Do you weigh your car?

[Fathom]

i started reading this and thought you're making this up, but then i read the last sentence and realised nah you're telling the truth

Yup sad but true.

[Metters]

I weighed mine prior to our last major desert trip and it was almost 200 kg under GVM.  I always keep it that way on remote Outback trips.  Cars are not designed to carry their maximum load for sustained periods in those conditions.

The story in the April edition of 4x4 Australia, and in the editorial,  on overloading and damaging cars in the Outback is well worth reading, particularly for anyone driving a cab/chassis ute with a trailer.   

[achjimmy]

Yep I did, came in at 3000kg, the results are discussed here.
 http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=29524.50

[Pog]

I weighed the Prado last week on a weigh bridge.

Fully loaded, ready for a trip, I was about 300kg OVER weight on the cars GVM when including the trailer tow ball weight.

My Camper trailer was also 50kg OVER its Weight.

Not sure what to remove from the car... Perhaps the family?

[Hewy54]

Worries me that many people are over the limits and know about it, or are pretty sure they are over, but hide their head in the sand and do not get their trailers and cars weighed. The limits that are put on vehicles are there for a reason. SAFETY. I'm not real concerned about insurance claims, but I do value my wife and grandchildren who may be in my car. I also value any other road users. For this reason I keep a very close check on my weights for safety reasons. The local landscaping yard is very good for just dropping in to do a quick check (don't do it at peak times though). If anyone is seriously over you should consider the safety aspect. Leave some of the stuff at home. If you must take all the extras, upgrade your vehicle so that you are safe.

[MattP]

It's a real pity GVM upgrades are not available for more vehicles.  I was toying with an FJ cruiser (yes they may be unattractive to some) but it only gives you a small payload.  GVM upgrades of the FJ are unavailable in Queensland as far as I know (Prado's too from what I've been able to read online, though I'm happy to be corrected).  It's  too expensive for companies to comply for a lower volume vehicle.  They mostly concentrate on cruisers and utes (higher volume to justify their outlay).  The thing is I can get a suspension upgrade for the FJ used in other states (WA) for a GVM upgrade, so at least I know the vehicle could handle the extra load, it just wouldn't be legal in Qld which make me uneasy, even though knocked backed insurance claims of exceeded GVM seem to be rare.  From what I have read, the companies will pursue the issue if overloading contributed to the incident.  I'd love to get an upgrade on a new vehicle so it complies in all states.  I know I could buy a vehicle that would comply, they're just not what I'm after as I'm downsizing with only two people (occasional 3), a camper and a small garage.  It looks like a GX Prado with the higher payload though its a little bigger than I what I was after.

[jw2170]

Yeah I've got to get a weighbridge ticket for my trailer. Might see if they'll do my rig at the same time

 

[GGV8Cruza]

Weighed mine today and I am touring legally with the trailer on, the GVM upgrade was well worth it for the the 2 hungie

GG

[Metters]

Leave some of the stuff at home. If you must take all the extras, upgrade your vehicle so that you are safe.

Well said Hewy.  If everyone took that advice, a lot of people would be still alive, countless others would not have had a ruined holiday and a badly depleted bank account and the Outback workshops would be out of business.

[MattP]

Weighed mine today and I am touring legally with the trailer on, the GVM upgrade was well worth it for the the 2 hungie

GG

Was the upgrade from new before registration or is it limited to your own state (post rego) for legal reasons?

[GGV8Cruza]

Was the upgrade from new before registration or is it limited to your own state (post rego) for legal reasons?

Upgrade prior, all state legal

GG

[firefox]

My post rego is qld certified, but accepted nationwide.
The only negative is between pre and post is that when I sell it can only apply in qld, unless I get it certified again for the state.

[MattP]

My post rego is qld certified, but accepted nationwide.
The only negative is between pre and post is that when I sell it can only apply in qld, unless I get it certified again for the state.

Really!.  Everything I've read so far has said its only compliant in the state of installation post first rego.  Where was it done, I'd be very interested in getting a similar set up?

