
Do not leave children, unreliable adults, or pets unattended in
your vehicle.
To improve the fit of lap and shoulder belts on children who have
outgrown child safety seats, Ford recommends use of a belt-positioning
booster seat that is labelled as conforming to all applicable Federal motor
vehicle safety standards. Belt-positioning booster seats raise the child
and provide a shorter, firmer seating cushion that encourages safer
seating posture and better fit of lap and shoulder belts on the child.
A belt-positioning booster seat should be used if the shoulder belt rests
in front of the child's face or neck, or if the lap belt does not fit snugly
on both thighs, or if the thighs are too short to let the child sit all the
way back on the seat cushion when the lower legs hang over the 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.
Seating and Safety Restraints
134

DRIVING THROUGH WATER
Do not drive quickly through standing water, especially if the depth is
unknown. Traction or brake capability may be limited and if the ignition
system gets wet, your engine may stall. Water may also enter your
engine's air intake and severely damage your engine.
If driving through deep or standing water is unavoidable, proceed very
slowly. Never drive through water that is higher than the bottom of the
hubs (for trucks) or the bottom of the wheel rims (for cars).
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.
Driving through deep water where the transmission vent tube is
submerged may allow water into the transmission and cause
internal transmission damage.
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 occupants or
aftermarket equipment.
²Payload:Combined maximum allowable weight of cargo, occupants
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 permissable total
weight of the base vehicle, occupants, optional equipment and cargo.
The GVWR is specific to each vehicle and is listed on the Safety
Certification Label on the driver's door pillar.
²GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating):Carrying capacity for each axle
system. The GAWR is specific to each vehicle and is listed on the
Safety Certification Label on the driver's door pillar.
²GCW (Gross Combined Weight):The combined weight of the
towing vehicle (including occupants and cargo) and the loaded trailer.
²GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating):Maximum permissable
combined weight of towing vehicle (including occupants and cargo)
and the loaded trailer
Driving
173

²Maximum Trailer Weight Rating:Maximum weight of a trailer the
vehicle is permitted to tow. The maximum trailer weight rating 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.
²Maximum Trailer Weight:Maximum weight of a trailer the loaded
vehicle (including occupants 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.
Do not exceed the GVWR or the GAWR specified on the
certification label.
Do not use replacement tires with lower load carrying capacities than the
originals because they may lower the vehicle's GVWR and GAWR
limitations. Replacement tires with a higher limit than the originals do
not increase the GVWR and GAWR limitations.
The Safety Certification Label, found on the driver's door pillar, lists
several important vehicle weight rating limitations. Before adding any
additional equipment, refer to these limitations. If you are adding weight
to the front of your vehicle, (potentially including weight added to the
cab), the weight added should not exceed the front axle reserve capacity
(FARC). Additional frontal weight may be added to the front axle reserve
capacity provided you limit your payload in other ways (i.e. restrict the
number of occupants or amount of cargo carried).
Always ensure that the weight of occupants, cargo and equipment being
carried is within the weight limitations that have been established for
your vehicle including both gross vehicle weight and front and rear gross
axle weight rating limits. Under no circumstance should these limitations
be exceeded.
Exceeding any vehicle weight rating limitation could result in
serious damage to the vehicle and/or personal injury.
Driving
174

Special loading instructions for owners of pickup trucks and
utility-type vehicles
For important information regarding safe operation of this type
of vehicle, see thePreparing to drive your vehiclesection in
this chapter.
Loaded vehicles, with a higher center of gravity, may handle
differently than unloaded vehicles. Extra precautions, such as
slower speeds and increased stopping distance, should be taken when
driving a heavily loaded vehicle.
Your vehicle has the capability to haul more cargo and people than most
passenger cars. Depending upon the type and placement of the load,
hauling cargo and people may raise the center of gravity of the vehicle.
Calculating the load your vehicle can carry/tow
1. Use the appropriate maximum gross combined weight rating (GCWR)
chart to find the maximum GCWR for your type engine and rear axle
ratio.
2. 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.
3. 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.
TRAILER TOWING
Your vehicle may tow a class I, II or III trailer provided the maximum
trailer weight is less than or equal to the maximum trailer weight listed
for your engine and rear axle ratio on the following charts.
Your vehicle's load capacity is designated by weight, not by volume, so
you cannot necessarily use all available space when loading a vehicle.
Towing a trailer places an additional load on your vehicle's engine,
transmission, axle, brakes, tires and suspension. Inspect these
components carefully after any towing operation.
Driving
175

