The shoulder belt should cross the chest, resting snugly on the center of
the shoulder. The lap belt should rest low and snug across the hips,
never up high across the stomach.
If the booster seat slides on the vehicle seat, placing a rubberized mesh
sold as shelf or carpet liner under the booster seat may improve this
condition.
The importance of shoulder belts
Using a booster without a shoulder belt increases the risk of a child’s
head hitting a hard surface in a collision. For this reason, you should
never use a booster seat with a lap belt only. It is best to use a booster
seat with lap/shoulder belts in the back seat- the safest place for children
to ride.
Follow all instructions provided by the manufacturer of the
booster seat.
Never put the shoulder belt under a child’s arm or behind the
back because it eliminates the protection for the upper part of
the body and may increase the risk of injury or death in a collision.
Never use pillows, books, or towels to boost a child. They can
slide around and increase the likelihood of injury or death in a
collision.
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.
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TRACTION-LOK AXLE (IF EQUIPPED)
This axle provides added traction on slippery surfaces, particularly when
one wheel is on a poor traction surface. Under normal conditions, the
Traction-Lok axle functions like a standard rear axle. The axle may
exhibit a slight noise or vibration in tight turns with low vehicle speed.
This is normal behavior and indicates the axle is working.
PREPARING TO DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE
Utility vehicles have a significantly higher rollover rate than
other types of vehicles.
In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is significantly more likely
to die than a person wearing a safety belt.
Your vehicle has larger tires and increased ground clearance, giving the
vehicle a higher center of gravity than a passenger car.
Vehicles with a higher center of gravity such as utility and
four-wheel drive vehicles handle differently than vehicles with a
lower center of gravity. Utility and four-wheel drive vehicles arenot
designed for cornering at speeds as high as passenger cars any more
than low-slung sports cars are designed to perform satisfactorily under
off-road conditions. Avoid sharp turns, excessive speed and abrupt
maneuvers in these vehicles. Failure to drive cautiously could result in
an increased risk of loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover, personal
injury and death.
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.
VEHICLE STABILITY AND HANDLING
The risk of a rollover crash increases as the number of people and load
in the vehicle increase. This increased risk occurs because the passenger
weight and load raises the vehicle’s center of gravity and causes it to
shift rearward. As a result, the van has less resistance to rollover and
handles differently from other commonly driven passenger vehicles,
making it more difficult to control in an emergency situation. Placing any
load on the roof also raises the center of gravity and increases the
potential for rollover.
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•If the vehicle goes from one type of surface to another (i.e., from
concrete to gravel) there will be a change in the way the vehicle
responds to a maneuver (steering, acceleration or braking). Again,
avoid these abrupt inputs.
VEHICLE LOADING–WITH AND WITHOUT A TRAILER
This section will guide you in the proper loading of your vehicle and/or
trailer, to keep your loaded vehicle weight within its design rating
capability, with or without a trailer. Properly loading your vehicle will
provide maximum return of vehicle design performance. Before loading
your vehicle, familiarize yourself with the following terms for determining
your vehicle’s weight ratings, with or without a trailer, from the vehicle’s
Safety Certification Label and Tire Label:
Base Curb Weight–is the weight of the vehicle including a full tank of
fuel and all standard equipment. It does not include passengers, cargo, or
optional equipment.
Vehicle Curb Weight–is the weight of your new vehicle when you
picked it up from your dealer plus any aftermarket equipment.
Cargo Weight–includes all weight added to the Base Curb Weight,
including cargo and optional equipment. When towing, trailer tongue load
or king pin weight is also part of cargo weight.
GAW (Gross Axle Weight)–is the total weight placed on each axle
(front and rear)–including vehicle curb weight and all payload.
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating)–is the maximum allowable
weight that can be carried by a single axle (front or rear).These
numbers are shown on the Safety Compliance Certification Label
located on the driver’s door or B-Pillar. The total load on each
axle must never exceed its GAWR.
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Exceeding the Safety Certification Label axle weight rating limits
could result in substandard vehicle handling or performance,
engine, transmission and/or structural damage, serious damage to the
vehicle, loss of control and personal injury.
Note:For trailer towing information refer toTrailer towingfound in
this chapter or theRV and Trailer Towing Guideprovided by your
dealership.
GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight)–is the Vehicle Curb Weight + cargo +
passengers.
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating)–is the maximum
allowable weight of the fully loaded
vehicle (including all options,
equipment, passengers and cargo).
The GVWR is shown on the
Safety Compliance Certification
Label located on the driver’s
door or B-Pillar. The GVW must
never exceed the GVWR.
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Exceeding the Safety Certification Label vehicle weight rating
limits could result in substandard vehicle handling or
performance, engine, transmission and/or structural damage, serious
damage to the vehicle, loss of control and personal injury.
GCW (Gross Combined Weight)–is the weight of the loaded vehicle
(GVW) plus the weight of the fully loaded trailer.
GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating)–is the maximum allowable
weight of the vehicle and the loaded trailer–including all cargo and
passengers–that the vehicle can handle without risking damage.
(Important: The towing vehicle’s braking system is rated for operation at
GVWR, not at GCWR. Separate functional brakes should be used for safe
control of towed vehicles and for trailers where the GCW of the towing
vehicle plus the trailer exceed the GVWR of the towing vehicle.The
GCW must never exceed the GCWR.
Maximum Loaded Trailer Weight–is the highest possible weight of a
fully loaded trailer the vehicle can tow. It assumes a vehicle with only
mandatory options, no cargo (internal or external), a tongue load of
10–15% (conventional trailer) or king pin weight of 15–25% (fifth wheel
trailer), and driver only (150 lbs [68 kg]).Consult your dealership (or
theRV and Trailer Towing Guideprovided by your dealership) for
more detailed information.
Tongue Load or Fifth Wheel King Pin Weight–refers to the amount
of the weight that a trailer pushes down on a trailer hitch.
Examples:For a 5,000 lbs. (2,268 kg) conventional trailer, multiply
5,000 by 0.10 and 0.15 to obtain a proper tongue load range of 500 to
750 lbs. (227 to 340 kg). For an 11,500 lbs. (5,216 kg) fifth wheel trailer,
multiply by 0.15 and 0.25 to obtain a proper king pin load range of 1,725
to 2,875 lbs. (782 to 1,304 kg)
Do not exceed the GVWR or the GAWR specified on the
certification label.
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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.
Exceeding any vehicle weight rating limitation could result in
serious damage to the vehicle and/or personal injury.
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 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 can 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 GCWR chart (in theTrailer towing
section in this chapter) for your type of engine and rear axle ratio.
2. Weigh your vehicle without cargo. To obtain correct weights, take your
vehicle to a shipping company or an inspection station for trucks.
3. Subtract your loaded weight from the maximum GCWR in the chart.
This is the maximum trailer weight your vehicle can tow. It must be
below the maximum trailer weight shown in 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.
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GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating)/Trailer Weights
EngineRear
axle
ratioMaximum
GCWR -
lbs. (kg)Maximum
Loaded
Trailer Weight
- lbs. (kg)Maximum
frontal area of
trailer - ft
2
(m2)
E-150 Regular Van (6700 GVWR)
4.6L 3.5511500
(5216)6400 (2903) 60 (5.52)
5.4L 3.5512000
(5443)6800 (3084) 60 (5.52)
E-150 Regular Van (Crew) (6700 GVWR)
4.6L 3.5511500
(5216)6200 (2812) 60 (5.52)
5.4L 3.5512000
(5443)6600 (2994) 60 (5.52)
E-150 Regular Van (7000 GVWR)
4.6L 3.5511500
(5216)6500 (2948) 60 (5.52)
5.4L 3.5512000
(5443)6900 (3130) 60 (5.52)
E-150 Regular Wagon (7–passenger) (7000 GVWR)
4.6L 3.5511500
(5216)5700 (2585) 60 (5.52)
5.4L 3.5512000
(5443)6200 (2812) 60 (5.52)
E-150 Regular Wagon (8–passenger) (7000 GVWR)
4.6L 3.5511500
(5216)6100 (2767) 60 (5.52)
5.4L 3.5512000
(5443)6500 (2948) 60 (5.52)
E-250 Regular Van (7200 GVWR)
4.6L 3.7310500
(4763)5100 (2313) 60 (5.52)
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GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating)/Trailer Weights
EngineRear
axle
ratioMaximum
GCWR -
lbs. (kg)Maximum
Loaded
Trailer Weight
- lbs. (kg)Maximum
frontal area of
trailer - ft
2
(m2)
.E-250 Regular Van (8600 GVWR)
4.6L 4.1011000
(4990)5600 (2540) 60 (5.52)
5.4L 3.7313000
(5897)7500 (3402) 60 (5.52)
E-250 Regular Van (Crew) (8600 GVWR)
4.6L 4.1011000
(4990)5300 (2404) 60 (5.52)
5.4L 3.7313000
(5897)7200 (3266) 60 (5.52)
E-250 Extended Van (7300 GVWR)
4.6L 3.7310500
(4763)5000 (2268) 60 (5.52)
E-250 Extended Van (8600 GVWR)
4.6L 4.1011000
(4990)5400 (2449) 60 (5.52)
5.4L 3.7313000
(5897)7300 (3311) 60 (5.52)
E-250 Extended Van (Crew) (8600 GVWR)
4.6L 4.1011000
(4990)5300 (2404) 60 (5.52)
5.4L 3.7313000
(5897)7300 (3311) 60 (5.52)
E-350 Regular Van (9500 GVWR)
5.4L 3.5512000
(5443)6300 (2858) 60 (5.52)
5.4L 4.1013000
(5897)7300 (3311) 60 (5.52)
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