1996 Ford Explorer Owner's Manual - Page 275

Driving Your Explorer s GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating) s Maximum Trailer Weight Rating s Maximum Trailer Weight s Trailer Weight Range Base Curb Weight The Base Curb Weight is the weight of the vehicle including fuel, coolants, lubricants, emergency tools, spare wheel and tire. It also includes any equipment that is standard on that model. It does not include passengers, cargo or optional equipment installed by factory, dealer, aftermarket supplier or customer. Payload Payload is the combined, maximum allowable weight of cargo, occupants and optional equipment that the truck is designed to carry. It is Gross Vehicle Weight Rating minus the base curb weight. 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. 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. 275