2008 DODGE SPRINTER load capacity

353 Operation
Tires and wheels
4
The GVWR includes the weight of the ve-
hicle, all occupants, fuel and cargo.
The GAWR is the total allowable weight
that can be carried by a single axle (front
or rear).
The GCWR is the total allowable weight
of vehicle and trailer when weighed in
combination.
Never exceed the GVWR, the GAWR for
either the front axle or rear axle or the
GCWR.
Warning
G
Do not overload the tires by exceeding the
specified load limit as indicated on the
tire and loading information placard on
the driver’s door B-pillar or on the certifi-
cation label below the driver’s seat on the
mounting pillar. Overloading the tires can
overheat them, possibly causing a blow-
out. Overloading the tires can also result
in handling or steering problems, or brake
failure.
Continued
Warning (Continued)
G
Overloading of tires is dangerous. Over-
loading can cause tire failure, affect vehi-
cle handling, and increase the stopping
distance. Use tires of the recommended
load capacity for the vehicle. Never over-
load them.
nf_BA.book Page 353 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

354 OperationTires and wheels
4
Placard (USA Only)For vehicles with a gross weight capacity
less than 10,000 lbs (4536 kg) only.
The tire and loading information placard
is located on the driver’s door B-pillar.Tire and loading information placard
1Seating capacity
2Load limit information
Seating capacityThe seating capacity
1
gives you im-
portant information on the number of
occupants that can be in the vehicle. Ob-
serve front and rear seating capacity.
Never let more people ride in the vehicle
than there are designated seating posi-
tions and seat belts available. Make sure
that everyone riding in the vehicle is cor-
rectly restrained with a separate seat
belt.
iThe data shown on this placard is for
illustrative purposes only. The load
limit data and seating data are spe-
cific to each vehicle and may vary
from the data shown in the illustra-
tion below. Refer to the placard on
your vehicle for actual data specific
to your vehicle.
nf_BA.book Page 354 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

355 Operation
Tires and wheels
4
Load limit informationLocate the statement “The combined
weight of occupants and cargo should
never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs.”
2
on
the tire and loading information placard.
The combined weight of all occupants,
cargo/luggage and trailer tongue load (if
applicable) should never exceed the
weight referenced in that statement.
Steps for determining correct load
limitFor vehicles with a gross weight capacity
less than 10,000 lbs (4536 kg) only.
The following steps have been devel-
oped as required of all manufacturers
under Title 49, Code of U.S. Federal Reg-
ulations, Part 575 pursuant to the “Na-
tional Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety
Act of 1966”.Step 1
\1
Locate the statement “The combined
weight of occupants and cargo
should never exceed XXX kg or
XXX lbs.” on your vehicle’s placard.
Step 2
\1
Determine the combined weight of
the driver and passengers that will
be riding in your vehicle.
Step 3
\1
Subtract the combined weight of the
driver and passengers from XXX kg
or XXX lbs.
nf_BA.book Page 355 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

356 OperationTires and wheels
4
Step 4\1
The resulting figure equals the avail-
able amount of cargo and luggage
load capacity. For example, if the
“XXX” amount equals 1400 lbs and
there will be five 150 lbs passengers
in your vehicle, the amount of avail-
able cargo and luggage load capacity
is 650 lbs (1400-750 (5 x150) =
650 lbs).
Step 5
\1
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.
Step 6 (if applicable)
\1
If your vehicle will be towing a trailer,
load from your trailer will be trans-
ferred to your vehicle. Consult this
manual to determine how this reduc-
es the available cargo and luggage
load capacity of your vehicle.
The following table shows examples on
how to calculate total load, cargo load
and towing capacities with varying seat-
ing configurations and number and size
of occupants. The following examples
use a load limit of 1500 lbs.
This is for illustrative purposes only
. Make sure
you are using the actual load limit for
your vehicle stated on the vehicle’s tire
and loading information placard
(
\2
page 354).
The higher the weight of all occupants,
the less cargo and luggage load capacity
is available.
nf_BA.book Page 356 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

357 Operation
Tires and wheels
4
Exam-
ple
Combined
weight limit
of occu-
pants and
cargo from
placard
Number of
occupants
(driver and
passen-
gers)
Seating
configura-
tion
Occupants' weight
Combined
weight of all
occupants
Available cargo/luggage and
trailer tongue weight (total load
limit or vehicle capacity weight
from placard minus combined
weight of all occupants)
1
1500 lbs
5
Front: 2
Rear: 3
Occupant 1: 150 lbs
Occupant 2: 180 lbs
Occupant 3: 160 lbs
Occupant 4: 140 lbs
Occupant 5: 120 lbs
750 lbs
1500 lbs - 750 lbs = 750 lbs
2
1500 lbs
3
Front: 1
Rear: 2
Occupant 1: 200 lbs
Occupant 2: 190 lbs
Occupant 3: 150 lbs
540 lbs
1500 lbs - 540 lbs = 960 lbs
3
1500 lbs
1
Front:1
Occupant 1: 150 lbs
150 lbs
1500 lbs - 150 lbs = 1350 lbs
nf_BA.book Page 357 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