4x2 w/manual transmission
Engine Rear axle
ratioMaximum
GCWR - kg
(lbs.)Maximum
trailer
weight - kg
(lbs.)Maximum
frontal area
of trailer -
m
2(ft2)
Regular Cab w/6' box
2.3L All 2 177 (4 800) 753 (1 660) Equal to
frontal area
of vehicle
3.0L
(non-torsion
bar
suspension)All 2 722 (6 000) 1 207 (2 660) 4.64 (50)
3.0L
(torsion bar
suspension)All 2 722 (6 000) 1 152 (2 540) 4.64 (50)
4.0L
(non-torsion
bar
suspension)All 3 175 (7 000) 1 624 (3 580) 4.64 (50)
4.0L
(torsion bar
suspension)All 3 175 (7 000) 1 569 (3 460) 4.64 (50)
Regular Cab w/7' box
2.3L All 2 177 (4 800) 726 (1 600) Equal to
frontal area
of vehicle
3.0L All 2 722 (6 000) 1 179 (2 600) 4.64 (50)
4.0L All 3 175 (7 000) 1 597 (3 520) 4.64 (50)
SuperCab
2.3L All 2 177 (4 800) 671 (1 480) Equal to
frontal area
of vehicle
Driving
176

4x2 w/manual transmission
Engine Rear axle
ratioMaximum
GCWR - kg
(lbs.)Maximum
trailer
weight - kg
(lbs.)Maximum
frontal area
of trailer -
m
2(ft2)
3.0L
(non-torsion
bar
suspension)All 2 722 (6 000) 1 125 (2 480) 4.64 (50)
3.0L
(torsion bar
suspension)All 2 722 (6 000) 1 052 (2 320) 4.64 (50)
4.0L
(non-torsion
bar
suspension)All 3 175 (7 000) 1 542 (3 400) 4.64 (50)
4.0L
(torsion bar
suspension)All 3 175 (7 000) 1 479 (3 260) 4.64 (50)
For high altitude operation, reduce GCW by 2% per 300 meters (1 000
ft.) elevation.
For definition of terms used in this table seeVehicle Loadingearlier
in this chapter.
To determine maximum trailer weight designed for your particular
vehicle, seeCalculating the load your vehicle can carry/towearlier
in this chapter.
Maximum trailer weight is shown. The combined weight of the
completed towing vehicle (including hitch, passengers and cargo) and
the loaded trailer must not exceed the Gross Combined Weight Rating
(GCWR).
Driving
177

4x4 w/manual transmission
Engine Rear axle
ratioMaximum
GCWR - kg
(lbs.)Maximum
trailer
weight - kg
(lbs)Maximum
frontal area
of trailer -
m
2(ft2)
Regular Cab w/6' box
3.0L All 2 722 (6 000) 1 180 (2 380) 4.64 (50)
4.0L All 3 175 (7 000) 1 506 (3 320) 4.64 (50)
Regular Cab w/7' box
3.0L All 2 722 (6 000) 1 061 (2 340) 4.64 (50)
4.0L All 3 175 (7 000) 1 479 (3 260) 4.64 (50)
SuperCab
3.0L All 2 722 (6 000) 1 007 (2 220) 4.64 (50)
4.0L All 3 175 (7 000) 1 424 (3 140) 4.64 (50)
4.0L
(FX4
package)All 3 175 (7 000) 1 234 (2 720) 4.64 (50)
For high altitude operation, reduce GCW by 2% per 300 meters (1 000
ft.) of elevation.
For definition of terms used in this table, seeVehicle loadingearlier
in this chapter.
To determine maximum trailer weight designed for your vehicle, see
Calculating the load your vehicle can carry/towearlier in this
chapter.
Maximum trailer weight is shown. The combined weight of the
completed towing vehicle (including hitch, passengers and cargo) and
the loaded trailer must not exceed the Gross Combined Weight Rating
(GCWR).
Driving
178

4x2 w/automatic transmission
Engine Rear axle
ratioMaximum
GCWR - kg
(lbs.)Maximum
trailer
weight - kg
(lbs.)Maximum
frontal area
of trailer -
m
2(ft2)
Regular Cab w/6' box
2.3L All 2 495 (5 500) 1 025 (2 260) Equal to
frontal area
of vehicle
3.0L
(non-torsion
bar
suspensionAll 3 402 (7 500) 1 869 (4 120) 4.64 (50)
3.0L (tosion
bar
suspension)All 3 402 (7 500) 1 814 (4 000) 4.64 (50)
4.0L
(non-torsion
bar
suspension)All 4 309 (9 500) 2 740 (6 040) 4.64 (50)
4.0L
(torsion bar
suspension)All 4 309 (9 500) 2 685 (5 920) 4.64 (50)
Regular Cab w/7' box
2.3L All 2 495 (5 500) 1 007 (2 220) Equal to
frontal area
of vehicle
3.0L All 3 402 (7 500) 1 842 (4 060) 4.64 (50)
4.0L All 4 309 (9 500) 2 712 (5 980) 4.64 (50)
SuperCab
3.0L
(non-torsion
bar
suspension)All 3 402 (7 500) 1 787 (3 940) 4.64 (50)
Driving
179