Owner`s manual

26
Gross Combination Weight (GCW)
is the weight of the loaded vehicle (GVW) plus the weight of the fully
loaded trailer. It is the actual weight obtained when the vehicle and
trailer are weighed together on a scale.
Gross Combination Weight
Rating (GCWR)
is the maximum allowable weight of the towing vehicle and the
loaded trailer – including all cargo and passengers – that the vehicle
can handle without risking damage. (Important: The towing vehicle’s
brake system is rated for operation at the GVWR – NOT GCWR.
Separate functional brake systems should be used for safe control of
towed vehicles and for trailers weighing more than 1,500 lbs. when
loaded.) The measured GCW must never exceed the GCWR.
Maximum Loaded Trailer Weight
(as shown in the Trailer Towing Selector charts pages 15–21) is the
highest possible weight of a fully loaded trailer the vehicle can tow,
based on a minimum towing vehicle GVW. It assumes a towing
vehicle with any mandatory options, no cargo, tongue load of 10-15%
(conventional trailer) or king pin weight of 15-25% (5th-wheel
trailer), and driver only (150 lbs.). F-Series Super Duty
®
Chassis Cab
models also assume a second-unit body weight of 1,000 lbs. Weight
of additional options, passengers, cargo and hitch must be deducted
from this weight.
Tongue Load or 5th-Wheel
King Pin Weight
is another critical measurement that must be made before towing.
It refers to the amount of the trailer’s weight that presses down on
the trailer hitch. Too much tongue load or king pin weight can cause
suspension/drivetrain damage, and can press the vehicle down in back
causing the front wheels to lift to the point where traction, steering
response and braking can be severely decreased. Too little tongue load
or king pin weight can reduce rear-wheel traction and cause instability,
which may result in tail wagging or jackknifing.
Tongue load or king pin weights must meet the following requirements:*
– For trailers up to 2,000 lbs., tongue load not to exceed 200 lbs.
– For conventional trailers over 2,000 lbs., tongue load 10-15% of
loaded trailer weight.
– For 5th-wheel trailers, king pin weight 15-25% of loaded
trailer weight.
Examples: For a 5,000-lb. conventional trailer, multiply 5,000 by .10
and .15 to obtain a proper tongue load range of 500 to 750 lbs. For an
11,500-lb. 5th-wheel trailer, multiplying 11,500 by .15 and .25 yields a
king pin weight range of 1,725 to 2,875 lbs.
Note: Be sure the addition of tongue load or king pin weight does not
cause the key towing vehicle weight limits (GVWR and Rear GAWR) to
be exceeded. Remember, GVWR and GAWR are found on the vehicle’s
Safety Compliance Certification Label. If either of these limits is
exceeded, you should go with a larger vehicle or a smaller trailer.
* Refer to the chart on page 24 for tongue load recommendations with Ford factory-installed rear
step bumpers and trailer hitch receivers.
How to Find Your Truck’s Axle Ratio
If you do not know the axle ratio of your vehicle, check its Truck Safety
Compliance Certification Label (located on the left front door lock
facing or the door latch post pillar). Below the bar code, you will see
the word AXLE and a two-digit code. Use this chart to find the axle
ratio that corresponds to that code:
Sample Truck Safety Compliance Certification Label
(Refer to actual label on your vehicle)
GVWR
Rear GAWR
Axle Code
Front GAWR
Metric Conversion – To obtain information in kilograms, multiply pounds by .45.
REAR AXLE RATIO CODES
Rear Axle Non-Limited Limited Electronic
Vehicle Ratio Slip Slip Locking
Super Duty 3.31 31 Not Available 3H
3.55 35 Not Available 3J
3.73 37 3L 3E
4.10 41 4N/4W
(1)
Not Available
4.30 43 4L 4M
4.88 48 8L Not Available
F-150 3.15 15 Not Available L5
3.31 27 Not Available L3
3.55 19 H9 L9
3.73 26 B6 L6
4.10 Not Available Not Available L4
Expedition 3.31 15 Not Available Not Available
3.73 16 Not Available Not Available
Navigator 3.73 16 Not Available Not Available
E-Series 3.73 24/34/A2/A4/D2/D4 B4/C4 Not Available
4.10 22/32/52/56 B2/C2/E2/E6/F2 Not Available
4.56 83 F3 Not Available
Motorhome 4.30 43 Not Available Not Available
5.38 53 Not Available Not Available
6.17 61 Not Available Not Available
Commercial 4.30 43 Not Available Not Available
Stripped Chassis
4.88 48 Not Available Not Available
5.38 53 Not Available Not Available
(1) Wide rear axle on F-350 Chassis Cab with Ambulance Package.
2013 KNOW BEFORE YOU TOW
Know your limits.