Questions for the "Weight" police....

[IanC]

Hoping someone has knowledge or have been in the situation they can answer with some authority.

In regards to GVM GCM and all things weighty.  If you are ever pulled over by the authorities and weighed, what is involved?

Do they detach vehicle from camper/van or just look at it as a whole?

And next question is if you have an ATM of say 2500kg is it assumed that your towball is 10% so 250kg as a max? Which could either be against you if you have packed your camper light or in your favour if the towball weight is greater than this magical figure....

Thanks.

[Aaron Schubert]

I'm told they weigh both individually, as well as your axle weights on your 4WD.

Isn't the 10% just a guide? How you pack will most certainly work for or against you.

The towball weight comes off your payload for the vehicle, so for most vehicles, take 250kg off your 800kg payload and you are left with 550kg. Put 4 adults in the car, very little gear and you are pretty much over!

Aaron

[achjimmy]

Iam yet to hear from someone pulled over. It's always a mates 2nd cousins friends gardeners parents that were weighed.

Truckies tell me you get 10% personally can't see them detaching you it'll be a quick check of both. If you can't drop water there and then to get under you would probably have to leave it I guess?

I reckon at the end of their checking the roadside would like a gypsy camp of cars and trailers 

[chester ver2.0]

Both individually

They normally just focus on the van weigh it and the ball weight

They will then look for an approved max ball weight on the towbar if you are under that all OK

It is currently more of an education exercise so they will let you go with some advice unless you are dangerously overweight

[GBC]

We've been done with the boat on. They throw down the 2 mats (scales) and you drive each wheel set onto them to get the axle weights. Job done.
Towball load wasn't measured, just the whole rig as it stands. While that's going on they do a slow cruise around the rig checking the obvious stuff.
There were a couple of parked up vans there and a clown in a GU with hid headlight inserts waiting for sunrise so he could drive off without his lights on - it was about 2.00 am in the morning and we were heading up the sunny coast to go fishing.

They were pulling the whole northbound highway off the Gateway motorway at Boondall and doing RBT while the mermaids were choosing whoever they wanted to check.
I have also seen them at Inskip point getting barge traffic - we didn't get pulled over that time, and Just past Benaraby near the Gladstone exit - again in the middle of the night - didn't get pulled that time either.

edit - transport compliance was also at Waddy point one year doing the boat owners with extended drawbars and the locals with unregistered launch tractors.

[prodigyrf]

Don't know of anyone in South Oz personally but I recall a distant relation in Qld being caught up with a big weigh in at the Qld/NSW border after the new regs came in. Saw a pic of a paddock full of boats and trailers that were headed to a NSW fishing contest and if they failed they were told to park them, although I think most were done for not having brakes over 750kg. It was then the BIL decided he'd better fit brakes to his boat trailer in SA so it worked.

[areyonga]

Iam yet to hear from someone pulled over. It's always a mates 2nd cousins friends gardeners parents that were weighed.

Truckies tell me you get 10% personally can't see them detaching you it'll be a quick check of both. If you can't drop water there and then to get under you would probably have to leave it I guess?

I reckon at the end of their checking the roadside would like a gypsy camp of cars and trailers 

You must have missed this  https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153723250594372&set=o.108442819174272&type=3&theater

[Bird]

Iam yet to hear from someone pulled over. It's always a mates 2nd cousins friends gardeners parents that were weighed

Scraps posted up a newspaper article few weeks ago of Vicroads + Cops doing the works on a caravan and car out near the NSW/Vic border on the coast road.

edit:
http://www.candm.com.au/police-blitz-targeting-caravanners/

Along the Princes Highway on the NSW/VIC Border, in Northern QLD, at Yarck Victoria, just to name a few locations — Police have been setting up mobile weigh stations, throwing caravans and tow vehicles on the scales, and slapping gobsmacked owners with fines up to $600, and taking up to 4 points off their licence. It’s becoming more and more prevalent, and I’m guessing we’ll be seeing even more now the dry season is here and we’re all out on the road travelling

edit edit:
http://netweigh.com.au/how-it-works/caravan-weighing-guide/

[RebsWA]

You must have missed this  https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153723250594372&set=o.108442819174272&type=3&theater

Should be more of it.

[Bird]

some interesting info

http://www.goseeaustralia.com.au/article/965/Major_risks_in_under_size_caravan_tow_tugs_South_Australian_Police_say/

Some makers include it as part of the load carrying capacity, of their vehicle some do not. Ask the vehicle maker before purchasing a tow vehicle. Ask the vehicle maker whether their vehicle is designed to be strong enough to cope with the stress of towing on the vehicle's structure.

1.Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM). Gross Vehicle Mass is the maximum weight permitted for the motor vehicle as nominated by the manufacturer.

2. Kerb Weight of the tow vehicle.

3. Subtract the Kerb Weight from the Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) and the result is the tow vehicle's current payload capacity.

4. Ball Weight. The Ball Weight (Rated) is a given weight by the caravan, motor vehicle or tow bar manufacturer. The RACQ says - All tow bars made after July 1, 1988, and many made before this date, will have a plate attached that lists the maximum towing weight, the maximum ball load and the make and model of vehicle the bar was designed for.
The vehicle’s specifications will always be the maximum the vehicle can legally tow, even if the tow bar is rated for a higher load.  But if any of the tow bar specifications are lower than those given for the vehicle, the tow bar’s specification will override the vehicle’s specifications.

