Thread: Series 1 weight - how much and how to reduce temporarily

Found this interesting information on a Motorhome site.
It explains the subject very well and shows how towing capacity decreases as the vehicle payload increases.

So if I interpret this correctly, a 2000kg Tare Weight (without occupants or baggage and usually only 10 litres of fuel) with a towing capacity of 2500kg, with three burly blokes in it (300kg), a 70 litre tank full of fuel (add 50kg), and 50kgs of tools and spares, would have it's towing capacity reduced by approximately 400kg.

I already had to make a correction and change Kerb Weight to Tare Weight.
Apparently Kerb weight is still an empty/unladen vehicle, but with a full tank of fuel and all accessories like bull bar, towbar, roof rack, second spare wheel, etc.
So all of these obviously reduce the payload and towing capacity of the vehicle as well.

Please correct me if I am wrong.

Vehicle weights explained | tare, kerb, GVM, payload and trailer figures - Car Advice | CarsGuide

Cheers, Mick.

Yep, take my Hilux for example -

Tare weight is listed as 1,955kg and GVM is 3,000kg leaving 1,045 'load' capacity. Stick in the family of 4, all sorts of other crud, camping gear, fridge and the dog, say you're now at 2,800kg all nice and legal. The GCM is listed as 5,850kg. This leaves 2 calculations most owners never consider.

1st is that the total left to tow is now only 3,050kg best case (the advertising blurb says 3,500kg towing for the latest hilux, but if you read the specs clearly that's only for the 4x4 manual - the auto is 3,200kg) so the 3,500kg monster van can't leagally be towed now.

2nd is that the vehicle is now only 200kg from being overweight so the ball weight can't exceed this. Given that most van manufacturers try for around 10% ball weight, even a 3,000kg van is likely to put the GVM over now so again, no go.

In reality with a family and loaded vehicle, in this example around a 2,000kg van would be about as much as could be expected both legally and practically as well.

The Hilux with the trailer and series 1 on it came in at 4,800kg GCM IIRC when we ran it over the weigh bridge - both the GVM and GCM were under spec, so we were all legal, but you can see how easy it is for someone to think they are when they aren't

So, for the Perentie, It is just shy of 4t loaded with fuel. For the sake of the argument, let's call it 4t with me in it.
The GVM is 5.6t.
The GCM is 7.2t

Being 4t, does that mean I can tow up to 3.2t?
Or, because I have the potential to load it up to 5.6t (even though it isn't), I can only tow 1.6t?

Originally Posted by Mick_Marsh

So, for the Perentie, It is just shy of 4t loaded with fuel. For the sake of the argument, let's call it 4t with me in it.
The GVM is 5.6t.
The GCM is 7.2t

Being 4t, does that mean I can tow up to 3.2t?
Or, because I have the potential to load it up to 5.6t (even though it isn't), I can only tow 1.6t?

thought you would be across this....

I haven't read the link.....i'm guessing it mightn't be correct..

the manufacturer set your max. towing, if your under GVM and GCM and manufacturer says you can tow 3.2 than all good.....

same with the second point providing the manufacturer says you can 1.6T.........I assume you have included towball weight in the 5.6T

Originally Posted by weeds

I haven't read the link.....i'm guessing it mightn't be correct.

That is why I ask.

Originally Posted by Mick_Marsh

So, for the Perentie, It is just shy of 4t loaded with fuel. For the sake of the argument, let's call it 4t with me in it.
The GVM is 5.6t.
The GCM is 7.2t

Being 4t, does that mean I can tow up to 3.2t?
Or, because I have the potential to load it up to 5.6t (even though it isn't), I can only tow 1.6t?

Nope. You can only tow up to what the manufacturer specifies as long as doing so and with other loads in the vehicle you don't exceed the GVM or GCM.

Originally Posted by Homestar

Nope. You can only tow up to what the manufacturer specifies as long as doing so and with other loads in the vehicle you don't exceed the GVM or GCM.

And if the manufacturer has not specified a towing capacity........

Probably zero if Vicroads had their way... 😉