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IS MY 4WD OVERWEIGHT?

Is your 4WD overweight? Here's how to check

There's a good chance it is. Accessories add up quietly, and most owners never weigh their vehicle. Here's how to find out for sure.

 

Where the weight goes

These are typical weights. Your gear may be heavier or lighter, so weigh it to be sure.

  • Steel bull bar: 50–90kg

  • Winch: 30–40kg

  • Roof rack or platform: 25–45kg

  • Drawer system: 40–80kg

  • Canopy (ute): 100–250kg

  • Dual battery system: 25–40kg

  • Long-range fuel tank (full): 80–150kg

  • Fridge with food and drinks: 40–60kg

  • Water: 10kg per 10 litres

  • Rear bar and wheel carrier: 40–80kg

  • Two adults and two kids: 250–300kg

  • Caravan towball weight: 200–350kg

Add a few of these together and it's easy to see how a wagon with 600kg of payload goes over its limit.

 

How to check your weight

  1. Load the car as you'd travel: full fuel, water, gear, and the people who come with you. If you tow, hitch the van too.

  2. Find a public weighbridge. Many landfill sites, grain receival sites and transport depots have one. Ring ahead to check hours and cost.

  3. Weigh the car on its own. If you can, get each axle weighed separately as well.

  4. Then weigh the car with the van hitched, with only the car on the weighbridge. The difference between the car alone and the car hitched tells you the towball weight.

  5. Compare your numbers with the GVM, axle ratings and GCM on your compliance plate or owner's manual.

 

What if I'm over?

Driving over GVM is illegal. It can also put your insurance at risk and adds wear on brakes, tyres, axles and suspension. Your options are:

  • Lighten the load: sometimes moving or dropping gear is enough.

  • GVM upgrade: raises your legal limit. Lovells kits are engineered, tested and certified.

  • GCM revision or BTC upgrade: if the problem is the combined weight with your van, on approved models.

 

Want a quick estimate first? Try our GVM calculator.

 

Book an overweight check

We'll check your vehicle's weight against its GVM and axle ratings, and tell you whether you need an upgrade. Call your nearest store to book: Campbellfield (03) 9006 9996, Geelong (03) 9006 9993, Carrum Downs (03) 9017 5466.

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