Landcruiser 200 Series - Lovells 4000KG Towing Upgrade.
AlPal said
05:18 PM Feb 4, 2018
Last recent trip our caravan (Traveller) was somewhat over the three and a half ton legal limit, full water tanks, gas, batteries and solar panels - then food, clothes, etc. I just thought about receiving a hefty fine and having to empty everything out. Never again, problems with insurance and State registration authorities, etc. It was decision time, sell our current van which is great and buy a lighter van at significant cost for change over or look at an alternative. We took the alternative. G & S Chassis did the caravan suspension upgrade to 4 ton which was quick and easy to get done. Then at the Melbourne 4 X 4 Show I got a great special price off Lovells Springs. The result is my 2016 Landcruiser had a GVM Upgrade from 3300kg to 3800kg. (I also removed the rear fold out 6 & 7 seats which are quite heavy). The Rig also has Lovells 4T Heavy Duty Head/Drop Shank/Tow Pillar with 1200lb WDH system and a Lovells 4T Heavy Duty All Terrain Hitch. It was all fitted by Aaron at Uneek 4 X 4, Geelong, mainly because they were close by and recommended by Lovells. This Lovells Kit includes two drop shanks - one large and the other smaller. Lovells are now doing all their own Heavy Duty Drop Shanks/Tow pillar and WDH in Sydney. At least we still have something Australian made and what appears to be great quality. Lovells use the Hitch Ezi 5 tonne rated coupling to complete the whole kit. The Hitch Ezi has a locking mechanism and nipples for greasing. The upgrade installer obtains the Engineers (2) Certificates and fixes the two plates before lodging of the provided paper work with the registration Authority. (VicRoads) I have given it a very testing tryout and the bottom line at this stage is I couldn't be happier. As the van is 23.6" with full 6" chassis rails, etc, it is holding the road extremely well. The GVM Upgrade has made the Landcruiser noticeably more rigid. Wind and apposing trucks appear to have no or little effect on the rig. The only down side is, you need to stretch a bit further to get in and out of the Cruiser. I guess in the near future when we travel from Victoria to Western Australia, we'll find out how good it is. The bottom line is we now have about 300 KG'S to spare and will maintain that as a safety net. Regards, AlPal.
My only concern, I have no qualifications but would question the lenght of the hitch from the rear of the car. That is a lot of overhang, I sure if that was shorter it woukd be that much better again.
Enjoy what you have done, it great to know you are travelling with good figures. Ralph.
Pamela G said
06:09 PM Feb 4, 2018
Just wondering if you had both upgrades done, we had the car upgrade to the 3.8 however it does not change the gross combined weight of 6800. It does allow you to move more of the caravan stuff to the car. you need the second upgrade done to tow 4 ton and increase the GCM to 7800. We are having to second upgrade to tow the van and stay legal. It costs around $9000 for both upgrades.
Dickodownunder said
07:08 PM Feb 4, 2018
Pamela G
Was your upgrade done by Lovells ?
Dickodownunder said
07:11 PM Feb 4, 2018
I was in at Lovells the other day and that new heavy hitch is really well made...quite impressive.
Pamela G said
07:34 PM Feb 4, 2018
yes it is a lovells done by TJM
Pamela G said
07:41 PM Feb 4, 2018
Talked to lovells last week. If the upgrade is done before the vehicle is registered it has federal compliance so can be transfered between states. If done after registration it applies to the state registration and needs new certification if it is sold interstate. All states except queensland upgrade the plate to show GCM. Queensland at this stage use two plates one for the vehicle showing GVM of 3.8 and one for towing at 4 ton, so they need to be added together to get 7.8 its a bit messy, they are trying to get it the same as other states
Peter_n_Margaret said
07:46 PM Feb 4, 2018
Some day, this will be a classic case of the tail wagging the dog.
I just hope no one is seriously hurt when that happens.
Cheers,
Peter
Pamela G said
07:47 PM Feb 4, 2018
Talked to lovells last week. If the upgrade is done before the vehicle is registered it has federal compliance so can be transfered between states. If done after registration it applies to the state registration and needs new certification if it is sold interstate. All states except queensland upgrade the plate to show GCM. Queensland at this stage use two plates one for the vehicle showing GVM of 3.8 and one for towing at 4 ton, so they need to be added together to get 7.8 its a bit messy, they are trying to get it the same as other states
Dickodownunder said
09:55 AM Feb 5, 2018
Thanks Pamela, that answered my query as I have had mine upgraded and the GCM is clearly stated and upgraded to 7300 kg.
