1998 FORD EXPEDITION weight

edge of the seat cushion. You may
wish to discuss the special needs
of your child with your
pediatrician.
SAFETY SEATS FOR CHILDREN
Child and infant or child safety
seats
Use a safety seat that is
recommended for the size and
weight of the child. Carefully
follow all of the manufacturer's
instructions with the safety seat
you put in your vehicle. If you do
not install and use the safety seat
properly, the child may be injured
in a sudden stop or collision.
When installing a child safety seat:
²Use the correct safety belt
buckle for that seating position.
²Make sure the tongue is
securely fastened in the buckle.
²Keep the buckle release button
pointing up and away from the
safety seat, with the tongue
between the child seat and the
release button, to prevent
accidental unbuckling.
²Place seat back in upright
position.
²Put the safety belt in the
automatic locking mode. Refer
toAutomatic locking mode.
Ford recommends the use of a
child safety seat having a top
tether strap. Install the child safety
seat in a seating position which is
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86

the hubs (truck)/wheel rims (car).
Once through the water, always try
the brakes. Wet brakes do not stop
the vehicle as effectively as dry
brakes. Drying can be improved by
moving your vehicle slowly while
applying light pressure on the
brake pedal.
VEHICLE LOADING
Before loading a vehicle, familiarize
yourself with the following terms:
²Base Curb Weight: Weight of
the vehicle including any
standard equipment, fluids,
lubricants, etc. It does not
include passengers or
aftermarket equipment.
²Payload: Combined maximum
allowable weight of cargo,
passengers and optional
equipment. The payload equals
the gross vehicle weight rating
minus base curb weight.
²GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight):
Base curb weight plus payload
weight. The GVW is not a limit
or a specification.
²GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating): Maximum total weight
of the base vehicle, passengers,
optional equipment and cargo.
The GVWR is specific to each
vehicle and is listed on the
Safety Compliance Label on the
driver's door pillar.
²GAWR (Gross Axle Weight
Rating): Carrying capacity for
each axle system. The GAWR is
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specific to each vehicle and is
listed on the Safety Compliance
Label on the driver's door pillar.
²GCWR (Gross Combined
Weight Rating): Maximum
combined weight of towing
vehicle (including passengers
and cargo) and the trailer. The
GCWR indicates the maximum
loaded weight that the vehicle is
allowed to 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 trailer
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.
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Do not exceed the GVWR
or the GAWR specified on
the Safety Compliance
Certification Label.
Do not use replacement tires with
lower weight capacities than the
originals 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.
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
below the maximum shown under
maximum trailer weight on the
chart.
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Trailer towing with your vehicle
may require the use of a trailer
tow option package.
Trailer towing puts additional loads
on your vehicle's engine,
transmission, axle, brakes, tires,
and suspension. For your safety
and to maximize vehicle
performance, be sure to use the
proper equipment while towing.
Follow these guidelines to ensure
safe towing procedure:
²Stay within your vehicle's load
limits. If exceeded, cargo should
be removed from the trailer
and/or the vehicle until all
weights are within specified
limits.
²Thoroughly prepare your vehicle
for towing. Refer toPreparing
to towin this chapter.
²Use extra caution when driving
while trailer towing. Refer to
Driving while you towin this
chapter.
²Service your vehicle more
frequently if you tow a trailer.
Refer to the severe duty
schedule in the ªService Guideº.
²Do not tow a trailer until your
vehicle has been driven at least
800 km (500 miles).
²Refer to the instructions
included with towing accessories
for the proper installation and
adjustment specifications.
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If your vehicle is equipped with
the optional heavy duty trailer tow
wiring, it is pre-wired for trailer
towing. An electrical connector is
provided under the instrument
panel for installing a
customer-supplied electric brake
controller. Another electrical
connector is provided at the hitch.
This connector provides power to
the trailer for taillamps, stop and
turn lamps, back up lamps, battery
charge, electric brakes (when a
customer provided controller is
installed) and ground. The kit
included with your vehicle
provides you with adaptors to
attach the brake controller and
convert the hitch connector for
Class I trailer usage.
Trailer towing table (with heavy
duty trailer tow option)
GCWR (Gross Combined Weight
Rating)/trailer weights
EngineRear
axle
ratioTire sizeMaximum
GCWRTrailer weight
range
(0 - maximum)
4x2
4.6L 3.3140.6 cm
(16 in)4 990 kg
(11 000 lbs.)0-2676 kg
(0-5 900 lbs.)
5.4L 3.3140.6 cm
(16 in)5 443 kg
(12 000 lbs.)0-3 039 kg
(0-6 700 lbs.)
5.4L 3.7340.6 cm
(16 in)6 123 kg
(13 500 lbs.)0-3 628 kg
(0-8 000 lbs.)
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EngineRear
axle
ratioTire sizeMaximum
GCWRTrailer weight
range
(0 - maximum)
4x4
4.6L 3.5540.6 cm
(16 in)5 216 kg
(11 500 lbs.)0-2 766 kg
(0-6 100 lbs.)
4.6L 3.5543.2 cm
(17 in)4 990 kg
(11 000 lbs.)0-2 494 kg
(5 500 lbs.)
5.4L 3.3140.6 cm
(16 in)5 443 kg
(12 000 lbs.)0-2 902 kg
(0-6 400 lbs.)
5.4L 3.7340.6 cm
(16 in)6 123 kg
(13 500 lbs.)0-3 556 kg
(0-7 900 lbs.)
5.4L 3.7343.2 cm
(17 in)5 897 kg
(13 000 lbs.)0-3 556 kg
(0-7 400 lbs.)
Maximum frontal area of trailer is 5.6 square meters (60 square feet)
Do not exceed the maximum loads
listed on the Safety Compliance
Certification label. For load
specification terms found on the
label, refer toVehicle loadingin
this chapter. Remember to figure
in the tongue load of your loaded
trailer when figuring the total
weight.
Towing trailers beyond the
maximum recommended
gross trailer weight exceeds the
limit of the vehicle and could
result in engine damage,
transmission damage, structural
damage, loss of control and
personal injury.
Preparing to tow
Use the proper equipment for
towing a trailer, and make sure it
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is properly attached to your
vehicle. See your dealer or a
reliable trailer dealer if you require
assistance.
If your vehicle is not equipped
with the factory heavy duty trailer
tow option, auxiliary coolers are
recommended for the automatic
transmission system if you are
planning on:
²traveling farther than 80 km
(50 miles)
²towing in hilly terrain
²towing frequently
Hitches
Do not use hitches that clamp onto
the vehicle's bumper or attach to
the axle. You must distribute the
load in your trailer so that 10 to
15% of the total weight of the
trailer is on the tongue.
Load equalizing hitch
When hooking up a trailer using a
load equalizing hitch, always use
the following procedure:
1. Park the unloaded vehicle on a
level surface. With the ignition on
and all doors closed, allow the
vehicle to stand for several
minutes so that it can level.
2. Turn the air suspension (if
equipped) control to OFF.
3. Measure the height of a
reference point on the front and
rear bumpers at the center of the
vehicle.
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