Additional related subjects:
R
Determining the maximum load
(
/
page 251).
R
Notes on tire pressure (
/
page 243).
Steps to determining the correct critical load
The following steps have been developed as
required of all manufacturers under Title 49,
Code of U.S. Federal Regulations, Part 575 in
accordance with the "National Traffic and Motor
Vehicle Safety Act of 1966".
#
Step 1: locate the statement, "The combined
weight of occupants and cargo should never
exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs." on the Tire and
Loading Information placard of your vehicle.
#
Step 2: determine the combined weight of
the driver and passengers that will be travel‐
ing in your vehicle.
#
Step 3: subtract the combined weight of the
driver and passengers from XXX kg or
XXX lbs.
#
Step 4: the resulting figure equals the per‐
missible amount of cargo and luggage load
capacity. For example, if the "XXX" amount
equals 1,400 lbs and there will be five 150 lb
passengers in your vehicle, the amount of
available cargo and luggage load capacity is
650 lbs (1,400 – 750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs).
#
Step 5: determine the combined weight of
luggage and cargo being loaded on the vehi‐
cle. For safety reasons, this weight must not
exceed the cargo and luggage load capacity
calculated in step 4.
#
Step 6:
Even if you have calculated the total load care‐
fully, you should still make sure that the maxi‐
mum permissible gross weight and the maximum
gross axle weight rating of your vehicle are not
exceeded. Information for this can be found on
the vehicle identification plate.
#
Weigh the laden vehicle, including driver, pas‐
sengers and load, on a suitable vehicle weigh‐
bridge.
The measured values must not exceed the
maximum permitted values listed on the vehi‐
cle identification plate.
Additional related subjects:
R
Sample calculation for determining the maxi‐
mum load (
/
page 251)
R
Tire and Loading Information placard
(
/
page 250)
R
Tire pressure table
R
Vehicle identification plate
Sample calculation for determining the maxi‐
mum load
The following table has examples of how to calcu‐
late total and cargo load capacities with varying
seating configurations and different numbers and
sizes of occupants. The following examples use a
maximum load of 1,500 lbs (680 kg). This value
is for illustrative purposes only. Make sure you
are using the actual load limit for your vehicle
stated on your vehicle's Tire and Loading Infor‐
mation placard (
/
page 250).
The higher the weight of all the occupants, the
smaller the maximum load for luggage.
Step 1
Example 1
Example 2
Combined maximum weight of
occupants and load (data from
the Tire and Loading Informa‐
tion placard)
1500 lbs (680 kg)
1500 lbs (680 kg)
Wheels and tires 251
