Ford F-53 Motorhome Chassis (2017 year). Manual — part 10

LOAD LIMIT

Vehicle Loading - with and
without a Trailer

This section will guide you in the
proper loading of your vehicle,
trailer or both, to keep your loaded
vehicle weight within its design
rating capability, with or without
a trailer. Properly loading your
vehicle will provide maximum
return of vehicle design
performance. Before loading your
vehicle, familiarize yourself with

the following terms for
determining your vehicle’s weight
ratings, with or without a trailer,
from the vehicle’s Tire Label or
Safety Compliance Certification
Label:

Base Curb Weight - is the weight
of the vehicle including a full tank
of fuel and all standard
equipment. It does not include
passengers, cargo, or optional
equipment.

Vehicle Curb Weight - is the
weight of your new vehicle when
you picked it up from your
authorized dealer plus any
aftermarket equipment.

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CARGO

Cargo Weight - includes all
weight added to the Base Curb
Weight, including cargo and
optional equipment. When towing,
trailer tongue load or king pin
weight is also part of cargo weight.

GAW (Gross Axle Weight) - is
the total weight placed on each
axle (front and rear) including
vehicle curb weight and all
payload.

GAWR (Gross Axle Weight
Rating) - is the maximum
allowable weight that can be
carried by a single axle (front or
rear). These numbers are shown
on the Safety Compliance
Certification Label. The label shall
be affixed to either the door hinge

pillar, door-latch post, or the door
edge that meets the door-latch
post, next to the driver's seating
position. The total load on each
axle must never exceed its

Gross Axle Weight Rating.

Note: For trailer towing
information refer to the RV and
Trailer Towing Guide available at
an authorized dealer.

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GVW

GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) -
is the Vehicle Curb Weight, plus
cargo, plus passengers.

GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating) - is the maximum
allowable weight of the fully
loaded vehicle (including all
options, equipment, passengers
and cargo). It is shown on the

Safety Compliance Certification
Label. The label shall be affixed
to either the door hinge pillar,
door-latch post, or the door edge
that meets the door-latch post,
next to the driver's seating
position. The Gross Vehicle
Weight must never exceed the
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.

Example only:

E198828

WARNING

Exceeding the Safety
Compliance Certification

Label vehicle weight rating limits
could result in substandard
vehicle handling or performance,
engine, transmission or structural
damage, serious damage to the

vehicle, loss of control and
personal injury.

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GCW

GVW

GCW (Gross Combined Weight)
- is the Gross Vehicle Weight 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
vehicle’s braking system is rated
for operation at Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating, not at Gross
Combined Weight Rating.)
Separate functional brakes should
be used for safe control of towed
vehicles and for trailers where the
Gross Combined Weight of the
towing vehicle plus the trailer
exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating of the towing vehicle. The
Gross Combined Weight must
never exceed the Gross
Combined Weight Rating.

Maximum Loaded Trailer
Weight - is the highest possible

weight of a fully loaded trailer the
vehicle can tow. It assumes a
vehicle with mandatory options,
driver and front passenger weight
(150 pounds [68 kilograms]
each), no cargo weight (internal
or external) and a tongue load of
10–15% (conventional trailer).
Consult an authorized dealer (or
the RV and Trailer Towing Guide
available at an authorized dealer)
for more detailed information.

WARNINGS

Do not exceed the GVWR or
the GAWR specified on the

Safety Compliance Certification
Label.

Do not use replacement tires
with lower load carrying

capacities than the original tires
because they may lower the
vehicle’s GVWR and GAWR
limitations. Replacement tires
with a higher limit than the original
tires do not increase the GVWR
and GAWR limitations.

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. Determine the combined weight
of the driver and passengers that
will be riding in your vehicle.

2. Subtract the combined weight
of the driver and passengers from
XXX kg or XXX lb.

3. 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.)