2004 Ford Explorer Owner Guide 3rd Printing (Spanish) - Page 501

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

GVWR, not at GCWR. Separate functional brakes should be used for safe

control of towed vehicles and for trailers where the GCW of the towing

vehicle plus the trailer exceed the GVWR of the towing vehicle.

The

GCW must never exceed the GCWR.

Maximum Loaded Trailer Weight

– is the highest possible weight of a

fully loaded trailer the vehicle can tow. It assumes a vehicle with only

mandatory options, no cargo (internal or external), a tongue load of

10–15% (conventional trailer) or king pin weight of 15–25% (fifth wheel

trailer), and driver only (150 lbs. [68 kg]).

Consult your dealership

(or the

RV and Trailer Towing Guide

provided by your dealership)

for more detailed information.

Tongue Load or Fifth Wheel King Pin Weight

– refers to the amount

of the weight that a trailer pushes down on a trailer hitch.

Examples:

For a 5,000 lbs. (2,268 kg) conventional trailer, multiply

5,000 by 0.10 and 0.15 to obtain a proper tongue load range of 500 to

750 lbs. (227 to 340 kg). For an 11,500 (5,216 kg) fifth wheel trailer,

multiply by 0.15 and 0.25 to obtain a proper king pin load range of 1,725

to 2,875 (782 to 1,304 kg).

Do not exceed the GVWR or the GAWR specified on the

certification label.

Do not use replacement tires with lower load carrying capacities

than the originals because they may lower the vehicle’s GVWR

and GAWR limitations. Replacement tires with a higher limit than the

originals 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. Locate the statement “The combined weight of occupants and cargo

should never exceed XXX pounds” on your vehicle’s label.

2. Determine the combined weight of the driver and passengers that will

be riding in your vehicle.

Driving

175

2004 Ford Explorer Owner Guide 3rd Printing (Spanish) - Page 501

2004 Ford Explorer Manual

Page 501 highlights