[firefox]

I had problems as ARB cannot do certifications. In the end toyota didn't want to do the pre upgrade either. This was with 4 different dealerships. Due to the new Japan free trade agreement.

Anyhow I spent a lot of time talking with Lovells, ARB, Qld Transport and so on.

I can confirm I did a 3800 GVM upgrade POST rego, has a federal compliance plate. But is only registered in QLD the state the vehicle is registered. I went into qld transport and handed over the paperwork. I also received paperwork from qld transport and lovells I can keep in the car with the plate on the vehicle. This states clearly the vehicle gym is now 3800. The paperwork and qld transport material clearly states if I was weighed in another state that the vehicle as long as it is still registered in qld it applies across the country.

Now if I want to sell the car or transfer the rego to another state, my GVM upgrade does not apply. This doesn't mean the car can't be taken to another state, I was also told by lovells that really the process would be to get it rechecked and certified for a different state.

Also confirmed this directly with qld transport and also insurance. The only impact to pre and post rego was if the vehicle is transferred or sold interstate the GVM upgrade is not accepted by the new state unless I have the relevant paperwork for that state, it does not mean just because I am driving through say WA and the car is registered in QLD that the upgrade does not apply. Only if I transfer the rego to another state do I need to change something.

Hope that makes sense.

[MattP]

I had problems as ARB cannot do certifications. In the end toyota didn't want to do the pre upgrade either. This was with 4 different dealerships. Due to the new Japan free trade agreement.

Anyhow I spent a lot of time talking with Lovells, ARB, Qld Transport and so on.

I can confirm I did a 3800 GVM upgrade POST rego, has a federal compliance plate. But is only registered in QLD the state the vehicle is registered. I went into qld transport and handed over the paperwork. I also received paperwork from qld transport and lovells I can keep in the car with the plate on the vehicle. This states clearly the vehicle gym is now 3800. The paperwork and qld transport material clearly states if I was weighed in another state that the vehicle as long as it is still registered in qld it applies across the country.

Now if I want to sell the car or transfer the rego to another state, my GVM upgrade does not apply. This doesn't mean the car can't be taken to another state, I was also told by lovells that really the process would be to get it rechecked and certified for a different state.

Also confirmed this directly with qld transport and also insurance. The only impact to pre and post rego was if the vehicle is transferred or sold interstate the GVM upgrade is not accepted by the new state unless I have the relevant paperwork for that state, it does not mean just because I am driving through say WA and the car is registered in QLD that the upgrade does not apply. Only if I transfer the rego to another state do I need to change something.

Hope that makes sense.

That makes a lot of sense.  Excellent information, much appreciated.

[Andy_Q]

Hi Matt
Can you describe what was modified to achieve gvm upgrade?  Is it just stiffer suspension?



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[MattP]

Hi Matt
Can you describe what was modified to achieve gvm upgrade?  Is it just stiffer suspension?



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That is a question for firefox.  I'm looking at getting it done.

[firefox]

In my vehicle the following.
http://www.lovellsauto.com.au/product12d.php

Tom at offroad4wd arranged it all for me. There are different kits and setups.
And ways to do it, but the above link gives you the basics.

[Brij]

Firefox, my limited understanding of these upgrades is they (ie Lovells) upgrade the GVM to be the sum of the axle ratings. Can't go any higher because the axles would be overloaded.

Have you weighed the car when loaded up to maximum (upgraded) GVM? Were the axle weights within their ratings?

I weighed a dual cab '79 series with upgraded GVM once. It was within it's upgraded GVM but the rear axle was 1/2t over it's rating and the front axle was 1/2t under. The owner could not get his payload far enough in front of the rear axle to make use of the front axle's capacity. The car had a good solid tray and canopy, boat and trailer on rack and about 250kg on the towbar.

I would be worried that other "upgraded" vehicles may be in the same boat. Not being able to distribute the payload appropriately to make use of the extra capacity.

Happy to proven wrong 

Peter H