358 OperationTires and wheels
4
Certification labelEven after careful determination of the
combined weight of all occupants, cargo
and the trailer tongue load (if applicable)
as to not exceed the permissible load
limit, you must make sure that your vehi-
cle never exceeds the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR) and the Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for either the
front or rear axle and the Gross Combi-
nation Weight Rating (GCWR) (if applica-
ble).
Under a maximum loaded vehicle condi-
tion, gross axle weight ratings (GAWR’s)
for the front and rear axles must not be
exceeded. USA only - for vehicles with a gross
weight capacity less than 10,000 lbs
(4536 kg) only:
To determine the maximum loading con-
ditions of your vehicle, locate the state-
ment "The combined weight of
occupants and cargo should never ex-
ceed XXX kg or XXX lbs." on the tire and
loading information placard. The com-
bined weight of occupants, cargo/lug-
gage and trailer tongue weight (if
applicable) should never exceed the
weight referenced here.
You can obtain the GVWR, the front/rear
GAWR and the GCWR from the certifica-
tion label. The certification label can be found below the driver’s seat on an out-
ward facing position of the mounting pil-
lar (
\2
page 632).
For more information on the trailer
tongue load, refer to "Trailer tongue
load".
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR):
The total weight of the vehicle, all occu-
pants, all cargo, and the trailer tongue
load must never exceed the GVWR.
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR):
The total allowable weight that can be
carried by a single axle (front (FA) or rear
(RA)).
nf_BA.book Page 358 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

360 OperationTires and wheels
4
To assure that your vehicle does not ex-
ceed the maximum permissible weight
limits (GVWR and GAWR for front and
rear axle and GCWR), have the loaded
vehicle (including driver, passengers and
all cargo and, if applicable, trailer fully
loaded) weighed on a suitable commer-
cial scale.
Trailer tongue loadThe tongue load (tongue weight at the
hitch ball) of any trailer is an important
weight to measure because it affects the
load you can carry in your vehicle. If a
trailer is towed, the tongue load must be
added to the weight of all occupants
riding and any cargo you are carrying in
the vehicle to prevent exceeding your
Sprinter tow vehicle’s rear GAWR. The
tongue load is 10% of the trailer weight
and everything loaded in it.For example, if the trailer tongue load
equals 140 lbs (63.5 kg) and the deter-
mined available cargo/luggage and trail-
er tongue weight equals 500 lbs (227
kg), the amount of available cargo and
luggage load capacity is 360 lbs (500 –
140 = 360 lbs) (163.5 kg (227 – 63.5 =
163.5 kg)).
For further information on vehicle and
trailer weights and ratings, loading a
trailer and trailer towing, see “Trailer
towing” (
\2
page303).
nf_BA.book Page 360 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

361 Operation
Tires and wheels
4
Your vehicle is equipped with either the
tire and loading information placard
1 or
with the tire inflation pressure placard
located on the driver’s door B-pillar.The tire inflation pressure (including the
spare wheel) should be checked regular-
ly and adjusted as well as inspected for
signs of tire wear or visible damage. Use
a good quality pocket-type gauge to
check tire inflation pressure.
Do not m a ke a vis ua l ju dgm ent when de -
termining proper inflation. Radial tires
may look properly inflated even when
they are underinflated.
The tire inflation pressure should be
checked regularly, i.e. at least each time
you refuel the vehicle, and should only
be adjusted on cold tires. The preferred
interval for checking the tire inflation
pressure, however, is before each trip.
Recommended tire inflation pressureWarning
G
Follow recommended tire inflation pres-
sures.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated
tires wear excessively and/or unevenly,
adversely affect handling and fuel econo-
my, and are more likely to fail from being
overheated.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated tires
can adversely affect handling and ride
comfort, wear unevenly, increase stop-
ping distance, and result in sudden defla-
tion (blowout) because they are more
likely to become punctured or damaged
by road debris, potholes etc.
1. For vehicles with a gross weight capacity less
than 10 000 lbs (4 536 kg) (USA only).1
Tire and loading information placard or
tire inflation pressure placard on driver’s
door B-pillar
nf_BA.book Page 361 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM