Transporting Loads With The Vehicle - Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Operator's Manual

Always make sure that the distribution of the
load is correct and adapt your driving style
according to the load.
G
Warning
If you have installed a roof carrier, the
vehicle's handling, steering and braking
characteristics may change due to the higher
center of gravity. This is the case particularly
if the roof carrier is laden. Adapt your driving
style according to the vehicle load.
Observe the manufacturer's installation
instructions. An incorrectly secured roof
carrier and/or load could come loose, fall off
and thereby endanger you or others.
Observe the maximum roof load and
maximum roof carrier load. Loads transported
on the roof must always be secured with
particular care.
Do not allow the load, including passengers,
to exceed the permissible gross vehicle
weight or the gross axle weight rating for your
vehicle.
G
Warning
When using suitable load securing aids and
lashing material, always follow the
manufacturer's operating instructions, in
particular the notes on discard criteria
contained therein.
Load securing aids and lashing material may
not be used, for example, if:
identification marks are missing or illegible
R
there are yarn breakages, damage to
R
bearing seams or other signs of tearing
there are signs of shearing, deformation,
R
pinching or other damage
there is damage to clamping or connecting
R
elements
Load securing aids and lashing material in this
condition are ready for discard and must be
replaced.
If you use load securing aids or lashing
materials that are ready for discard, the load
is not correctly secured and could cause

Transporting loads with the vehicle

serious injuries to you and others and cause
material damage.
G
Warning!
After an accident, have a damaged cargo floor
or cargo area, lashing eyelets and lashing
material checked at a qualified specialist
workshop that has the necessary specialist
knowledge and tools to carry out the work
required. The cargo could otherwise be
insufficiently secured during the next
transport and could lead to serious injury to
you and other persons or material damage.
For this reason, we recommend an authorized
Sprinter Dealer. In particular, all work relevant
to safety or on safety-related systems must
be carried out at a qualified specialist
workshop.
! If you are using a roof carrier, observe the
maximum roof load and maximum roof
carrier load.
You will find information about the maximum
roof load in the "Technical data" section
( Y page 283) and information about roof
carriers in the "Carrier systems" section
( Y page 149).
Before loading
X
Tire pressure: check the tire pressure and
correct if necessary (
X
Cargo floor: clean the cargo floor.
The cargo floor must be free from oil and
dust, dry and clean swept to prevent the
load from slipping.
X
Place non-slip mats (anti-slip mats) on the
cargo floor if necessary.
! As soon as the non-slip mats show signs
of deformation or develop squashed areas,
or traces of cracking/cutting, they can no
longer be used to secure a load and must
be replaced.
Y page 281).
Z
145