It is very important to know how much weight your vehicle can carry. This weight is called the vehicle capacity weight and includes the weight of all occupants, cargo, and all nonfactory-installed options. Two labels on your vehicle show how much weight it was designed to carry, the Tire and Loading Information label and the Certification/Tire label.
Caution: Do not load the vehicle any heavier than the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), or either the maximum front or rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). If you do, parts on the vehicle can break, and it can change the way your vehicle handles. These could cause you to lose control and crash. Also, overloading can shorten the life of the vehicle.
Tire and Loading Information Label
Label Example
A vehicle specific Tire and Loading Information label is attached to the center pillar (B-pillar). With the driver's door open, you will find the label attached below the door lock post (striker). The tire and loading information label shows the number of occupant seating positions (A), and the maximum vehicle capacity weight (B) in kilograms and pounds.
The Tire and Loading Information label also shows the size of the original equipment tires (C) and the recommended cold tire inflation pressures (D). For more information on tires and inflation see Tires and Inflation - Tire Pressure .
There is also important loading information on the vehicle Certification/Tire label. It tells you the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for the front and rear axles. See "Certification/Tire Label" later in this section.
Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit
- Locate the statement "The combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs" on your vehicle's placard.
- Determine the combined weight of the driver and passengers that will be riding in your vehicle.
- Subtract the combined weight of the driver and passengers from XXX kg or XXX lbs.
- The resulting figure equals the available amount of cargo and luggage load capacity. For example, if the "XXX" amount equals 1400 lbs and there will be five 150 lb passengers in your vehicle, the amount of available cargo and luggage load capacity is 650 lbs (1400 - 750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs).
- Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That weight may not safely exceed the available cargo and luggage load capacity calculated in Step 4.
- If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, the load from your trailer will be transferred to your vehicle. Consult this manual to determine how this reduces the available cargo and luggage load capacity of your vehicle. See Towing a Trailer for important information on towing a trailer, towing safety rules and trailering tips.
Example 1
Item | Description | Total |
|---|---|---|
A | Vehicle Capacity Weight for Example 1 = | 1,000 lbs (453 kg) |
B | Subtract Occupant Weight @ 150 lbs (68 kg) × 2 = | 300 lbs (136 kg) |
C | Available Occupant and Cargo Weight = | 700 lbs (317 kg) |
Example 2
Item | Description | Total |
|---|---|---|
A | Vehicle Capacity Weight for Example 2 = | 1,000 lbs (453 kg) |
B | Subtract Occupant Weight @ 150 lbs (68 kg) × 5 = | 750 lbs (136 kg) |
C | Available Cargo Weight = | 250 lbs (113 kg) |
Example 3
Item | Description | Total |
|---|---|---|
A | Vehicle Capacity Weight for Example 3 = | 1,000 lbs (453 kg) |
B | Subtract Occupant Weight @ 200 lbs (91 kg) × 5 = | 1,000 lbs (453 kg) |
C | Available Cargo Weight = | 0 lbs (0 kg) |
Refer to your vehicle's tire and loading information label for specific information about your vehicle's capacity weight and seating positions. The combined weight of the driver, passengers, and cargo should never exceed your vehicle's capacity weight.
Certification/Tire Label
A vehicle specific Certification/Tire label is found on the rear edge of the driver's door. The label shows the size of your vehicle's original tires and the inflation pressures needed to obtain the gross weight capacity of your vehicle. This is called Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). The GVWR includes the weight of the vehicle, all occupants, fuel, and cargo.
The Certification/Tire label also tells you the maximum weights for the front and rear axles, called Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). To find out the actual loads on your front and rear axles, you need to go to a weigh station and weigh your vehicle. Your dealer can help you with this. Be sure to spread out your load equally on both sides of the centerline.
Never exceed the GVWR for your vehicle, or the GAWR for either the front or rear axle.
The Certification/Tire label also contains information about your Front Axle Reserve Capacity.
And, if you do have a heavy load, you should spread it out.
Caution: Do not load the vehicle any heavier than the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), or either the maximum front or rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). If you do, parts on the vehicle can break, and it can change the way your vehicle handles. These could cause you to lose control and crash. Also, overloading can shorten the life of the vehicle.
Notice: Overloading your vehicle may cause damage. Repairs would not be covered by your warranty. Do not overload your vehicle.
The label will help you decide how much cargo and installed equipment your truck can carry.
Using heavier suspension components to get added durability might not change your weight ratings. Ask your dealer to help you load your vehicle the right way.
