2005 Mercury Mountaineer belt

INTRODUCTION
Welcome to Ford Motor Company's
world of Sport Utility Vehicles
(SUV) and truck driving! Your new
vehicle opens up a completely
different and challenging world of
travel unlike what you have ever
experienced with a conventional car. Most importantly, you'll be able to
travel with the safety, comfort and dependability of a Ford-built vehicle.
Your vehicle, particularly when loaded, will handle differently than an
ordinary passenger car. This is because your vehicle has special design
and equipment features for cargo-hauling or off-road operation.
Study this supplement and the ªOwner's Guideº for specific information
about equipment features and instructions for safe driving. You must also
learn and understand the capabilities and limitations of your vehicle
through experience. Take it slow and easy until you get to know and
understand your vehicle.
Driving at speeds safe for road conditions and the use of safety belts are
the best means of avoiding the possibility of accident and serious injury.
All occupants must wear the safety belts and children/infants must use
appropriate restraints to minimize the risk of injury or ejection.
Ford Motor Company reserves the right at any time to change
information provided herein, including specifications, design or
testing procedures without incurring obligation.
Introduction
Introduction
2

NOTICE TO UTILITY VEHICLE AND TRUCK OWNERS
Utility vehicles and trucks handle
differently than passenger cars in
the various driving conditions that
are encountered on streets,
highways and off-road. Utility
vehicles and trucks are not 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.
Utility vehicles have a significantly higher rollover rate than
other types of vehicles. To reduce the risk of serious injury or
death from a rollover or other crash you must:
²Avoid sharp turns and abrupt maneuvers;
²Drive at safe speeds for the conditions;
²Keep tires properly inflated;
²Never overload your vehicle; and
²Make sure every passenger is properly restrained.
In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is significantly more likely
to die than a person wearing a seat belt. All occupants must
wear safety belts and children/infants must use appropriate restraints
to minimize the risk of injury or ejection.
Study this supplement and the ªOwner's Guideº for specific information
about equipment features, instructions for safe driving and additional
precautions to reduce the risk of an accident or serious injury.
Notice To Utility Vehicle and Truck Owners
Notice To Utility Vehicle and Truck Owners
3

Loading and securing cargo
When using your vehicle to haul
cargo, make sure it is properly
loaded to help ensure safe handling
of the vehicle. You should tie down
or restrain items in the cargo area
so that they will not come loose and
create the risk of injury in a crash.
Cargo should be evenly distributed
over the floor of the cargo area,
with the heaviest cargo on the
bottom and ahead of the rear axle.
Do not allow people to ride in the cargo area of your vehicle.
People who are not riding in seats with their safety belts
fastened are much more likely to be injured or killed in a collision.
Loading cargo on the roof
Cargo placed on the roof will tend to make your vehicle more top heavy,
causing it to lean more in corners and creating a greater possibility of
vehicle rollover. If you must haul cargo on the roof of the vehicle, use
extra caution when loading the vehicle and when driving. Cargo on the
roof rack should be properly secured and evenly distributed over the
roof rack area, with the heaviest cargo on the bottom, near the front of
the roof rack area. Any load placed on the roof rack should not exceed
the maximum load shown on the roof rack's label.
Truck camper loading
When the vehicle is used to carry a slide-in camper, the total cargo load
of the truck consists of the manufacturer's camper weight figure, the
weight of installed additional camper equipment not included in the
manufacturer's camper weight figure, the weight of the camper cargo,
and the weight of all the passengers and cargo in your vehicle.
Loading Your Vehicle
17

The total cargo load should not exceed the truck's cargo weight rating
and the camper's center of gravity should fall within the trucks's
recommended center of gravity zone when installed. For more
information refer to your truck camper loading label.
Do not allow people to ride in a slide-in camper. People who are
not riding in seats with their safety belts fastened are much
more likely to be injured or killed in a collision.
Loading Your Vehicle
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