Ford F-53 Motorhome Chassis (2017 year). Manual — part 11

4. 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 3.

5. 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:

*Suppose your vehicle has a
1400-pound (635-kilogram) cargo
and luggage capacity. You decide
to go golfing. Is there enough load
capacity to carry you, four of your
friends and all the golf bags? You
and four friends average 220
pounds (99 kilograms) each and
the golf bags weigh approximately
30 pounds (13.5 kilograms) each.
The calculation would be: 1400 -
(5 x 220) - (5 x 30) = 1400 - 1100
- 150 = 150 pounds. Yes, you have
enough load capacity in your
vehicle to transport four friends
and your golf bags. In metric units,
the calculation would be: 635
kilograms - (5 x 99 kilograms) -
(5 x 13.5 kilograms) = 635 - 495 -
67.5 = 72.5 kilograms.

*Suppose your vehicle has a
1400-pound (635-kilogram) 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 two years. Measuring the
inside of the vehicle with the rear
seat folded down, you have room
for twelve 100-pound
(45-kilogram) bags of cement. Do
you have enough load capacity to
transport the cement to your
home? If you and your friend each
weigh 220 pounds (99 kilograms),
the calculation would be: 1400 -
(2 x 220) - (12 x 100) = 1400 - 440
- 1200 = - 240 pounds. No, you do
not have enough cargo capacity
to carry that much weight. In
metric units, the calculation would
be: 635 kilograms - (2 x 99
kilograms) - (12 x 45 kilograms) =
635 - 198 - 540 = -103 kilograms.
You will need to reduce the load
weight by at least 240 pounds
(104 kilograms). If you remove
three 100-pound (45-kilogram)
cement bags, then the load
calculation would be:1400 - (2 x
220) - (9 x 100) = 1400 - 440 -
900 = 60 pounds. Now you have
the load capacity to transport the
cement and your friend home. In
metric units, the calculation would
be: 635 kilograms - (2 x 99
kilograms) - (9 x 45 kilograms) =
635 - 198 - 405 = 32 kilograms.

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 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.

Special Loading Instructions
for Owners of Pick-up Trucks
and Utility-type Vehicles

WARNING

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.

TOWING A TRAILER

WARNING

Towing trailers beyond the
maximum recommended

gross trailer weight exceeds the
limit of your vehicle and could
result in engine damage,
transmission damage, structural
damage, loss of vehicle control,
vehicle rollover and personal
injury.

Note: Do not exceed the GVWR or
the GAWR specified on the
certification label. See
Recommended Towing Weights
(page 46).

Your vehicle may have electrical
items, such as fuses or relays,
related to towing. See Fuses

(page 65).

Your vehicle's load capacity
designation is by weight, not by
volume, so you cannot necessarily
use all available space when
loading a vehicle or trailer.

Towing a trailer places an extra
load on your vehicle's engine,
transmission, axle, brakes, tires
and suspension. Inspect these
components periodically during,
and after, any towing operation.

Load Placement

To help minimize how trailer
movement affects your vehicle
when driving:
•

Load the heaviest items closest
to the trailer floor.

•

Load the heaviest items
centered between the left and
right side trailer tires.

•

Load the heaviest items above
the trailer axles or just slightly
forward toward the trailer
tongue. Do not allow the final
trailer tongue weight to go
above or below 10-15% of the
loaded trailer weight.

•

Select a ball mount with the
correct rise or drop. When both
the loaded vehicle and trailer
are connected, the trailer frame
should be level, or slightly
angled down toward your
vehicle, when viewed from the
side.

When driving with a trailer or

payload, a slight takeoff vibration
or shudder may be present due to
the increased payload weight.
Additional information regarding
proper trailer loading and setting
your vehicle up for towing is
located in another chapter of this
manual. See Load Limit (page
39).

You can also find information in
the RV & Trailer Towing Guide
available at your authorized
dealer, or online.

RV & Trailer Towing Guide Online

http://www.fleet.ford.com/towing-guides/

Website

RECOMMENDED TOWING
WEIGHTS

Note: Do not exceed the trailer
weight for your vehicle
configuration listed in the chart
below.

Note: Make sure to take into
consideration trailer frontal area.
Do not exceed 60 feet² (5.6
meters²) trailer frontal area.

Note: For high altitude operation,
reduce the gross combined weight
by 2% per 1000 feet (300 meters)
starting at the 1000 foot (300
meter) elevation point.

Note: Certain states require
electric trailer brakes for trailers
over a specified weight. Be sure to
check state regulations for this
specified weight. The maximum
trailer weights listed may be limited
to this specified weight, as the
vehicle’s electrical system may not
include the wiring connector
needed to activate electric trailer
brakes.

Your vehicle may tow a trailer
provided the maximum trailer
weight is less than or equal to the
maximum trailer weight listed for
your vehicle configuration on the
following chart.

Maximum trailer

weight

Maximum

GCWR

Maximum

GVWR

Rear axle

ratio

7000 lb (3175 kg)

23000 lb

(10432 kg)

16000 lb (7257

kg)

4.30

5000 lb (2268 kg)

23000 lb

(10432 kg)

18000 lb (8165

kg)

4.30

6500 lb (2948 kg)

26000 lb

(11793 kg)

19500 lb

(8845 kg)

4.88

7700 lb (3493 kg)

27200 lb

(12338 kg)

19500 lb

(8845 kg)

4.88

5500 lb (2495 kg)

26000 lb

(11793 kg)

20500 lb

(9299 kg)

5.38