Vehicle Weight

This chapter will help you load your vehicle and/or trailer correctly to keep the weight of the loaded vehicle within its designed load capacity, with or without a trailer. Correct loading of your vehicle will ensure the best performance of the vehicle's design. Before loading the vehicle, review the following terms to determine the gross vehicle weight rating of your vehicle, with or without a trailer, from the vehicle specifications and certification label:

Base Curb Weight

This is the weight of the vehicle including a full fuel tank and all standard equipment. It does not include passengers, cargo or optional equipment.

Vehicle Curb Weight

This is the weight of your new vehicle when you took delivery from the dealer, plus any aftermarket equipment.

Cargo Weight

This figure includes all weight added to the base curb weight, including cargo and optional equipment.

GAW (Gross Axle Weight)

This is the total weight carried by each axle (front and rear), including the vehicle curb weight and all payload.

GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating)

This is the maximum permissible weight that one axle (front or rear) can carry. These figures are shown on the certification label. The total load on each axle must never exceed the GAWR.

GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight)

This is the base curb weight plus the actual weight of cargo plus the number of passengers.

GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating)

This is the maximum permissible weight of the fully loaded vehicle (including all options, equipment, passengers, and cargo). The GVWR is shown on the certification label located on the driver's door pillar.