2004 FORD F SERIES MOTORHOME AND COMMERCIAL CHASSIS load capacity

If your vehicle gets stuck in mud or snow
If your vehicle gets stuck in mud or snow, it may be rocked out by
shifting from forward and reverse gears, stopping between shifts in a
steady pattern. Press lightly on the accelerator in each gear.
Do not rock the vehicle if the engine is not at normal operating
temperature or damage to the transmission may occur.
Do not rock the vehicle for more than a minute or damage to the
transmission and tires may occur, or the engine may overheat.
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. Have the fluid checked and, if
water is found, replace the fluid.
VEHICLE LOADING
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 Certification Label was supplied by Ford Motor
Company to the Motorhome Manufacturer. The manufacturer uses this
information and supplies a Certification Label which is located inside the
vehicle to the left of the driver.
Before loading a vehicle, familiarize yourself with the following terms:
•Base Curb Weight:Weight of the vehicle including any standard
equipment, fluids, lubricants, etc. It does not include occupants or
aftermarket equipment.
2004 Motorhome(mot)
Supplement
USA English(fus)
Driving
31

•Payload:Combined maximum allowable weight of cargo, occupants
and optional equipment. The payload equals the gross vehicle weight
rating minus base curb weight.
•GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight):Base curb weight plus payload
weight. The GVW is not a limit or a specification.
•GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating):Maximum permissible total
weight of the base vehicle, occupants, optional equipment and cargo.
The GVWR is specific to each vehicle and is listed on the Certification
Label, located near the driver’s seat or on the driver’s door pillar.
•GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating):Carrying capacity for each axle
system. The GAWR is specific to each vehicle and is listed on the
Certification Label, located near the driver’s seat or on the driver’s
door pillar.
•GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating):Maximum permissible
combined weight of towing vehicle (including occupants and cargo)
and the loaded trailer.
•Maximum Trailer Weight Rating:Maximum weight of a trailer the
loaded vehicle (including occupants and cargo) 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.
•Trailer 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.
Exceeding any vehicle weight rating limitation could result in
serious damage to the vehicle loss of vehicle control, vehicle
rollover, and/or personal injury.
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.
2004 Motorhome(mot)
Supplement
USA English(fus)
Driving
32

Coolant refill capacity
To find out how much fluid your vehicle’s cooling system can hold, refer
toRefill capacitiesin this chapter.
Fill your engine coolant reservoir as outlined inAdding engine coolant
in this chapter.
Severe climates
If you drive in extremely cold climates (less than–36°C[–34°F]):
•It may be necessary to increase the coolant concentration
above 50%.
•NEVER increase the coolant concentration above 60%.
•Increased engine coolant concentrations above 60% will
decrease the overheat protection characteristics of the engine
coolant and may cause engine damage.
•Refer to the chart on the coolant container to ensure the
coolant concentration in your vehicle will provide adequate
freeze protection at the temperatures in which you drive in the
winter months.
If you drive in extremely hot climates:
•It is still necessary to maintain the coolant concentration
above 40%.
•NEVER decrease the coolant concentration below 40%.
•Decreased engine coolant concentrations below 40% will
decrease the corrosion protection characteristics of the engine
coolant and may cause engine damage.
•Decreased engine coolant concentrations below 40% will
decrease the freeze protection characteristics of the engine
coolant and may cause engine damage.
•Refer to the chart on the coolant container to ensure the
coolant concentration in your vehicle will provide adequate
protection at the temperatures in which you drive.
Vehicles driven year-round in non-extreme climates should use a 50/50
mixture of engine coolant and distilled water for optimum cooling system
and engine protection.
What you should know about fail-safe cooling
If the engine coolant supply is depleted, this feature allows the vehicle to
be driven temporarily before incremental component damage is incurred.
The“fail-safe”distance depends on ambient temperatures, vehicle load
and terrain.
2004 Motorhome(mot)
Supplement
USA English(fus)
Maintenance and specifications
77