Mine was done in SA.
It is interesting that TJM did your vehicle as I asked TJM and they would fit the suspension components but could not provide the upgrade. I had Autoequipe in Adelaide do my upgrade.
I dont have a problem with the federal v state thing as I will sell my vehicle in SA if the need be, but at this stage I have no intention on selling it.
BruDi said
09:58 AM Feb 5, 2018
We had the Lovell's GVM upgrade prior to delivery and knew that the GCM upgrade was on the cards a couple of months after we bought. We are definitely considering the the GCM upgrade for the same reasons.
Di
Dickodownunder said
10:10 AM Feb 5, 2018
Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
Some day, this will be a classic case of the tail wagging the dog. I just hope no one is seriously hurt when that happens.
Cheers, Peter
I agree in part with you Peter.
The 4000kg towing upgrade will possibly recreate a similar situation as with the standard vehicle only everything is heavier.
I have done a bit of research on these upgrades and from what I can determine an owner will apply for a towing upgrade if the van he is towing is over the 3500kg and this usually occurs with carrying extra water etc. The caravan has to be upgraded as well. In some circumstances it can be quite an expensive upgrade for an extra 100 litres of water (this is only an example and it was how it was explained to me)
The GVM upgrade with the increase in GCM will actually produce a safer situation with the 200 series Toyota provided the van wont exceed 3500kg
Achieving a heavier weight in the towing vehicle would only go to make a safer towing combination and actually would be the opposite to your "tail wagging the dog" situation.
All things being equal I think that there would be a much more chance of someone getting hurt when the caravan exceeds the weight of the tow vehicle which is the present case when people are using any of the Aussie utes or the smaller varieties of SUV wagons.
In the case of the 200 series Toyota if the van was 3500 kg atm and with the upgrade the tow vehicle would be 3800 kg then the tug would be 300 kg heavier than the trailer.
In the case of one of the later model Aussie utes with an upgrade to 7000 kg GCM you could then at least have the tow vehicle weighing the same as the caravan which would still be safer than the situation without the upgrade. As we all know the GVM of the non upgraded ute has to be a few hundred kgs lighter than the caravan to comply with current laws.
The travelling caravan nomad does carry a lot of gear and to have this weight legally in the tug rather than unsafely loaded in the caravan goes a long way toward achieving a safer towing combination.
The towing weight upgrade may then create a situation where the van is heavier than the tug which is not ideal and would need to be addressed accurately when loading the rig. In many cases an upgrade of any kind would be a lot safer than the thousands of vanners who are out there in an overloaded condition, blindly travelling and believing that they are legal or worse srill, not having a clue.
-- Edited by Dickodownunder on Monday 5th of February 2018 10:15:42 AM
-- Edited by Dickodownunder on Monday 5th of February 2018 10:34:23 AM
AlPal said
02:53 PM Feb 5, 2018
Because I bought (quote) my upgrade at the 4 X 4 show in Melbourne I was able to get a show price of $8,000.00. The Lovell's ugrade was for both GVM and GCM (7800) and installed by an accredited and approved installer. Lovell's have a list of approved installers. (TJM, Uneek 4 X4, etc). If you buy a new Landcruiser get the GVM installed (3300 to 3800) prior to registration, then you do not have to get an Engineers Certificate ($500 plus). If you get both upgrades (GVM & GCM) done at the same time, the Engineer is supposed to charge one fee instead of doubling up. Engineer Certification should only cost between $500 to $550. No doubt some may want to charge more.
Re the overhang issue raised: I have a Haymen Reece (Hockey Stick style bars) 600 lb WDH and from the back of the vehicle to centre of tow ball measures 240mm whereas the Lovell's measures 260mm. That is 20mm or 3/4 " longer than the Haymen Reece, but really there is little difference.
What I didn't mention in my first post was that I have fitted a set of drawers in the rear with a fridge slide and if I wish I can carry a good weight in the vehicle. By taking out the rear two seats you are changing the registration seating capacity from 7 to 5. I simply stated that after caravaning I would take the drawers out and replace the seats When I did my own drive test with everything connected and level; it is my opinion that this is best system I have had. When I swerved the van, the only thing that happened was that the ESC on the caravan came on and it also worked 100%. I am not qualified or an expert on these matters, nor do I recommend anyone buy the Lovells Upgrades. But having driven Army heavy haulage vehicles, semi- trailers and heavy vehicles , a bus and had 3 caravans over 53 years without an accident, I feel comfortable in what I have done.
