Ford Mercury Villager 1997 Owner's Manual page 233

Payload
GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight)
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating)
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating)
GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating)
Base Curb Weight
The base curb weight is the weight of the vehicle including fuel,
coolants, lubricants, emergency tools and spare wheel and
tire. It also includes any equipment that is standard. It does not
include passengers, cargo or optional equipment installed by
factory, dealer, aftermarket supplier or customer.
Payload
Maximum payload is the combined, maximum allowable weight
of cargo, occupants and optional equipment that the vehicle is
designed to carry. It is the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating minus the
base curb weight.
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)
The Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) is the total weight of the
passengers, cargo and all equipment.
It is important to remember that GVW is not a limit or a
specification, but actual weight. If a customer loads the vehicle
and weighs it, that's the GVW at that moment. If the customer adds
on more cargo and weighs it again, the GVW will increase.
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
To avoid overloading your vehicle, never exceed the specified
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating for your Villager. The GVWR is the
maximum allowable weight of the vehicle when fully loaded
including passengers, cargo and all equipment.
Driving
229