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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 vehicles’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 lb. [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 lb. (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 lb.
(227 to 340 kg). For an 11,500 lb. (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
lb. (782 to 1,304 kg)
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.
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Exceeding any vehicle weight rating limitation could result in
serious damage to the vehicle and/or personal injury.
Steps for determining the correct load limit:
1. Locate the statement“The combined weight of occupants and cargo
should never exceed XXX pounds”on your vehicle’s placard.
2. Determine the combined weight of the driver and passengers that will
be riding in your vehicle.
3. Subtract the combined weight of the driver and passengers from XXX
kilograms or XXX pounds.
4. The resulting figure equals the available amount of cargo and luggage
load capacity. For example, if the“XXX”amount equals 1,400 lb. and
there will be five 150 lb. passengers in your vehicle, the amount of
available cargo and luggage load capacity is 650 lb. (1400–750 (5 x
150) = 650 lb.).
5. Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being loaded on
the vehicle. That weight may not safely exceed the available cargo and
luggage load capacity calculated in Step 4.
6. If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load from your trailer will be
transferred to your vehicle. Consult this manual to determine how this
reduces the available cargo and luggage load capacity of your vehicle.
The following gives you a few examples on how to calculate the available
amount of cargo and luggage load capacity:
•An example for your vehicle with 1400 lb. (636 kg) of cargo and
luggage capacity. You decide to go golfing. You and your friends
average 220 lb. (100 kg) each and the golf bags weigh approximately
30 lb. (14 kg) each. Is there enough load capacity to carry you, 4 of
your friends and all the golf bags? The calculation would be: 1400–(5
x 220)–(5 x 30) = 1400–1100–150 = 150 lb. Metric conversion;
636 kg–(5 x 100)–(5 x 14) = 636–570 = 66 kg. Yes, you have
enough load capacity in your vehicle to transport 4 of your friends and
golf bags.
•Another example for your vehicle with 1400 lb. (636 kg) of cargo and
luggage capacity. You and one of your friends decide to pick up
cement from the local home improvement store to finish that patio
you have been planning for the past 2 years. Measuring the inside of
the vehicle with the rear seat folded down, you have room for 12-100
lb. (45 kg) bags of cement. Do you have enough load capacity to
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transport the cement to your home? If you and your friend each
weighed 220 lb. (100 kg), the calculation would be: 1400–(2 x 220)–
(12 x 100) = 1400–440–1200 =–40 lb. Metric conversion; 636 kg–
(2 x 100)–(12 x 45) = 636–200–540 =–104 kg. No, you do not
have enough cargo capacity to carry that much weight. You will need
to reduce the load weight by at least 240 lb. (104 kg). If you remove
3-100 lb. (45 kg) cement bags, then the load calculation would be:
1400–(2 x 220)–(9 x 100) = 1400–440–900 = 60 lb. Metric
conversion; 636 kg–(2 x 100)–(9 x 45) = 636–200–405 = 31 kg.
Now you have the load capacity to transport the cement and your friend
home.
The above calculations also assume that the loads are positioned in your
vehicle in a manner that does not overload the Front or the Rear Gross
Axle Weight Rating specified for your vehicle on the Certification label
found on the driver’s door.
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.
TRAILER TOWING
Your vehicle may tow a class I, II, III or IV 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.
If your vehicle is not equipped with a heavy-duty trailer towing package,
the maximum weight your vehicle can tow is limited to 5,000 lb.
(2,268 kg)
Your vehicle’s load capacity is designated by weight, not by volume, so
you cannot necessarily use all available space when loading a vehicle.
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Towing a trailer places an additional load on your vehicle’s engine,
transmission, axle, brakes, tires and suspension. Inspect these
components carefully periodically during, and after any towing operation.
Exceeding the maximum GCWR could result in extensive damage
to your vehicle and personal injury.
Do not exceed the GVWR or the GAWR specified on the
certification label.
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 vehicle
control, vehicle rollover and personal injury.