Lovells now also do upgrades for the Prado 150 Series. It changes the GVM from 2990 up to 3500. It changes the BTC from 2500 to 3100 and changes the GCM to 6550.
If anyone has any queries or wants advice, I suggest you email Lovells Sales Manager on - dragav@lovells.com.au
Regards and hope this helps, AlPal
aussie_paul said
06:40 PM Feb 5, 2018
AlPal wrote:
If anyone has any queries or wants advice, I suggest you email Lovells Sales Manager on - dragav@lovells.com.au
Regards and hope this helps, AlPal
I tried that email and it bounced back, any thoughts why AIPal?
Aussie Paul.
Pamela G said
07:27 PM Feb 5, 2018
try draganv@lovells.com.au phone 0408356737. very nice fellow with lots of information
aussie_paul said
08:46 PM Feb 5, 2018
Pamela G wrote:
try draganv@lovells.com.au phone 0408356737. very nice fellow with lots of information
Thanks, will do.
Aussie Paul.
AlPal said
11:18 AM Feb 6, 2018
G'Day Aussie Paul. Sorry my fault. Trevor and Pamela have got it right. draganv@lovells.com.au. AlPal.
BruDi said
11:37 AM Feb 6, 2018
I'd second getting in touch with Lovells. We rang them to talk about the upgrade we wanted done and they were most helpful. Their website is pretty good too.
Last recent trip our caravan (Traveller) was somewhat over the three and a half ton legal limit, full water tanks, gas, batteries and solar panels - then food, clothes, etc. I just thought about receiving a hefty fine and having to empty everything out. Never again, problems with insurance and State registration authorities, etc. It was decision time, sell our current van which is great and buy a lighter van at significant cost for change over or look at an alternative. We took the alternative. G & S Chassis did the caravan suspension upgrade to 4 ton which was quick and easy to get done. Then at the Melbourne 4 X 4 Show I got a great special price off Lovells Springs. The result is my 2016 Landcruiser had a GVM Upgrade from 3300kg to 3800kg. (I also removed the rear fold out 6 & 7 seats which are quite heavy). The Rig also has Lovells 4T Heavy Duty Head/Drop Shank/Tow Pillar with 1200lb WDH system and a Lovells 4T Heavy Duty All Terrain Hitch. It was all fitted by Aaron at Uneek 4 X 4, Geelong, mainly because they were close by and recommended by Lovells. This Lovells Kit includes two drop shanks - one large and the other smaller. Lovells are now doing all their own Heavy Duty Drop Shanks/Tow pillar and WDH in Sydney. At least we still have something Australian made and what appears to be great quality. Lovells use the Hitch Ezi 5 tonne rated coupling to complete the whole kit. The Hitch Ezi has a locking mechanism and nipples for greasing. The upgrade installer obtains the Engineers (2) Certificates and fixes the two plates before lodging of the provided paper work with the registration Authority. (VicRoads) I have given it a very testing tryout and the bottom line at this stage is I couldn't be happier. As the van is 23.6" with full 6" chassis rails, etc, it is holding the road extremely well. The GVM Upgrade has made the Landcruiser noticeably more rigid. Wind and apposing trucks appear to have no or little effect on the rig. The only down side is, you need to stretch a bit further to get in and out of the Cruiser. I guess in the near future when we travel from Victoria to Western Australia, we'll find out how good it is. The bottom line is we now have about 300 KG'S to spare and will maintain that as a safety net. Regards, AlPal.
Would it be rude to ask how much?
Aussie Paul.
Hi Alpa
Nice job, sounds great.
My only concern, I have no qualifications but would question the lenght of the hitch from the rear of the car. That is a lot of overhang, I sure if that was shorter it woukd be that much better again.
Enjoy what you have done, it great to know you are travelling with good figures. Ralph.
Was your upgrade done by Lovells ?
I just hope no one is seriously hurt when that happens.
Cheers,
Peter
Mine was done in SA.
It is interesting that TJM did your vehicle as I asked TJM and they would fit the suspension components but could not provide the upgrade. I had Autoequipe in Adelaide do my upgrade.
I dont have a problem with the federal v state thing as I will sell my vehicle in SA if the need be, but at this stage I have no intention on selling it.
We had the Lovell's GVM upgrade prior to delivery and knew that the GCM upgrade was on the cards a couple of months after we bought. We are definitely considering the the GCM upgrade for the same reasons.
