Ford 1997 Aerostar Manual page 187

Calculating The Load
To know how much weight your vehicle can
carry:
Obtain ratings from your Safety Compliance
Certification Label, and the Trailer towing
specifications in the Owner Guide (refer to
the Index)
— Refer to the following sample illustration
to locate the various ratings on your
Safety Compliance Certification Label.
— If you do not plan on pulling a trailer, do
not include these ratings into your
calculations.
Weigh your vehicle as you customarily
operate the vehicle (without cargo).
Subtract the total weight of passengers, driver
and optional equipment added by the factory,
dealer or aftermarket supplier to determine
how much cargo weight you can carry.
If you suspect that your payload is excessive,
have your vehicle weighed at a highway weigh
station or appropriate commercial facility. Weigh
the total vehicle and trailer (if applicable), then
separately weigh the vehicle at the front and
rear wheels. And finally, weigh the trailer
separately if applicable.
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