Filling the tank
The advertised fuel capacity of the fuel tank on your vehicle is equal to
the rated refill capacity of the fuel tank as listed in theRefill capacities
section of this chapter.
The advertised capacity is the amount of the indicated capacity and the
empty reserve combined. Indicated capacity is the difference in the
amount of fuel in a full tank and a tank when the fuel gauge indicates
empty. Empty reserve is the small amount of fuel remaining in the fuel
tank after the fuel gauge indicates empty.
The amount of usable fuel in the empty reserve varies and should
not be relied upon to increase driving range. When refueling your
vehicle after the fuel gauge indicates empty, you might not be
able to refuel the full amount of the advertised capacity of the
fuel tank due to the empty reserve still present in the tank.
For consistent results when filling the fuel tank:
•Turn the engine/ignition switch to the off position prior to refueling,
an error in the reading will result if the engine is left running.
•Use the same filling rate setting (low—medium—high) each time
the tank is filled.
•Allow no more than 2 automatic click-offs when filling.
•Always use fuel with the recommended octane rating.
•Use a known quality gasoline, preferably a national brand.
•Use the same side of the same pump and have the vehicle facing the
same direction each time you fill up.
•Have the vehicle loading and distribution the same every time.
Your results will be most accurate if your filling method is consistent.
Calculating fuel economy
1. Fill the fuel tank completely and record the initial odometer reading
(in kilometers or miles).
2. Each time you fill the tank, record the amount of fuel added (in liters
or gallons).
3. After at least three to five tank fill-ups, fill the fuel tank and record
the current odometer reading.
4. Subtract your initial odometer reading from the current odometer
reading.
2004 Motorhome(mot)
Supplement
USA English(fus)
Maintenance and specifications
85

E
Emergencies, roadside
jump-starting ............................52
Emission control system ............88
Engine ................................113–114
cleaning .....................................66
coolant .......................................73
fail-safe coolant ........................77
idle speed control .....................71
lubrication specifications 112–113
refill capacities ........................110
service points ............................68
starting after a collision ...........40
Engine block heater ...................23
Engine oil ....................................69
checking and adding ................69
dipstick ......................................69
filter, specifications ..........70, 109
recommendations .....................70
refill capacities ........................110
specifications ..................112–113
Exhaust fumes ............................23
F
Fail safe cooling ..........................77
Fluid capacities .........................110
Fuel ..............................................79
calculating fuel economy .........84
capacity ...................................110
choosing the right fuel .............81
comparisons with EPA fuel
economy estimates ...................87
detergent in fuel .......................82
filling your vehicle with
fuel .......................................79, 85
filter, specifications ..........82, 109
fuel pump shut-off switch .......40
improving fuel economy ..........84octane rating .............81, 113–114
quality ........................................81
running out of fuel ...................82
safety information relating to
automotive fuels .......................79
Fuses ......................................41–42
G
Gas mileage
(see Fuel economy) ...................84
Gauges .........................................11
GAWR
(Gross Axle Weight Rating) .......31
calculating .................................33
definition ...................................31
driving with a heavy load ........31
location ......................................31
GVWR
(Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) ..31
calculating ...........................31, 33
definition ...................................31
driving with a heavy load ........31
location ......................................31
H
Hazard flashers ...........................40
Headlamps ...................................14
daytime running lights .............14
flash to pass ..............................15
high beam .................................14
turning on and off ....................14
I
Ignition .........................20, 113–114
Inspection/maintenance (I/M)
testing ..........................................89
2004 Motorhome(mot)
Supplement
USA English(fus)
Index
117

Instrument panel
cluster ..........................................8
lighting up panel and
interior .......................................15
J
Jack ..............................................48
positioning .................................48
storage .......................................48
Jump-starting your vehicle ........52
K
Keys
positions of the ignition ...........20
L
Lamps
daytime running light ...............14
headlamps .................................14
headlamps, flash to pass ..........15
instrument panel, dimming .....15
replacing bulbs .........................15
Lights, warning and indicator ......8
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ............25
Load limits .............................31, 33
GAWR ........................................31
GVWR ........................................31
trailer towing ............................31
Lubricant specifications ...112–113
M
Motorcraft parts ..................82, 109
O
Octane rating ..............................81
Oil (see Engine oil) ....................69P
Parking brake ..............................26
Parts (see Motorcraft parts) ....109
Power distribution box
(see Fuses) .................................45
Power steering
fluid, checking and adding ......90
fluid, refill capacity ................110
fluid, specifications .........112–113
R
Relays ....................................41, 48
Roadside assistance ....................39
S
Safety defects, reporting ............65
Servicing your vehicle ................67
Spark plugs,
specifications .............109, 113–114
Special notice ................................5
Specification chart,
lubricants ...........................112–113
Speed control ..............................17
Starting your vehicle ............20–22
jump starting ............................52
Steering wheel
tilting .........................................16
T
Tilt steering wheel ......................16
Tires .......................................48, 96
changing ..............................48, 51
replacing ....................................49
snow tires and chains ............108
2004 Motorhome(mot)
Supplement
USA English(fus)
Index
118