Thread: GVM Upgrade

Originally Posted by josh.huber

I went over the bridge at work and was 2940kg just me.. Unknown fuel. I'll happily pull the stock shocks out and put Bilstein units in and add braided lines for more weight rating. The brakes are already biggest in class. If we all get excited we will get more weight.

I accidentally bought a camper trailer so I won't be single car as much anymore.

The issue is the bullbar and winch is still up the side of the house and the kids and all their crap was at home. So I'll be over..

Do you need the third row seats for your children? If not, removing them frees up about 45Kg and gives you storage space for small heavy items like winching gear, compressor etc.

Originally Posted by DieselLSE

Do you need the third row seats for your children? If not, removing them frees up about 45Kg and gives you storage space for small heavy items like winching gear, compressor etc.

Yeah they are coming out, but only to put a rear drawer setup, which will also add some weight. Not allot, but some.

I was suprised, it's not got allot of items on it.
Dual Battery with a hvt50, Rock sliders, apt front guard, tuffant steel wheels, cargo barrier, water tank (35l. Bladder, was empty), empty roof rack.

How do people get away with front and rear bars, aux tanks and 2 spares?

Brakes dont usually come into GVM upgrades,its springs,shocks,and axle strengthening for the heavier upgrades.

How the air struts can be upgraded,i dont know.Or even shocks as they are internal.
I presume an upgraded complete assembly would be needed,but i doubt they are available,although for the armoured vehicles there maybe upgraded parts.
I seem to remember Tombie looking into this a while ago.

Originally Posted by Briar

I wasn't thinking of upgrading any components. It's just that yesterday I came across some Youtube clips of people that upgraded their GVM to an "Axle-Sum" upgrade. There are also a few websites that discuss this. Whilst I'm aware that it has limited application for a D4 as you would only get 65kg upgraded GVM, because OEM GVM is only marginally below the axle sum.

With other vehicles such as Patrols and LC they have 200-300kg upgrade possible with an Axle Sum upgrade as in their cases the OEM GVM is well below the axle sum. I was just wondering if anyone had heard about it or done this on a D4? Because their is no actual vehicle modification taking place I was curious as to what might be required. Clearly if it's simply a brake test and getting a certifier to do a Mod Plate it might cost a few hundred dollars. Perhaps hardly worth it for only 65kg, but just wondering. I will enquire at at VSCCS Certifier out of interest. Just thought someone on here may have already done so.

Keep in mind...

The Land Crusher etc you need to take the entire tow hitch weight off the rear axle / GVM
The Disco has a limited amount of removal off GVM once it goes over 250kg (IIRC).

Easier to do some combo of the below (or others):
Removing unused 3rd row seats etc is an easier way to get capacity back.
Lighter winch (can be 10-15kg saved in this alone)
Lithium Aux batteries

Originally Posted by josh.huber

I went over the bridge at work and was 2940kg just me.. Unknown fuel. I'll happily pull the stock shocks out and put Bilstein units in and add braided lines for more weight rating. The brakes are already biggest in class. If we all get excited we will get more weight.

I accidentally bought a camper trailer so I won't be single car as much anymore.

The issue is the bullbar and winch is still up the side of the house and the kids and all their crap was at home. So I'll be over..

I went through this - and posted it years ago.

its literally as simple as getting a certified engineer to sign off on the fitment of the ballistic pack suspension.
I dont need it at the moment, so havent gone through with it.

Originally Posted by josh.huber

Yeah they are coming out, but only to put a rear drawer setup, which will also add some weight. Not allot, but some.

I was suprised, it's not got allot of items on it.
Dual Battery with a hvt50, Rock sliders, apt front guard, tuffant steel wheels, cargo barrier, water tank (35l. Bladder, was empty), empty roof rack.

How do people get away with front and rear bars, aux tanks and 2 spares?

My D4 has:

Full underbody armour
Aux tank
RWC (Single)
Bullbar and Winch
Roof rack
3 batteries

With me in it, full main tank, empty aux - it comes in at 3.08t

I have a D5 5 seater SE. The GVM is 3050 kg, rear axle limit is 1775 kg. If it was a 7 seater, the GVM would be 3170 kg and the rear axle limit 1900 kg. Same axle and suspension, jut given a 120 kg higher limit.

Here in Victoria, my 5 seater can't be uprated to the 7 seater limits. Why????????? It can be done in Queensland, but not here.

Cheers
Numb Thumbs

Originally Posted by Tombie

Keep in mind...

The Land Crusher etc you need to take the entire tow hitch weight off the rear axle / GVM
The Disco has a limited amount of removal off GVM once it goes over 250kg (IIRC).

Easier to do some combo of the below (or others):
Removing unused 3rd row seats etc is an easier way to get capacity back.
Lighter winch (can be 10-15kg saved in this alone)
Lithium Aux batteries

Tombie feel free to correct me but I seem to remember that the handbook mentions that in European markets an extra 100kg can be added to the GVM (3240kg increased to 3340kg) but only if speed is limited to 100km/hr.
Whilst not helpful for us in Australia in legal terms, it suggests (to me at least) that the D4 is capable of handling the extra weight without suspension modifications- with the speed limitations as above.
Agree with all your suggestions to save weight. For your interest- I'm facing the same issue with my new D300 SE Defender which once kitted with bullbar, winch, roof rack, 2nd spare wheel, cargo barrier, sidesteps, luggage box etc + me and full tank + camper is right on GVM! That's without a drawer system or 2nd battery..........