TOWING UPGRADES
The solution for owners/managers of Toyota Landcruiser 300 and 200 Series, 150 Series Prado and Next Gen Ford Ranger vehicles who have a need to tow more than Original Equipment capacities. LC300 and LC200 Lovells BTC Upgrade 4000kg (up from 3500kg standard Braked Towing Capacity), Next Gen Ranger 3.0L V6 Lovells BTC Upgrade 4000kg with 7600kg GCM (up from 3500kg), Prado Lovells BTC Upgrade 3100kg (up from 2500kg on most models), while at the same time meeting the practical and documentary compliance requirements of Work Safety, Police Licensing, Insurance, Lessors and Fleet Managers. This kit is complianced by Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government and comes complete with a secondary manufacturers compliance plate. (Australian Compliance ONLY)
Towing a caravan? Make sure the numbers add up
The 3500kg towing figure on the brochure is only one of three limits. To tow legally you need to be under all three at once: GVM, GCM and braked towing capacity. Most caravanners who are overweight are over GCM, not towing capacity, and most don't know it.
The three limits
GVM: your loaded vehicle, including towball weight. Towball weight counts here, not on the van.
GCM: vehicle and trailer together. Often less than GVM and BTC added up.
BTC: the loaded weight (ATM) of a braked trailer. Being under 3500kg doesn't make you legal on its own.
The GCM trap, with real numbers
Take a Prado 250 towing a 3500kg van. Its factory GCM is 6600kg. Subtract the van and the Prado itself can only weigh 3100kg, loaded, with the towball weight included. That's less than its own GVM, so you can't use all your payload while towing.
With the Lovells Touring kit, GVM goes to 3650kg and GCM to 6800kg. Tow the same 3500kg van and the Prado can now weigh 3300kg. That's 200kg more for passengers, fuel, water and gear.
The LandCruiser 76 wagon shows it even more clearly. Factory GCM is 6560kg. With the Lovells Touring kit it rises to 7160kg, and GVM to 3660kg. That means you can tow a 3500kg van with a fully loaded wagon: 3500kg + 3660kg = 7160kg.
How we fix it
GVM upgrade: raises how much your vehicle can carry, including towball weight.
GCM revision: raises the combined limit for vehicle and van, on approved models.
Braked towing (BTC) upgrade: raises the trailer limit, on approved models. LandCruiser 300, LandCruiser 200 and Ranger V6 can go to 4000kg braked towing, and the Prado 150 to 3100kg.
Not every vehicle can have all three. We'll tell you exactly what your make, model and build date qualify for.
Popular towing upgrades (GVM / GCM)
LandCruiser 300: 3600 / 3805 / 4205kg GVM, GCM up to 7700kg (7800kg with BTC upgrade)
LandCruiser 200 (diesel): 3800 / 4000 / 4200kg GVM, GCM up to 7700kg (7800kg with BTC upgrade)
LandCruiser 79 (J7): 3900 / 4200kg GVM, GCM 7400kg
LandCruiser 76 wagon: 3660kg GVM, GCM 7160kg
Ford Ranger Next Gen (V6): 3505 / 3700 / 4000kg GVM, GCM up to 7500kg (7600kg with BTC upgrade)
Ford Everest Next Gen (V6): 3510 / 3800kg GVM, GCM up to 7200kg
Prado 250: 3650 / 3900kg GVM, GCM 6800kg
RAM 1500 DT: 3950kg GVM, GCM 7950kg
Isuzu MU-X: 3325kg GVM, GCM 6200kg
GCM increases apply to diesel V6 models only on Ranger and Everest, and to diesel only on LandCruiser 200. The LC300 hybrid gets a GVM upgrade only. BTC upgrades to 4000kg are available with Touring and Platinum kits on LC300, LC200 and Ranger V6.
Before you tow, check
Your van's real loaded weight (ATM) and towball weight. A weighbridge visit, hitched up, tells you both.
Your towbar and hitch ratings. These limits still apply after any upgrade.
Tyres rated for the new axle loads.
Towing mirrors. If your factory mirrors can't see past the van, you need them. We fit Clearview mirrors.
Book a towing check
Tell us your vehicle, your van and how you travel. We'll work out where you sit today and which upgrade gets you legal. Campbellfield (03) 9006 9996, Geelong (03) 9006 9993, Carrum Downs (03) 9017 5466.