle and could
result in engine damage,
transmission/axle damage,
structural damage, loss of
control, and personal injury.
Calculating the load your
vehicle can carry/tow
1. Use the Safety Compliance
Certification Label to find the axle
code number and engine type for
your vehicle.
2. Use the appropriate maximum
Gross Combined Weight Rating
(GCWR) chart to find the
maximum GCWR for your type
engine and rear axle ratio.
3. Weigh your vehicle as you
customarily operate the vehicle
without cargo. To obtain correct
weights, try taking your vehicle to
a shipping company or an
inspection station for trucks.
4. Subtract your loaded vehicle
weight from the maximum GCWR
on the following charts. This is the
maximum trailer weight your
vehicle can tow and must fall
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below the maximum shown under
maximum trailer weight on the
chart.
Trailer Towing Table
4R70W Automatic Transmission
EngineRear
Axle
RatioMaximum
GCWR kg (lb)
1
Maximum
Trailer Weight
kg (lb)
2
Maximum
Frontal Area of
Trailer ft
2-Wheel Drive
5.0L 3.73 4,990 (11,000) 3,039 (6,700) 50
All-Wheel Drive
5.0L 3.73 4,990 (11,000) 2,944 (6,500) 50
1For high altitude operation, reduce GCWR by 2% per 300 meters
(1,000 ft) elevation.
2To determine the maximum trailer weight designed for your particular
vehicle as equipped, follow the sectionCalculating the load your
vehicle can carry/towearlier in this section.
Preparing to tow
Use the proper equipment for
towing a trailer, and make sure it
is properly attached to your
vehicle. See your dealer or a
reliable trailer dealer if you require
assistance.
Hitches
Do not use or install hitches that
clamp onto the bumper or to the
axle. Underbody hitches are
acceptable if installed properly.
The rear bumper has an integral
hitch and only requires a ball with
a 3/4 inch shank diameter. The
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bumper has a Class II rating (1590
kg/3500 lb trailer weight and 159
kg/350 lb tongue weight).
Safety chains
Always connect the trailer's safety
chains to the vehicle. To connect
chains when towing with the step
bumper, cross the chains under the
trailer tongue and allow slack for
turning corners. Connect the
chains to the holes in the
underside of the hitch plate for a
Class II frame mounted hitch.
When using a frame mounted
trailer hitch, attach the safety
chains to the frame mounted hitch
using the recommendations
supplied by the hitch
manufacturer.
Trailer brakes
Trailer brakes are required on
most towed vehicles weighing over
680 kg/ 1500 lb. Use electric
brakes or manual, automatic, or
surge-type hydraulic brakes that
meet Federal and local regulations.
Install and adjust the brakes
according to the manufacturer's
instructions.
Do not connect a trailer's
hydraulic brake system
directly to your vehicle's brake
system. Your vehicle may not
have enough braking power and
your chances of having a
collision greatly increase.
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113

Trailer lamps
Trailer lamps are required on most
towed vehicles. Make sure your
trailer lamps conform to Federal
and local regulations. See your
dealer or trailer rental agency for
the proper instructions and
equipment for hooking up trailer
lamps.
Do not hook the trailer
lamps directly into the
vehicle's lighting system wiring.
If the trailer lamps are not
installed properly, the warning
lights in the instrument cluster
may not work properly.
Driving while you tow
Do not drive faster than 88km/h
(55 mph) while towing a trailer. Do
not drive faster than 72 km/h (45
mph) while towing in hilly country
or on hot days.
Speed control may shut off if you
are towing on very long, steep
grades.
When towing a trailer:
²Use D (3rd gear) rather than
D(Overdrive) while towing up
or down steep hills. This will
eliminate excessive downshifting
and upshifting for optimum fuel
economy and transmission
cooling.
²Anticipate stops and brake
gradually.
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Servicing while towing
If you tow a trailer for long
distances, your vehicle will require
more frequent service intervals.
Refer to theService Guidefor
more information.
Trailer towing
²Practice turning, stopping and
backing in an area before
starting on a trip to get the feel
of the vehicle/trailer
combination. When turning,
drive slightly beyond the normal
turning point so the trailer
wheels will clear curbs and
other obstacles.
²Allow more room for stopping
with a trailer attached.
²The trailer tongue weight should
be 10-15% of the loaded trailer
weight for a Class I or II rear
bumper hitch.
²After you have travelled about
80 km (50 miles), thoroughly
check your hitch, electrical
connections and trailer wheel
lug nuts.
²When stopped in traffic for long
periods of time in hot weather,
place the gearshift in P (Park)
to increase idle speed. This aids
engine cooling and air
conditioner efficiency.
²Vehicles with trailers should not
be parked on a grade. If you
must park on a grade, place
wheel chocks under the trailer's
wheels.
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HAZARD SWITCH
Use the hazard flashers to warn
traffic of vehicle problems.
Press button down to activate
hazard flashers.
Press button again to deactivate
hazard flashers.
FUEL PUMP SHUTOFF SWITCH
The fuel pump shutoff switch stops
the fuel pump when the vehicle
has been involved in a collision or
major jolt. If the vehicle does not
start, it is possible that the fuel
pump shutoff switch needs to be
reset.
If you see or smell fuel, do
not reset the switch or try
to start your vehicle. Have all the
passengers get out of the vehicle
and call the local fire department
or a towing service.
0P RND21
UNLEADED
FUEL ONLY
RPM x 100012345
6H
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RSM
SET
ACC
COAST OFF ON
SRS
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70
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km/h100
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Roadside emergencies
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