MOBILE DETAILING VAN: LOAD AND LAYOUT WORKSHEET
Detail Compass | 2026-09-24

Use the exact vehicle label, equipment manuals, measurements, and loaded scale readings. A positive payload remainder is only an initial screen. Check total vehicle weight, each axle, tire limits, mounting, and securement separately.

1. Vehicle and work
Vehicle year / make / model / trim / wheelbase: __________________________
Vehicle identification or candidate reference: ___________________________
Services carried on a normal workday: ___________________________________
Crew count and weights: _________________________________________________
Tire and Loading label payload, pounds: __________ Source/date: __________
Gross vehicle weight rating, pounds: ______ Gross axle ratings: __________

2. Cargo measurements (inches)
Usable floor length: ______ Width at floor: ______ Between wheel housings: ______
Usable height: ______ Side door clear width/height: ______ / ______
Rear door clear width/height: ______ / ______
Wheel housings, door swings, tie-down points and shutoffs marked on sketch? ___

3. Water and load
Measured gallons per job: ______ Jobs between refills: ______ Reserve gallons: ______
Planned fill, US gallons: ______ Full tank capacity, US gallons: ______
Water weight at planned fill = planned US gallons × about 8.34 lb: ______ lb
Add operator and passengers, empty tank/mounts, machines, shelves/restraints,
supplies, recovered liquid, and every other carried item. Count each once.

Item                         Weight (lb)   Source / date
Operator and passengers      __________    ________________________________
Planned water fill           __________    ________________________________
Empty tank and mounts        __________    ________________________________
Machines and tools           __________    ________________________________
Shelves and restraints       __________    ________________________________
Supplies and containers      __________    ________________________________
Other carried load           __________    ________________________________
TOTAL PLANNED LOAD           __________
Label payload minus total planned load = __________ lb
Full-tank load also checked? ____  Loaded scale weight and axle weights: ______

4. Layout and travel check
Daily-use items reachable without unloading another item? ____
Wet returns separate from clean stock? ____
Doors, latches, shutoffs, ventilation and exits clear? ____
Each heavy item and tank mounted to approved points by suitable means? ____
Electrical instructions and local wash-water rules checked? ____
Failed or unknown check / owner / next action: ____________________________

FILLED HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLE — NOT A VEHICLE APPROVAL
Factory Tire and Loading label payload before buildout: 1,800 lb (assumed)
Tank mounting and shelves are subtracted below, each once.
Operator: 175 lb
Water: 60 US gal × 8.34 lb/US gal = 500.4 lb
Empty tank and mounting: 35 lb
Machines and tools: 250 lb
Shelves and restraints: 140 lb
Supplies and containers: 75 lb
Total = 175 + 500.4 + 35 + 250 + 140 + 75 = 1,175.4 lb
Initial payload remainder = 1,800 - 1,175.4 = 624.6 lb
Filled hypothetical layout example:
Cargo floor: 120 in long x 68 in wide; 50 in between wheel housings.
Side door clear opening: 42 in wide.
Front tank footprint: 36 x 24 in. Mount and axle check still open.
Clean-supply shelf: 16 in deep along wall opposite side door.
Extractor footprint: 24 x 18 in, staged near side door.
Dirty-return bin: 18 in deep at rear, away from clean stock.
Open width beside shelf before other items: 50 - 16 = 34 in.
Recheck passage after placing the tank, extractor and dirty bin.
Extractor width at side door: 24 in < 42 in clear opening.
Mark door swing, shutoff, cord route, restraint points and working clearance
on the actual sketch. If any item blocks these, move or remove it.
The example has no measured axle weights, tire check, tank mounting review,
or verified physical fit. Keep those checks open. Recalculate for the
heaviest normal trip and weigh the loaded vehicle before relying on the plan.

Sources: Ford owner-manual payload guidance; NHTSA cargo guidance; USGS water
weight reference. The article links to each source and explains their limits.