Thread: Vehicle Weights

You should ask RMP about that, he wrote a great article about it for overlander.

Thanks for the plug Phoenix, I wondered if anyone reads my articles, now I know! There will be some Landie stuff coming up :-)

I did many hours of research into that article and I won't repeat it all here (it was the Feb 05 issue, Mar 05 is out now, subs have back copies). But I have good news for Defender drivers.

Your payload is in excess of 1000kg. That is a LOT by wagon standards.

The average kit on a touring 4WD weighs 250-300kg, which is Noddy's list above plus a lot more little stuff.

When you take on board 100l of water, 140l of fuel, personal bags, second spare etc etc, well for my family of 3 over the Simpson we topped out at 950kg above tare. Which is within the Defender's payload.

Now if you own a Patrol ST wagon for example, you have a payload problem. It's a miserable 630kg. So with accessories the Patrol has used half its payload already, before the driver even steps in. Good, eh? The LC100 is around 800kg, better but not enough.

I'd seriously put money on the fact that every vehicle on an extended desert trip that is not a Defender or ute is overloaded, ie carrying more than its designated payload.

That's based on my research which included running up a fair bill at my local weighbridge on my car and others.

Now you can argue that your Patrol with uprated suspension etc can carry the load and everyone does it anyway. I'm not going to waste time with that argument, but there's a little sticker on your car maked "GVM" and if you exceed that figure your insurance company can kiss you goodbye. Do you feel like explaning that one in court if you smashed into someone? Or rolled? Good luck.

Very few people have considered this which is exactly why I wrote the Overlander article.

This was one of the reasons I bought a Defender. As I keep saying, there is nothing else that will legally carry the load I want, economically and over rough terrain. Why LR don't use this as a marketing point I don't know, but how many people would reconsider the Defender in that light?

By the way a Commdore wagon can carry less than 500kg. So, family of 5 plus gear and you're pretty close to the limit!

Originally posted by rmp
Thanks for the plug Phoenix, I wondered if anyone reads my articles, now I know! There will be some Landie stuff coming up :-)

I certainly do read them, and they are also very good, i'll look forward to seeing your next articles, especially if they have landys in them 8)

rmp/Phoenix -- thanks.

I have not read the article, but will try and hunt down a copy, sounds like good reading and very topical in my current situation.

It is one of those issues were awareness needs to be raised and rmp and Overlander should be commended for bringing it to people's attention.

Might be worth dropping a note to the other mags.

Thanks again.

Originally posted by Noddy
Might be worth dropping a note to the other mags.

Actually i wouldn't mind running that article in the first edition of Valhalla Sector, would make for a great read. RMP can you PM me if interested and willing [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]

Hey Noddy i don't know mine as yet but i do know a friend of mines Nissan GU 4.2TD trayback camper 3.8t a tad over the legal GVM 8O

Originally posted by Redback
Hey Noddy i don't know mine as yet but i do know a friend of mines Nissan GU 4.2TD trayback camper 3.8t a tad over the legal GVM 8O

I found that utes generally weigh a fair bit less than wagons AND have a slightly higher GVM, so much greater payload.

Originally posted by Redback
Hey Noddy i don't know mine as yet but i do know a friend of mines Nissan GU 4.2TD trayback camper 3.8t a tad over the legal GVM 8O

just go to the local tip(rockdale) with some cardboard in the back for recycling. costs you nothing and if you weigh out you also get your weight in writing on the docket.

mine comes in at 2.4t with me in it and a full tank.