In some SUV models, you can exceed the load capacity with driver and passengers alone. Loading up an SUV raises its center of gravity, which is already high, making it more prone to roll over. Overloading any vehicle also stresses the brakes, degrades the handling, and can overheat the tires, increasing the risk of a blowout. If the tire is underinflated, the risk increases. Finding an SUV's load capacity isn't easy.
Some automakers post such figures online.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee, whose relatively small cargo space and heavy load capacity make it one of the better SUVs in this regard, usefully puts the figure inside the glove compartment. Honda and Mercedes-Benz also include it in their owner's manuals, and Ford has recently announced that it will begin including payload information on stickers inside the doorjambs of its SUVs and pickup trucks. All manufacturers can calculate load capacity. Consumers Union thinks this figure should be prominently displayed in every vehicle. Consumer Reports and ABC News team up to bring you an important report on sport-utililty vehicle safety.