How much weight can your accessible SUV or van bear when fully loaded? Because SUVs and vans have a higher center of gravity than sedans or minivans, they are more prone to rollover accidents. It is vital to know the weight load before stuffing your vehicle with a wheelchair, luggage, family or friends and vacation equipment (like a canoe or bicycles). Just because there is room for everything doesn’t mean it’s safe for everyone.
Braking hard to avoid a possible accident or carrying too much weight in a sharp turn can up the odds of an accident. Plus, an overloaded vehicle can adversely affect braking, steering and your ability to safely control the vehicle.
To find the maximum allowable weight of your vehicle when loaded, look for the label on the driver’s side doorjamb. It tells the allowable weight of the vehicle plus fuel, passengers and cargo. (The information may also be in the owner’s manual or on a sticker on the underside of the hood.)
A large SUV can weigh 6,000 lbs. or more before the conversion. A smaller one will be in the 4,000-5,000 lb. range.
To figure out how much weight the vehicle will actually be carrying, get out the calculator. [...]