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Driving your vehicle Vehicle weight
Vehicle weight
This chapter will guide you in the
proper loading of your vehicle and/
or trailer, to keep your loaded vehi
-
cle weight within its design rating
capability, with or without a trailer.
Properly loading your v
e
hicle will
provide maximum return of the
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 specifica
-
tions and the compliance label:
Base curb weight This is the wei
ght
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 T
his is the
we
ight of your new vehicle when
you picked it up from your dealer
plus any aftermarket equipment.
Cargo weight Th
is
figure includes all
weight added to the Base Curb
Weight, including cargo and optional
equipment.
GAW (Gross axle weight) T
his is the
total weight placed on each axle
(
front and rear) - including vehicle
curb weight and all payload.
GAWR (Gross axle weight rating)
T
h
is is the maximum allowable
weight that can be carried by a sin
-
gle axle (front or rear). These num
-
bers are shown on the compliance
label. The total load on each axle
must never exceed its GAWR.
GVW (Gross vehicle weight) T
hi
s is
the Base Curb Weight plus actual
Cargo Weight plus passengers.
GVWR (Gross vehicle weight rating)
T
h
is is the maximum allowable
weight of the fully loaded vehicle
(including all options, equipment,
passengers and cargo). The GVWR is
shown on the certification label
located on the driver's door sill.