If you put things inside your vehicle -- like suitcases, tools, packages, or anything else -- they go as fast as the vehicle goes. If you have to stop or turn quickly, or if there is a crash, they will keep going.
Caution: Things you put inside your
vehicle can strike and injure people in a sudden stop or turn, or in a crash.
• Put things in the cargo area of your vehicle. Try
to spread the weight evenly. • Never stack heavier things, like suitcases, inside
the vehicle so that some of them are above the tops of the seats. • Do not leave an unsecured child restraint in your
vehicle. • When you carry something inside the vehicle, secure
it whenever you can. • Do not leave a seat folded down unless
you need to.
There is also important loading information for off-road driving in this manual. See "Loading Your Vehicle for Off-Road Driving" under Off-Road Driving .
Tahoe Police and Special Service Package
The information in this section of the supplement is for those who intend to install additional equipment to the police vehicle after it has left the factory, and for those who will be driving and loading the vehicle with passengers and/or cargo.
Two labels on your vehicle show how much weight it was designed to carry, the Tire and Loading Information label and the Certification/Tire label. These labels are attached to your vehicle and give you the maximum load capacity, the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for your vehicle. See "Loading Your Vehicle" in your owner manual Index for additional loading information.
The following guidelines can help you with proper loading and load distribution when installing additional equipment on the Tahoe Police Package.
Caution: Do not load the vehicle any heavier than the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), or either the maximum front or rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). If you do, parts on the vehicle can break, and it can change the way your vehicle handles. These could cause you to lose control and crash. Also, overloading can shorten the life of the vehicle.
Adding Equipment to Your Vehicle
Before adding accessories or equipment to your police vehicle, there are some things you need to know:
| • | The police vehicle's maximum capacity weight. |
| • | The weight of your police vehicle, including a full tank of fuel but without a driver and passengers. |
| • | The weight of items you plan on adding to your police vehicle, like roof mounted light bar(s), push bumpers, security barrier(s), rear storage organizer, highway flares, fire extinguishers, weapons, ammunition, radios, and video equipment. |
| • | The weight and number of passengers you intend to carry in your vehicle. |
| • | The total weight of any additional cargo you intend to carry in your vehicle. |
When planning your vehicle equipment installation remember not to exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) of the front or rear axles. To keep the available load weight less than the vehicle capacity weight, you may need to limit the number of passengers you carry in your vehicle or change your choice of additional equipment.
Center of Gravity (CG)
A vehicle's center of gravity is an imaginary location inside the vehicle and is a balance point for the vehicle mass as it moves down the road. The police vehicle's center of gravity, before you add a load and passengers, is approximately midway between the center of the axles, up from the ground to just below the front window, and between the driver and passenger.
Equipment location and weight on the vehicle's center of gravity is important to keep in mind when planning an installation. Heavy equipment should be positioned as low and as far forward in the rear load compartment as possible. Try to mount the equipment below the bottom of the side windows. Refer to the Loading Zone chart and diagram to help with your installation plan.
A procedure to make the necessary measurements and formulas to calculate the vehicle longitudinal, lateral and vertical position of the center of gravity can be found in the GM Coachbuilders Manual. Equipment required to conduct the measurements for calculating the center of gravity are:
| • | Weight scales of sufficient capacity to measure the vehicle weight at each wheel. |
| • | A post-type hoist or other means to safely elevate the front of the vehicle to at least an angle of 20 degrees above horizontal. |
See your GM dealer to get more information about this coachbuilder procedure.
Keeping the center of gravity midway between the axles is also important to provide proper braking performance. About half the total vehicle weight on each axle is recommended.
Weigh your vehicle after the additional equipment has been installed to determine the actual weight of your vehicle. Weigh the vehicle with a full tank of fuel and without passengers. You may need to put a limit on how many people or other equipment you can carry inside your vehicle after the additional equipment has been installed.
Loading Zones
Front Floor to Roof Zone Area
Front Roof Zone Area
Back of Front Door
Rear Roof Zone Area
Rear Floor to Roof Zone Area
Ground
Loading Zone Weight Chart | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Loading Zones | Front Axle Weight | Rear Axle Weight | Total |
Roof | 28 lbs (12 kg) | 39 lbs (17 kg) | 67 lbs (30 kg) |
Floor to Roof | 103 lbs. (46 kg) | 408 lbs. (185 kg) | 511 lbs. (231 kg) |
Total | 131 lbs (59 kg) | 447 lbs (202 kg) | 578 lbs (262 kg) |
Using heavier suspension components to get added durability might not change your weight ratings. Ask your dealer to help you load your vehicle the right way.