Regular Cab 4x2 (126”wheelbase)
Engine Rear axle ratio Maximum
GCWR-lb. (kg)Maximum
trailer
weight-lb. (kg)
4.2L (with
manual
transmission)3.31 7200 (3266) 2400 (1089)
3.55 8500 (3856) 3700 (1678)
4.2L (with
automatic
transmission)3.55 10000 (4536) 5100 (2313)
3.73 10500 (4763) 5600 (2540)
4.6L 3.55 11500 (5216) 6500 (2948)
4.6L 3.73 12000 (5443) 7000 (3175)
5.4L 3.31 12000 (5443) 6900 (3130)
5.4L 3.55 13000 (5897) 7900 (3583)
5.4L 3.73 13500 (6123) 8400 (3810)
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Regular Cab 4x2 (145”wheelbase)
Engine Rear axle ratio Maximum
GCWR-lb. (kg)Maximum
trailer
weight-lb. (kg)
4.2L (with
manual
transmission)3.31 7200 (3266) 2200 (998)
3.55 8500 (3856) 3500 (1588)
4.2L (with
automatic
transmission)3.55 10000 (4536) 5000 (2268)
3.73 10500 (4763) 5500 (2495)
4.6L 3.55 11700 (5307) 6600 (2994)
4.6L 3.73 12200 (5534) 7100 (3221)
5.4L 3.31 12500 (5670) 7300 (3311)
5.4L 3.55 14000 (6350) 8800 (3992)
5.4L 3.73 15000 (6804) 9800 (4445)
5.4L Heavy Duty 4.10 15300 (6940) 9900 (4491)
Regular Cab 4x4 (126”wheelbase)
Engine Rear axle ratio Maximum
GCWR-lb. (kg)Maximum
trailer
weight-lb. (kg)
4.6L 3.55 11500 (5216) 6200 (2812)
4.6L 3.73 12000 (5443) 6700 (3039)
5.4L (with 17”
tires)3.55 13000 (5897) 7600 (3447)
5.4L (with 18”
tires)3.55 12500 (5670) 7100 (3221)
5.4L (with 17”
tires)3.73 13500 (6123) 8100 (3674)
5.4L (with 18”
tires)3.73 13000 (5897) 7600 (3447)
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Regular Cab 4x4 (145”wheelbase)
Engine Rear axle ratio Maximum
GCWR-lb. (kg)Maximum
trailer
weight-lb. (kg)
4.6L 3.55 11700 (5307) 6300 (2858)
4.6L 3.73 12200 (5534) 6800 (3084)
5.4L (with 17”
tires)3.55 14000 (6350) 8500 (3856)
5.4L (with 18”
tires)3.55 13500 (6123) 8000 (3629)
5.4L (with 17”
tires)3.73 15000 (6804) 9500 (4309)
5.4L (with 18”
tires)3.73 14500 (6577) 9000 (4082)
5.4L Heavy Duty 4.10 15300 (6940) 9500 (4309)
SuperCab 4x2 (133”wheelbase)
Engine Rear axle ratio Maximum
GCWR-lb. (kg)Maximum
trailer
weight-lb. (kg)
4.6L 3.55 11500 (5216) 6300 (2858)
4.6L 3.73 12000 (5443) 6800 (3084)
5.4L (with 17”
tires)3.55 13000 (5897) 7600 (3447)
5.4L (with 18”
tires)3.55 12500 (5670) 7100 (3220)
5.4L (with 17”
tires)3.73 13500 (6123) 8100 (3674)
5.4L (with 18”
tires)3.73 13000 (5897) 7600 (3447)
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SuperCab 4x2 (145”wheelbase)
Engine Rear axle ratio Maximum
GCWR-lb. (kg)Maximum
trailer
weight-lb. (kg)
4.6L 3.55 11700 (5307) 6400 (2903)
4.6L 3.73 12200 (5534) 6900 (3130)
5.4L (with 17”
tires)3.55 14000 (6350) 8600 (3901)
5.4L (with 18”
tires)3.55 13500 (6123) 8100 (3674)
5.4L (with 17”
tires)3.73 15000 (6804) 9500 (4309)
5.4L (with 18”
tires)3.73 14500 (6577) 9000 (4082)
SuperCab 4x2 (163”wheelbase)
Engine Rear axle ratio Maximum
GCWR-kg (lb.)Maximum
trailer
weight-kg (lb.)
5.4L Heavy Duty 4.10 15300 (6940) 9500 (4309)
SuperCab 4x4 (133”wheelbase)
Engine Rear axle ratio Maximum
GCWR-lb. (kg)Maximum
trailer
weight-lb. (kg)
4.6L 3.55 11500 (5216) 6000 (2722)
4.6L 3.73 12000 (5443) 6500 (2948)
5.4L (with 17”
tires)3.55 13000 (5897) 7300 (3311)
5.4L (with 18”
tires)3.55 12500 (5670) 6800 (3084)
5.4L (with 17”
tires)3.73 13500 (6123) 7800 (3538)
5.4L (with 18”
tires)3.73 13000 (5897) 7300 (3311)
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SuperCab 4x4 (145”wheelbase)
Engine Rear axle ratio Maximum
GCWR-lb. (kg)Maximum
trailer
weight-lb. (kg)
4.6L 3.55 11700 (5307) 6100 (2767)
4.6L 3.73 12200 (5534) 6600 (2994)
5.4L (with 17”
tires)3.55 14000 (6350) 8300 (3765)
5.4L (with 18”
tires)3.55 13500 (6123) 7800 (3538)
5.4L (with 17”
tires)3.73 15000 (6804) 9300 (4218)
5.4L (with 18”
tires)3.73 14500 (6577) 8800 (3992)
SuperCab 4x4 (163”wheelbase)
Engine Rear axle ratio Maximum
GCWR-lb. (kg)Maximum
trailer
weight-lb. (kg)
5.4L Heavy Duty 4.10 15300 (6940) 9300 (4218)
Crew Cab 4x2 (139”wheelbase)
Engine Rear axle ratio Maximum
GCWR-lb. (kg)Maximum
trailer
weight-lb. (kg)
4.6L 3.55 11700 (5307) 6300 (2858)
4.6L 3.73 12200 (5534) 6800 (3084)
5.4L (with 17”
tires)3.55 14000 (6350) 8500 (3856)
5.4L (with 18”
tires)3.55 13500 (6123) 8000 (3629)
5.4L (with 17”
tires)3.73 15000 (6804) 9500 (4309)
5.4L (with 18”
tires)3.73 14500 (6577) 9000 (4082)
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