2006 SUBARU LEGACY load capacity

13-8 Consumer information and Reporting safety defects
„Vehicle load limit – how to de- termine
The load capacity of your vehicle is
determined by weight, not by avail-
able cargo space. The load limit of
your vehicle is shown on the vehicle
placard attached to the driver’s side
B-pillar. Locate the statement “The
combined weight of occupants and
cargo should never exceed XXX kg or
XXX lbs” on your vehicle’s placard.
The vehicle placard also shows seat-
ing capacity of your vehicle.
The total load capacity includes the
total weight of driver and all passen-
gers and their belongings, any cargo,
any optional equipment such as a
trailer hitch, roof rack or bike carrier,
etc., and the tongue load of a trailer.
Therefore cargo capacity can be cal-
culated by the following method.
Cargo capacity = Load limit – (total
weight of occupant s + total weight of
optional equipment + tongue load of a trailer (if applicable))
For towing capacity information and
weight limits, refe r to “Trailer towing”
section in chapter 8. T
Calculating total and load capac-
ities varying seating configura-
tions
Calculate the available load capacity
as shown in the following examples:
Example 1A
Vehicle capacity weight of the vehicle
is 800 lbs (363 kg), which is indicated
on the vehicle placard with the state-
ment “The combined weight of occu-
pants and cargo should never exceed
363 kg or 800 lbs”.
For example, if the vehicle has one
occupant weighing 154 lbs (70 kg)
plus cargo weighing 551 lbs (250 kg). 1. Calculate the total weight.
2. Calculate the available load capac-
ity by subtracting the total weight from
the vehicle capacity weight of 800 lbs
(363 kg).
3. The result of step 2 shows that a
further 95 lbs (43 kg) of cargo can be carried.
D00111
Total weight = 154 lbs (70 kg) + 551 lbs (250 kg) =
705 lbs (320 kg)(Occupant) (Cargo)
Available Load Capacity = 800 lbs (363 kg) 705 lbs (320 kg) =
95 lbs (43 kg) (Vehicle
capacity weight) (Total weight)

Consumer information and Reporting safety defects 13-9
– CONTINUED –
Example 1B
For example, if a person weighing 176
lbs (80 kg) now enters the same vehi-
cle (bringing the number of occupants
to two), the calculations are as fol-
lows:
1. Calculate the total weight.
2. Calculate the ava
ilable load capac-
ity.
3. The total weight now exceeds the
capacity weight by 81 lbs (37 kg), so
the cargo weight must be reduced by
81 lbs (37 kg) or more.
Example 2A
Vehicle capacity weight of the vehicle
is 800 lbs (363 kg), which is indicated on the vehicle plac
ard with the state-
ment “The combined weight of occu-
pants and cargo should never exceed
363 kg or 800 lbs”.
For example, the vehicle has one oc-
cupant weighing 165 lbs (75 kg) plus
cargo weighing 265 lbs (120 kg). In
addition, the vehicle is fitted with a
trailer hitch weighing 22 lbs (10 kg), to
which is attached a trailer weighing
1,764 lbs (800 kg). 10% of the trailer
weight is applied to the trailer tongue
(i.e. Tongue load = 176 lbs (80 kg)).
1. Calculate the total weight.
2. Calculate the available load capac-
ity.
D00112
Total weight = 154 lbs (70 kg) + 176 lbs (80 kg) + 551 lbs (250 kg) = 881 lbs (400 kg) (Occupant)
(Cargo)
Available Load Capacity = 800 lbs (363 kg) 881 lbs (400 kg) = 81 lbs ( 37 kg)(Vehicle
capacity weight) (Total weight)
D00113
Total weight
= 165 lbs (75 kg) + 265 lbs (120 kg)
+ 22 lbs (10 kg) + 176 lbs (80 kg) =
628 lbs (285 kg)(Occupant) (Cargo)
(Trailer hitch) (Tongue load)

13-10 Consumer information and Reporting safety defects
3. The result of step 2 shows that a
further 172 lbs (78 kg) of cargo can be carried.
Example 2B
For example, if a person weighing 143
lbs (65 kg) and a child weighing 40 lbs
(18 kg) now enter the same vehicle
(bringing the number of occupants to
three), and a child restraint system weighing 11 lbs (5 kg) is installed in
the vehicle for the child to use, the cal-
culations are as follows:
1. Calculate the total weight.
2. Calculate the available load capac- ity.
3. The total weight now exceeds the
capacity weight by
22 lbs (10 kg), so
the cargo weight must be reduced by
22 lbs (10 kg) or more.
„ Determining compatibility of
tire and vehicle load capaci-ties
The sum of four tires’ maximum load
ratings must exceed the maximum
loaded vehicle weight (“GVWR”). In
addition, sum of the maximum load
ratings of two front tires and of two
rear tires must exceed each axle’s
maximum loaded capacity (“GAWR”).
Original equipment tires are designedto fulfill those conditions.
The maximum loaded vehicle weight
is referred to Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating (GVWR). And each axle’s
maximum loaded capacity is referred
to Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR). The GVWR and each axle’s
GAWR are shown on the vehicle cer-
tification label affixed to the driver’s
door.
The GVWR and front and rear
GAWRs are determined by not only
the maximum load rating of tires but
Available Load Capacity = 800 lbs (363 kg) 628 lbs (285 kg) = 172 lbs (78 kg) (Vehicle
capacity weight) (Total weight)
D00114
Total weight = 165 lbs (75 kg) + 143 lbs (65 kg) + 40 lbs (18 kg)
+ 11 lbs (5 kg) + 265 lbs (120 kg)+ 22 lbs (10 kg) + 176 lbs (80 kg) =
822 lbs (373 kg) (Occupant)
(Cargo)
(Trailer hitch)
(Child restraint)
(Tongue load)
(Occupant)
Available Load Capacity = 800 lbs (363 kg) 822 lbs (373 kg) =
22 lbs ( 10 kg)(Vehicle
capacity weight) (Total weight)

Consumer information and Reporting safety defects 13-11
also loaded capacities of the vehicle’s
suspension, axles and other parts of
the body.
Therefore, this means that the vehicle
cannot necessarily be loaded up to
the tire’s maximum load rating on the
tire sidewall. „Adverse safety consequenc-
es of overloading on handling
and stopping and on tires
Overloading could affect vehicle han-
dling, stopping distance, vehicle and
tire as shown in the following. This
could lead to an accident and possibly
result in severe personal injury.
y Vehicle stability will deteriorate.
y Heavy and/or high-mounted loads
could increase the risk of rollover.y Stopping distance will increase.
y Brakes could overheat and fail.
y Suspension, bearings, axles and
other parts of the body could break or
experience accelerated wear that will
shorten vehicle life.y Tires could fail.
y Tread separation could occur.
y Tire could separate from its rim. „
Steps for Determining Cor-
rect Load Limit
1. Locate the statement “The com-
bined 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 lug-
gage load capacity. For example, if the “XXX” amount equals 1,400 lbs
(635kg). and there will be five- 150 lbs
(68 kg) passengers in your vehicle,
the amount of available cargo and
luggage load capacity is 650 lbs.
(1,400 – 750 (5