Editors Note: The actual (operational) Tow Ball Mass or Ball Weight is the mass exerted onto the towing vehicle through the towing hitch when the caravan or trailer is laden. Actual Operational Tow Ball Mass is real world towing.

5. The legal towing capability of a motor vehicle is nominated by the manufacturer. In essence never have more than the Ball Weight as stated in the Vehicle's Owners Manual on the Tow Ball.

6.Aggregate Trailer Mass (ATM). ATM is the fully loaded weight of a caravan or trailer when not connected to the tow vehicle.

7. Rated Tare. Rated Tare is the unladen weight of the caravan or trailer when not connected to the tow vehicle.

8. Subtract the Rated Tare from the ATM and the result is the most optimistic caravan or trailers rated payload capability.

The actual Operational situation with the caravan loaded will reduce that payload capability. For example rated payload for the caravan may be 500kg, but Operational payload for the caravan may be 300kg.

Safety must always come first. The Operational weight of the caravan is the figure to work to.

9. Gross Trailer Mass. (GTM) is the weight of the caravan or tailer transmitted through the caravan or trailers axle/axles to the ground when connected to the tow vehicle. This must exceed the (Rated) Gross Trailer Mass.

10. Ball Weight. Ball Weight is generally 10 per cent of the Aggregate Trailer Mass (ATM).

It is this weight which is transferred to the tow vehicle.

11. Gross Combined Mass (GCM) is the maximum loaded masses of the tow vehicle and anything it is towing. This is as determined by the vehicles manufacturer or by the relevant registration authority.

Editor's Notes: Ground clearance must not be less than 100mm (For any point within 1m fore or aft of any axle, when caravan or trailer is loaded to ATM).


Rear overhang: Measured from the rear of the trailer to the centre of the axle group. This must not exceed the lesser of 3.7m OR the length of the front load space. This includes any other attachments on the rear of the trailer, such as bicycles, spare tyres, fuel containers or boxes.)

Two axles less than 1m apart are considered to be a single axle.

Personal judgement within the laws should be used when towing a caravan in Australia. There are variations, check with State and Federal authorities. Take the time to digest Australian State and Territory road rules as well as vehicle, caravan and trailer manufacturers requirements before travelling.

GoSee suggests The Australian Practical Guide to Towing, released by Tow-Ed. www.tow-ed.com.au as a good source of general information.

[krisandkev]

Have been on the road for 6 months now, towing our Bushtracker van and I know there are some vehicles towing wrong size vans for that vehicle, but I have seen a lot more and I mean a lot more bad car drivers who are a real danger to themselves and others!  And i do hate bloody slow vans and especially where they do not pull over to let others pass.  So in the towing and driving auguments there are more serious issues on our roads then to weight issues.  Just saying  .  Kevin

[prodigyrf]

"So in the towing and driving auguments there are more serious issues on our roads then to weight issues."

No fat taxes for Grey Nomads then you reckon

[achjimmy]

You must have missed this  https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153723250594372&set=o.108442819174272&type=3&theater

Easy to miss I don't have Facebook. Presume it's somebody getting pinched? is that you?

[Bird]

you people focus way too much on towbar weight, and not enough on power steering...

rare sight here, a firepit on a trailer, towed by a 2wd Ford... Im sure it was up on 2 when it took off, but didn't have camera out fast enough.

[edz]

That Exploder would have to have its bum sitting on the bump stops for sure .

[weeds]

I weigh my set up regularly......having a weigh bridge at work helps....I measure , front axle, rear axle, camper axle, tow ball, GVM and GCM

It's damn hard for a family of five with a modern dual cab toeing a camper to stay within the limits...1300kg trailer with 100kg tow ball

With my 110, I was just over on front axle only

With my POS Hi-lux....impossible to stay under GVM for the car.

Just setting my latest 110 up.......dropping the trailer and turning the rig into a poptop....should easily stay under GVM.

I have never come across side of the road checks....if they did I doubt many set ups will pass

Didn't do axles on this weigh in......this was last year......oh I parked up and cancelled the holiday

Hi-lux spec
GVM 2780kg
Front 1340kg
Rear 1600kg

Weigh in
2.96 car
3.06 car + tow ball weight
4.22 car + trailer
1.14 trailer
So I was 300kg over GVM.......

[Alien]

When ever I've been wieghed in the work vehicle the focus is on individual axle wieghts.
We can often leave the quarry up to 1 ton under GCVM and be up to 1•2 over on a trailer axle.
I've never been offered a 10% tolerance but a friendly attitude on arrival at the weigh bridge has seen me get away with 600kg.

My 110 with Tvan packed for the current 3 week trip had 50kg to spare on all 3 axles with 2 adults.
This wont leave much to spare for a third person once clothing is added.

[Beachman]

Boxing day morning 2 years ago on Brisbane Northside I passed Department of Transport setting up there mobile weigh station. 

We had the camper trailer on and I know with the amount of gear in the car it would have failed on the scales.

10 minutes later then it wouldn’t have been a good start to the holiday.

[areyonga]

Easy to miss I don't have Facebook. Presume it's somebody getting pinched? is that you?

No not me, but they pulled up dozens