Hi ruth,

from my understanding the Gross Combination Mass(GCM) is set by the vehicle maker.

I would consider that as long as you do not exceed that rating you will be legal in all states and territories of Australia.

Frank

This Gross Combination Mass can certainly be a worrying situation depending on the type of vehicle you buy to tow your van with, and unfortunately the rated towing in Kg does not nessecarely mean that the vehicle is actually allowed to tow that weight when you look at the GCM.

For instance in my situation my tug is a MU-X that rated to tow 3000 Kg with an allowable ball weight of 300 Kg.
In this case the Gross Vehicle Mass is allowed to be 2.750 Kg and the Gross Combination Mass 5.750 Kg
Justifying the ability of the vehicle towing 3000 Kg.

Looking at their Dmax crew cab ute, it has a rated towing of 3500 Kg or 500 Kg more than the MU-X however it has a Gross Vehicle Mass of 2950 Kg and a Gross Combination Mass of 5950 Kg which means that with this vehicle at the maximum GVM it can only tow 3000 Kg not the rated 3500 Kg.

That situation where the loading of the tow vehicle with equipment starts to come close to or even exceed the maximum GVM it can play havoc with the ability of it to then tow the chosen van safely and legally.

greyhoundtom wrote:

---

The other interesting problem for those towing a van including me, is that AFAIK in every state a vehicle where the Gross Combenation Mass exceeds 4.5 ton or 4500 Kg is considered a heavy vehicle, and where requested by signage is required to pull into a weighbridge controlled by a Roads Authority.

---

I think you will find that GVM is the decider regarding light, medium and heavy vehicles, not GCM.

The weigh stations only require those with a GVM of over 4.5T to be weighed (irrespective of what they actually weigh at the time) and many specify only those over GVM 8T GVM. 

Light vehicles (under GVM 4.5T) are not obliged to be weighed, even if their GCM and actual weight is over 4.5T.

If you do voluntarily go in and get weighed though and are found to be over weight, you will not be permitted to proceed until you are legal.

 

Cheers,

Peter

I'm in big trouble here

We are off to QLD in the next fortnight for a five week trip and....

 

.....and the problem is....

Weighed the van at the weigh bridge on its own --- 2280KG laden with water, gas, food and clothing + only essentials for the trip

Combined weigh - Mav and Van = 5001Kg (Laden - Mav 2721Kg = 29Kg below NSW Rego GVM - without us occupants)

Tow Ball weight 165Kg

There is no GCM in the handbook of the Mav only towing capacity braked at 2500Kg

We bought this van July 2014 and only added food and clothing + BBQ webber + table + sullage hose + water hose + tools and spares (10Kg) +ground cover

I am now thinking this van was over weight when we purchased it.

The compliance plate may have been correct in 2004 so between then and now I have no idea why the increase as what we have added of our own would only total 120Kg +/- a kilo

Only thing that seems OK is the Axle/Axle Load Capacity ??

 

 

 

 

-- Edited by Vince on Thursday 18th of February 2016 12:00:03 PM

Hi Vince

The trouble is the b*st*rds in this business have been corrupt for many years and have regularly cheated on weights and figures. They thought no-one cared if things were "a bit over" which was largely true and with some people still is a fact. That is why the state transport authorities are actually weighing vans and MHs now. Taken them a long time to get around to it.

Perhaps the current trend for GNs to travel at the maximum limits has made the situation worse too.

Sorry that you have got caught out. Looks like a visit to an engineer for a revision of the plate weights.

I think I would take a trip to a weighbridge first up when I buy something now.

Jaahn

-- Edited by Jaahn on Thursday 18th of February 2016 04:03:13 PM

-- Edited by Jaahn on Thursday 18th of February 2016 04:03:48 PM

Vince,

Not doubting you at all, but what I suggest is this.

Empty the van totally, including water tanks and HWS if fitted, but don't worry about the gas. List the various options fitted like Aircon, Awning etc, then go and get van weighed at a certified weighbridge. When you get it home, refill the van, but weigh each and every thing you put in the van. Load it as if you were going away, and keep a sheet with all the items and their weight on. Then you will need to add the weight of water (1 kg per litre, so 2 tanks if you have them could add 160kg or thereabouts), the HWS (possible 23 kg if a storage unit), gas if full would be 9 kg per bottle, and then see what the total weight is.

Certainly the weighbridge figure will give you a good idea how much the Tare is understated, if at all, and it may surprise you, especially if aircon, awning and other options were added by the dealer instead of the factory.

When you have all the information, then approach the builder and see if the ATM can be increased to better reflect what you will weigh when travelling.

Good luck.

PS we weighed everything when we first filled our van to get an accurate figure, then added water etc to get a good guide. Then we did get an ATM upgrade from JAyco to 600 kg load which gave us plenty of wriggle room, as with 2 full tanks we cart about 460 kg of "necessary" (at least Kathy tells me it is) stuff!

Vince,
As Peter said you have a good opportunity to upgrade the ATM to the axle group rating. You will probably require the services of an engineer as Regal is now under different ownership. I would need to know the exact model to get the correct GCM rating because this could become an issue when you upgrade.

At the end of the day the only weight that matters is the fully laden measured weight ready to travel which must not exceed the ATM rating or the tow capacity of the tug. In your case you will be restricted to 2500kg which you say is the Maverick tow capacity.

Montie  (keep forgetting my new handle)

-- Edited by montie on Friday 19th of February 2016 08:09:33 AM