From my Fords owners manual:
Base Curb weight - weight including fuel, lubricants, coolant, tools, spare
wheel and
                              tire (no passengers, cargo or optional
equipment)
Payload - combined maximun allowable weight of cargo, occupants and optional

                              equipment. It is the Gross Vehicle weight
Rating minus the base
                              curb weight
Gross Vehicle Weight - weight at a particular time
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating - manufacturer specified .. maximun total weight
of
                              base vehicle, passengers, optional components
and cargo that a
                              particular vehicle was designed to carry.
Gross Axle Weight Rating  - This had the longest explanation because safety
is
                              impacted. The gist of it is that a larger axle
rating allows
                              flexibility in loading fore or aft on the
vehicle but you shoudn't
                              load to each axles rating because the GVWR will
be exceeded.
                              By staying within the GAWR on either front or
rear while staying
                              within the GVWR you would still be in the
design limits of the
                              vehicle.

Now, what was the question? :)

Steve
81 vanagon Country Home Myrtle