Loading
Vehicle Loading - With and Without a Trailer
This section helps you load your vehicle, trailer, or both correctly. Keep the loaded weight of the vehicle within its design rating capacity, with or without a trailer. Proper loading of your vehicle ensures maximum performance of the vehicle's design characteristics. Before loading the vehicle, review the following terms to determine the rated load capacity of your vehicle, with or without a trailer, from the tire and loading information label or the Safety Compliance Certification label.
Example of Tire and Loading Information Label:

Payload
Payload is the total weight of cargo and passengers that your vehicle carries. The maximum payload for your vehicle appears on the Tire and Loading label. The label is located either on the center pillar or on the edge of the driver door. Vehicles exported outside the USA and Canada may not have a tire and loading label. Look for the statement "The combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs" for maximum payload. The payload listed on the Tire and Loading label is the maximum payload for your vehicle as built at the assembly plant. If you install any additional equipment on your vehicle, you must determine the new payload. Subtract the weight of the added equipment from the payload listed on the Tire and Loading label. When towing, the trailer tongue weight or kingpin weight is also part of the payload.
GAWR - Gross Axle Weight Rating
GAWR is the maximum permissible weight that can be carried on one axle (front or rear). These figures are found on the Safety Compliance Certification label. The label is located on the door hinge pillar, door latch pillar, or the edge of the door that meets the door latch pillar, near the driver seating position.
The total load on each axle must never exceed its Gross Axle Weight Rating.
GVWR - Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
GVWR is the maximum permissible weight of the fully loaded vehicle. This includes all options, equipment, passengers, and cargo. It is shown on the Safety Compliance Certification label. The label is located on the door hinge pillar, door latch pillar, or the edge of the door that meets the door latch pillar, near the driver seating position.
The gross vehicle weight must never exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.
Example of a Safety Compliance Certification Label:

Maximum Loaded Trailer Weight
The maximum loaded trailer weight is the maximum possible weight of a fully loaded trailer the vehicle can tow. Consult an authorized dealer (or refer to the Towing a Trailer guide available from an authorized dealer) for more detailed information.
GCWR – Gross Combined Weight Rating
GCWR is the maximum permissible combined weight of the vehicle and loaded trailer, including all cargo and passengers, that the vehicle can handle without risk of damage. (Important: The vehicle's braking system is rated for operation at the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, not the Gross Combined Weight Rating.) Separate trailer brakes must be used to safely control the towed vehicle or trailer when the combined weight of the tow vehicle plus trailer exceeds the tow vehicle's GVWR.
The total combined weight must never exceed the Gross Combined Weight Rating.
Steps to determine the correct load limit:
- Find the statement "The combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs" on your vehicle's certification label.
- Determine the combined weight of the driver and passengers who will ride in your vehicle.
- Subtract the total weight of the driver and passengers from XXX kg or XXX lbs.
- The resulting figure is the available cargo and luggage capacity. For example, if the total "XXX" equals 1400 lb and there are five 150 lb passengers in your vehicle, the available cargo and luggage capacity is 650 lb (1400 - 750 (5 x 150) = 650 lb). 5. Determine the combined weight of the luggage and cargo loaded into the vehicle. This weight must not safely exceed the available cargo and luggage capacity calculated in step 4.
- If you are towing a trailer, load from your trailer transfers to your vehicle. Consult this manual to determine how this reduces the available cargo and luggage capacity of your vehicle.
Useful Examples for Calculating Available Cargo and Luggage Capacity
Suppose your vehicle has 1400 lb (635 kg) of cargo and luggage capacity. You decide to play golf. Is there enough load capacity to carry you, four of your friends, and all the golf bags? You and four friends average 220 lb (99 kg) each, and the golf bags weigh approximately 30 lb (13.5 kg) each. The calculation is: 1400 - (5 x 220) - (5 x 30) = 1400 - 1100 - 150 = 150 lb. Yes, you have sufficient load capacity in your vehicle to carry four friends and your golf bags. In metric units, the calculation is: 635 kg - (5 x 99 kg) - (5 x 13.5 kg) = 635 - 495 - 67.5 = 72.5 kg.
Suppose your vehicle has 1400 lb (635 kg) of cargo and luggage capacity. You and one of your friends decide to pick up cement from the local home improvement store to finish the patio you have been planning for the last two years. Measuring inside the vehicle with the rear seat folded, you have room for twelve 100 lb (45 kg) bags of cement. Do you have enough load capacity to transport the cement to your home? If you and your friend each weigh 220 lb (99 kg), the calculation is: 1400 - (2 x 220) - (12 x 100) = 1400 - 440 - 1200 = -240 lb. No, you do not have enough load capacity to carry that weight. In metric units, the calculation is: 635 kg - (2 x 99 kg) - (12 x 45 kg) = 635 - 198 - 540 = -103 kg. You need to reduce the load by at least 240 lb (104 kg). If you remove three 100 lb (45 kg) bags of cement, the calculation becomes: 1400 - (2 x 220) - (9 x 100) = 1400 - 440 - 900 = 60 lb. Now you have the load capacity to transport the cement and your friend home. In metric units, the calculation is: 635 kg - (2 x 99 kg) - (9 x 45 kg) = 635 - 198 - 405 = 32 kg.
The calculations above also assume that the loads are placed in your vehicle in a way that does not overload the front or rear axle gross weight rating shown on your vehicle's Safety Certification Label.
Special Loading Instructions – All Vehicles
Test yourself
A quick Ford Fusion quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.