Loading Guidelines - Mercedes-Benz 2015 M-Class Operator's Manual

Stowage areas
334
Useful information
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This Operator's Manual describes all
models and all standard and optional equip-
ment of your vehicle available at the time of
publication of the Operator's Manual.
Country-specific differences are possible.
Please note that your vehicle may not be
equipped with all features described. This
also applies to safety-related systems and
functions.
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Read the information on qualified special-
ist workshops (
Stowage areas

Loading guidelines

G WARNING
If objects, luggage or loads are not secured or
not secured sufficiently, they could slip, tip
over or be flung around and thereby hit vehicle
occupants. There is a risk of injury, particu-
larly in the event of sudden braking or a sud-
den change in direction.
Always store objects so that they cannot be
flung around. Secure objects, luggage or
loads against slipping or tipping before the
journey.
G WARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. If the tailgate
is open when the engine is running, particu-
larly if the vehicle is moving, exhaust fumes
could enter the passenger compartment.
There is a risk of poisoning.
Turn off the engine before opening the tail-
gate. Never drive with the tailgate open.
G WARNING
The exhaust tail pipe and tail pipe trim can
become very hot. If you come into contact
with these parts of the vehicle, you could burn
yourself. There is a risk of injury.
page 29).
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Always be particularly careful around the
exhaust tail pipe and the tail pipe trim. Allow
these components to cool down before touch-
ing them.
The gross vehicle weight (GVW) is the vehicle
weight including fuel, vehicle tool kit, spare
wheel, installed accessories, vehicle occu-
pants and luggage/cargo.
The gross load limit and the gross vehicle
weight rating (GVWR) for your vehicle must
never be exceeded. The gross load limit and
the GVWR are specified on the vehicle iden-
tification plate on the B-pillar of the driver's
door ( page 412).
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The load must also be distributed so that the
weight on each axle never exceeds the gross
axle weight rating (GAWR) for the front and
rear axles. The specifications for GVWR and
GAWR are on the vehicle identification plate
on the B-pillar of the driver's door
( page 412).
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Observe the notes on loading the vehicle
( page 412).
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The handling characteristics of a laden vehi-
cle are dependent on the distribution of the
load within the vehicle. For this reason, you
should observe the following notes when
transporting a load:
Never exceed the maximum permissible
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gross vehicle weight or the gross axle
weight rating of the vehicle (including occu-
pants).
The cargo compartment is the preferred
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place to carry objects.
Position heavy loads as far forwards as pos-
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sible and as low down in the cargo com-
partment as possible.
The load must not protrude above the
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upper edge of the seat backrests.
Always place the load against the rear or
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front seat backrests. Make sure that the
seat backrests are securely locked into
place.
Always place the load behind unoccupied
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seats if possible.