GCM, GTM, GVM etc. defined

LLD · Guru

GCM, GTM, GVM etc. defined

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Pity it has an error.....The GCM is the rating provided by the manufacturer of the tow vehicle. The maximum laden mass of a motor vehicle plus the maximum laden weight of an attached trailer is not permitted to exceed the GCM rating

It should read.....

The GCM is the rating provided by the manufacturer of the tow vehicle. The ACTUAL laden mass of a motor vehicle plus the ACTUAL laden weight of an attached trailer is not permitted to exceed the GCM rating.

Cheers,

Peter

PeterD · Guru

Neither is correct. The following is a copy from Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule Definitions and Vehicle Categories) 2005

GROSS COMBINATION MASS - value specified for the vehicle by the
Manufacturer as being the maximum of the sum of the Gross Vehicle Mass of
the drawing vehicle plus the sum of the Axle Loads of any vehicle capable of
being drawn as a trailer.

There is also another not very well known limit, viz

RATED TOWING CAPACITY - the lesser of either;
- the rating given to the towing equipment fitted to the motor vehicle or,
- the difference between Gross Combination Mass and Gross Vehicle Mass.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Peter D is correct in the definition, but ...
"The ACTUAL laden mass of a motor vehicle plus the ACTUAL laden weight of an attached trailer is not permitted to exceed the GCM rating"......... is still correct....

But I suggest that this is a little confusing....

RATED TOWING CAPACITY - the lesser of either;
- the rating given to the towing equipment fitted to the motor vehicle or,
- the difference between Gross Combination Mass and Gross Vehicle Mass.

Again it can depend on the actual loaded weight of the motor vehicle.

As an example, our OKA has a GVM of 6.6T and a GCM of 9T. The towbar is rated at 3.5T (but higher ratings are available), so by the above definition, the rated towing capacity is 2.4T.

If the vehicle actually weighs 6.6T (GVM) then I can nominally tow a maximum of 2.4T, but if the vehicle actually weighs 5.8T (for example), then I can tow 3.2T, both without exceeding either GVM, GCM or the towbar rating.

Cheers,
Peter

-- Edited by Peter_n_Margaret on Friday 25th of May 2018 09:25:37 AM

montie · Guru

The measured weight of your van/tug combination cannot legally exceed the lesser of the following.

1) The tug manufacturer's rating as published

2) Tug GVM plus Van GTM. (GVM plus ATM minus ball weight).

The Rated Towing Capacity is set by the tug manufacturer and the measured weight of the loaded van unhitched must not legally exceed that rating.

Captain Ron · Veteran Member

It's a 5ver, but you can get the message.