2012 Volvo C30 Owner's Manual - Page 168

06 Starting and driving Transporting loads Loading the vehicle Your vehicle's load-carrying capacity is affected by factors such as: WARNING • Never exceed the rack manufacturer's weigh limits and never exceed the maximum rated roof load of 165 lbs (75 kg). • • the number of passengers • tire inflation • the amount of optional or accessory equipment installed Remember that an object weighing 44 lbs (20 kg) produces a force of 2,200 lbs (1,000 kg) in a head-on collision at 30 mph (50 km/h)! When the rear backrest(s) are folded down, the vehicle should not be loaded to a level higher than 2 in. (5 cm) below the upper edge of the rear side windows. Objects placed higher than this level could impede the function of the Inflatable Curtain. • Avoid single-point loads. Distribute loads evenly. • • Place heavier cargo at the bottom of the load. • the amount of cargo. See the chapter "Wheels and tires" for more detailed information. Before loading the car, turn off the engine, and apply the parking brake when loading or unloading long objects. The gear selector can be inadvertently knocked out of position by long cargo, causing the car to move. • Secure the cargo correctly with appropriate tie-down equipment. • Check periodically that the load carriers and load are properly secured. • Remember that the car's center of gravity and handling change when you carry a load on the roof. Load carriers (accessory) Load carriers are available as Volvo accessories. Follow the installation instructions supplied with the load carriers. Observe the following points when using load carriers: • The car's wind resistance and fuel consumption will increase with the size of the load. 06 Keep the following in mind when loading the vehicle: • Drive smoothly. Avoid rapid starts, fast cornering and hard braking. • Load objects in the cargo area against the rear seat backrest. • To avoid damaging your car and to achieve maximum safety when driving, we recommend using the load carriers that Volvo has developed especially for your car. • • Center wide loads. • Secure all cargo with restraining straps Load heavy cargo as low as possible. anchored to the load securing eyelets. • Volvo-approved removable roof racks are designed to carry the maximum allowable roof load for this vehicle: 165 lbs (75 kg). For Non-Volvo roof racks, check the manufacturer's weight limits for the rack. • Cover sharp edges on the load. • The rear seats can be folded down to extend the cargo compartment, see page 118. 168