2007 Mercedes GL-Class Owner's Manual - Page 305

Controls in detail Loading The gross vehicle weight which is the weight of the vehicle including fuel, tools, spare wheel, installed accessories, passengers and luggage/cargo must never exceed the load limit and Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) for your vehicle as specified on the placard located on the driver's door B-pillar ( page 550). In addition, the load must be distributed in such a way so that the weight on each axle never exceeds the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for the front and rear axle. The GVWR and GAWR for your vehicle are indicated on the certification label which can be found on the driver's door B-pillar ( page 550). For more information, see "Tire and Loading Information" ( page 389). The handling characteristics of a fully loaded vehicle depend greatly on the load distribution. It is therefore recommended to load the vehicle according to the illustrations shown, with the heaviest items being placed towards the front of the vehicle. Please pay attention to and comply with the following instructions when loading the vehicle and transporting cargo: Always place items being carried against front or rear seat backrests, and fasten them as securely as possible. The heaviest portion of the cargo should always be kept as low as possible against front or rear seat backrests. For additional safety when transporting cargo while the rear seats are unoccupied, fasten the outer seat belts crosswise into the opposite side buckles. i The cargo compartment is the preferred place to carry objects. The expanded cargo compartment ( page 306) should only be used for items which do not fit in the cargo compartment alone. Cargo tie-down rings Your vehicle is equipped with eight cargo tie-down rings. Carefully secure cargo by applying even load on all rings with rope of sufficient strength to hold down the cargo. i While the cargo net* ( page 313) will help protect you from smaller objects, it cannot prevent the movement of large, heavier objects into the passenger compartment in an accident, during hard braking or sudden maneuvers. Such items must be properly secured using the cargo tie-down rings in the cargo compartment floor. 304