GVM 3950KG / GCM 7950KG*
RAM 1500 DS & DT GVM / GCM Upgrade
RAM 1500 DS (06/2018 – 11/2024): Touring and Platinum kits lift GVM to 3950kg (up from 3450kg), GCM remains O.E.
RAM 1500 DT Bighorn & Laramie (01/2021 on): 3700kg Comfort, plus 3950kg Touring and Platinum with a 7950kg GCM. O.E. rims are not compliant — aftermarket rims with the required rating (1065–1090kg each) must be fitted.
Talk to our specialists about your set-up, to determine the correct set-up for your needs.
IMPORTANT - Speak to our suspension experts about your set-up. Tell us what accessories will be fitted (bull bar, winch, rear drawers etc.). This will help us give advice on which kit best suits your needs.
New Product!
*7950kg GCM on RAM 1500 DT Touring and Platinum. RAM 1500 DS GCM remains O.E.
More about the RAM 1500 GVM upgrade
The RAM 1500 is often bought to tow big vans and boats, so payload goes quickly. Both models have a 3450kg factory GVM.
RAM 1500 DS (06/2018 – 11/2024): Touring and Platinum kits to 3950kg GVM. GCM stays factory.
RAM 1500 DT Bighorn and Laramie (01/2021 on): Comfort kit to 3700kg, or Touring and Platinum to 3950kg with GCM raised from 7713kg to 7950kg. Braked towing stays at 4500kg.
Factory rims are not compliant with these upgrades. Rated wheels are needed: 965–1065kg each on the DT, 1090kg each on the DS. Going above 3500kg GVM changes the vehicle category to NB1 (light goods vehicle). It can still be driven on a standard car licence, which covers vehicles up to 4500kg GVM.
GVM, GCM and towing: what the numbers mean
GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass) is the most your vehicle is allowed to weigh, fully loaded. That covers the vehicle, fuel, passengers, accessories, everything in the tray or cargo area, and the towball weight of anything you're towing.
GCM (Gross Combination Mass) is the most your vehicle and trailer can weigh together. It's often the limit people forget.
Braked towing capacity (BTC) is the heaviest braked trailer your vehicle can tow, measured at the trailer's loaded weight (ATM).
A bull bar, winch, drawers, a canopy, a second battery, a long-range tank, a roof rack and a full fridge can add 400–600kg before you've packed a bag. Many 4WDs and utes go over their factory GVM before they leave the driveway on a trip.
Why GCM matters when you tow
GCM caps the car and van together. Take a vehicle with a 5900kg GCM towing a 3500kg caravan: the car itself can only weigh 2400kg, loaded. That's often less than the car plus passengers, fuel and accessories. A Lovells GCM revision raises that combined limit, so you can tow the van and still carry your gear legally.
Pre-registration or post-registration?
Pre-registration: fitted to a new vehicle before it's first registered. The vehicle is re-certified as a second-stage manufacture with its new ratings, which are recognised in every state. If you're buying new, this is the cleanest option.
Post-registration: fitted to a vehicle already on the road. In Victoria the upgrade is inspected and certified by a licensed VASS engineer.
Either way, tell your insurer about the upgrade. Our team will tell you which option suits your vehicle and handle the paperwork.
Why Lovells
Australian-made springs, engineered and tested by Lovells, a name in suspension for over 95 years
Matched kits: springs, shocks and, where needed, extra components such as rear axle upgrades or track correction
Certified to ADR and state requirements, with all paperwork supplied
Exclusive 5-year GVM and suspension warranty when fitted at a Lovells store
Fitted by our own teams at Campbellfield, Geelong and Carrum Downs