1996 Ford Bronco Owner's Manual - Page 219

Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) If you add base curb weight and the weight of a load (including passengers, cargo and optional equipment) being carried at a particular time, you get the Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). It is important to remember that GVW is not a limit or a specification. If an owner loads up a vehicle and weighs it, that's the GVW at that moment. If the owner piles on more of a load and weighs it again, that becomes the GVW...until such time as the vehicle is unloaded. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) To avoid overloading a vehicle, the owner should observe the manufacturer's specified Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. The GVWR is the maximum total weight of base vehicle, passengers, optional components and cargo that a particular vehicle was designed to carry. Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) We have all seen a car or a truck that is loaded down in the rear and riding high in the front. This is a dangerous condition that usually means that the rear suspension components are under severe strain and that vehicle handling is impaired. There is more to carrying a load than just payload or GVWR. Your Safety Compliance Certification Label not only gives the GVWR, it also gives the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) which is the carrying capacity for each axle system. For trucks, the rear axle will be designed to carry more weight than the front. The rating is based on the carrying capacity of the lowest rated axle and suspension component as well as other factors. This is why it's so important to observe vehicle loading ratings. 219