Thread: How much does my D4 weigh

Originally Posted by Bytemrk

Seems they didn't talk to you or me before settling on a figure hey

or even a settling figure,,

High continuing on with my saga.

I am trying to calculate if I am GVM compliant when the van is connected. The wording in the handbook is very unclear to me.

Best to illustrate with an example.

GVM is 3240kg as quoted in the handbook
Car weighs 2700kg with no van attached (so OK)
The nose weight of the van is 350kg

Am I GVM compliant?

Continuing with the example

The LR hand book for D4 wording on GVM/GVW on p78 states I can have a nose weight of 350kg if I reduce my GVM accordingly

New GVM (for when connected to the van is ) 3040kg

Do I calculate my new weight as

as 2700 + 200 = 2900kg - which is GVM compliant or
as 2700 + 350 - 3050kg - which is not GVM compliant


No matter what the car would still weigh 3050kg when connected to the van

I know this may seem straight forward but I have had both options put to me.


Richard

Neither is correct. You are double counting the caravan weight as far as I can see. You either reduce the GVM by the caravan nose weight and then what is left is for other things as the caravan is taken into account, or you leave the GVM the same and add the ball weight to the vehicle weight. You don't do both.

Originally Posted by BobD

Neither is correct. You are double counting the caravan weight as far as I can see. You either reduce the GVM by the caravan nose weight and then what is left is for other things as the caravan is taken into account, or you leave the GVM the same and add the ball weight to the vehicle weight. You don't do both.

Bob
It is how you read the handbook I guess.

I understand what you say and hope you are right.
i don't see it as double dipping when I read it one way but I do when I read it as you have dOne.

The handbook specifically states the gvm is to be reduced.
But when you weigh the car it is going to weigh the same no matter which way you look at it.

If you get pulled over I am sure they want understand it either and will just refer to the placard in the car. This sort of supports what you say.

I guess the reduced gvm is to reduce the axle weight and may be the consideration here.

So to be legal and safe the following needs to be true I guess
1.Weight of car hitched or not hitched has to be <= 3240 (the gvm) regardless of the Noseweight - more a legal issue than safety within reason
2 The weight on the axles can not be exceed the maximum stated in the handbook - this is a safety as well as legal issue

Richard

Richard, there is no doubt about it. You don't allow for the nose weight twice. The manual is supposed to make it easier, not harder. You are thinking too much!!

Originally Posted by BobD

Richard, there is no doubt about it. You don't allow for the nose weight twice. The manual is supposed to make it easier, not harder. You are thinking too much!!

Bob
I reckon you are right.
The handbook goes out of its way to make it confusing about reducing GVMs with nose weight greater than 150kg. This is the bit I can't get my head around.

I will just take a simplistic view then.

The GVM is 3240 and can't be exceeded. This does not change even for nose weights greater than 150kg.
I can have a nose weight up to 350kg
I must not exceed the the maximum axle weights stated in the handbook

I had been trying to make sense of the handbook reference to reducing GVM if nose weight exceeds 150kg. Still can't but the above will do for now.

Thanks for your input
Richard

I think what the manual is getting at is the GVM rating doesn't change, you reduce your max cargo by 200 kg if you have a tow ball weight of 350 kg.
The D4 has a max combined weight of GVM (3240 kg) + 3500kg, which goes on tow ball weight of 150 kg. With a tow ball weight of 350 kg, you have GVM (3240 kg) - 200kg + 3500 kg as max combined weight.

Well put Justin.


This is where the D4 has an advantage over other cars as most reduce the payload by 350 kg for a ball weight of 350 kg. The D4 reduces it by 200 kg for a ball weight of 350 kg.