Di
I agree in part with you Peter.
The 4000kg towing upgrade will possibly recreate a similar situation as with the standard vehicle only everything is heavier.
I have done a bit of research on these upgrades and from what I can determine an owner will apply for a towing upgrade if the van he is towing is over the 3500kg and this usually occurs with carrying extra water etc. The caravan has to be upgraded as well. In some circumstances it can be quite an expensive upgrade for an extra 100 litres of water (this is only an example and it was how it was explained to me)
The GVM upgrade with the increase in GCM will actually produce a safer situation with the 200 series Toyota provided the van wont exceed 3500kg
Achieving a heavier weight in the towing vehicle would only go to make a safer towing combination and actually would be the opposite to your "tail wagging the dog" situation.
All things being equal I think that there would be a much more chance of someone getting hurt when the caravan exceeds the weight of the tow vehicle which is the present case when people are using any of the Aussie utes or the smaller varieties of SUV wagons.
In the case of the 200 series Toyota if the van was 3500 kg atm and with the upgrade the tow vehicle would be 3800 kg then the tug would be 300 kg heavier than the trailer.
In the case of one of the later model Aussie utes with an upgrade to 7000 kg GCM you could then at least have the tow vehicle weighing the same as the caravan which would still be safer than the situation without the upgrade. As we all know the GVM of the non upgraded ute has to be a few hundred kgs lighter than the caravan to comply with current laws.
The travelling caravan nomad does carry a lot of gear and to have this weight legally in the tug rather than unsafely loaded in the caravan goes a long way toward achieving a safer towing combination.
The towing weight upgrade may then create a situation where the van is heavier than the tug which is not ideal and would need to be addressed accurately when loading the rig. In many cases an upgrade of any kind would be a lot safer than the thousands of vanners who are out there in an overloaded condition, blindly travelling and believing that they are legal or worse srill, not having a clue.
-- Edited by Dickodownunder on Monday 5th of February 2018 10:15:42 AM
-- Edited by Dickodownunder on Monday 5th of February 2018 10:34:23 AM
Because I bought (quote) my upgrade at the 4 X 4 show in Melbourne I was able to get a show price of $8,000.00. The Lovell's ugrade was for both GVM and GCM (7800) and installed by an accredited and approved installer. Lovell's have a list of approved installers. (TJM, Uneek 4 X4, etc). If you buy a new Landcruiser get the GVM installed (3300 to 3800) prior to registration, then you do not have to get an Engineers Certificate ($500 plus). If you get both upgrades (GVM & GCM) done at the same time, the Engineer is supposed to charge one fee instead of doubling up. Engineer Certification should only cost between $500 to $550. No doubt some may want to charge more.
Re the overhang issue raised: I have a Haymen Reece (Hockey Stick style bars) 600 lb WDH and from the back of the vehicle to centre of tow ball measures 240mm whereas the Lovell's measures 260mm. That is 20mm or 3/4 " longer than the Haymen Reece, but really there is little difference.
What I didn't mention in my first post was that I have fitted a set of drawers in the rear with a fridge slide and if I wish I can carry a good weight in the vehicle. By taking out the rear two seats you are changing the registration seating capacity from 7 to 5. I simply stated that after caravaning I would take the drawers out and replace the seats When I did my own drive test with everything connected and level; it is my opinion that this is best system I have had. When I swerved the van, the only thing that happened was that the ESC on the caravan came on and it also worked 100%. I am not qualified or an expert on these matters, nor do I recommend anyone buy the Lovells Upgrades. But having driven Army heavy haulage vehicles, semi- trailers and heavy vehicles , a bus and had 3 caravans over 53 years without an accident, I feel comfortable in what I have done.
Lovells now also do upgrades for the Prado 150 Series. It changes the GVM from 2990 up to 3500. It changes the BTC from 2500 to 3100 and changes the GCM to 6550.
If anyone has any queries or wants advice, I suggest you email Lovells Sales Manager on - dragav@lovells.com.au
Regards and hope this helps, AlPal
I tried that email and it bounced back, any thoughts why AIPal?
Aussie Paul.
Thanks, will do.
Aussie Paul.
G'Day Aussie Paul. Sorry my fault. Trevor and Pamela have got it right. draganv@lovells.com.au. AlPal.
I'd second getting in touch with Lovells. We rang them to talk about the upgrade we wanted done and they were most helpful. Their website is pretty good too.
http://www.lovellsauto.com.au/new.php
Di