How to work out what you can tow? || Explained - TARE, GVM, AXLE LOAD LIMITS, GCM, ATM, GTM, TBM...

0:00 Intro
01:40 Vehicle TARE
02:40 Vehicle GVM
03:06 Vehicle Axle Load Limit
03:50 Vehicle Payload
04:42 Vehicle GCM
07:15 GVM Upgrade
09:13 So I've weighed the car, now what can I tow?
10:00 Caravan Tare
10:19 Caravan ATM
10:37 Caravan Payload
11:20 Caravan GTM and TBM
26:42 Lowball mass percentage?

Vehicle Tare;
This is how much an empty bog stock-standard car weighs from factory with nothing more than a few litres of fuel in it, the basic tool kit the car came with (jack and wheel brace) and the spare wheel.

Vehicle GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass);
This is the heaviest the car is allowed to be.

Axle Load Limit;
The amount of weight the car can support on each axle. If you combine these figures it will give you the GVM (maximum weight the car can be).

Payload;
The amount of weight you can put in the car. This includes people, fuel, bolt on accessories (bullbar, winch, side steps, roof racks, tow bar, bash plates, auxiliary batteries, second spare wheel, drawers, fridges, luggage, water ect...). To work out payload you simply take the TARE from the GVM.
E.g; 3000kg GVM - 2000kg Tare = 1000kg Payload

GCM (Gross Combined Mass);
Total weight the car and whatever you're towing can weigh together.
E.g 3000kg vehicle + 3000kg Caravan = 6000kg GCM

Caravan/Trailer Tare;
Empty weight of Caravan/Trailer from factory - water tanks and gas cylinders empty.
Be aware that caravan manufacturers can sometimes do things like remove spare wheels, mattresses, gas cylinders ect before they weigh the van to try get a lower Tare weight. Always a good idea to weigh a new van as soon as you get it home.

Caravan/Trailer ATM (Aggregate Trailer Mass);
Max weight the caravan is allowed to be.

Caravan/Trailer Payload;
The amount of weight you can put in the caravan/trailer. This includes filling water tanks, filling gas cylinders, filling fridge, food, clothes, toys, personal belongings, toiletries, books, cameras/laptops/charging gear ect. To work out payload you simply take the TARE from the ATM.
E.g; 3000kg ATM - 2000kg Tare = 1000kg Payload

Caravan/Trailer GTM (Gross Trailer Mass) and TBM (Trailer Ball Mass);
Roughly 90% of the weight of your caravan/trailer transfers to the ground through the axle/s, this is the GTM. The other 10% transfers to the car through the tow ball when its hitched, this is the TBM.

10% TBM (Tow Ball mass)?
This is roughly where you want to be. Ball weight for stable travel is generally recommended to be around 8-12% of the weight of the caravan. Too high a ball weight and the front of the tow vehicle is lifted up, causing reduction in steering response, and a tendency to understeer when taking a turn. However if the ball weight is too low, it can cause the trailer to become unstable and sway a lot. It s always recommended to check the ball weight after loading up a caravan to ensure that the ball weight is satisfactory.

Get Darren from Safe Weight WA around to weigh your rig;

0457 358 792
[email protected]
www.safeweightwa.com.au

For brakes and suspension advise/upgrades, have a chat to your local Pedders branch. I've been running a Pedders GVM upgrade for over 5 years and it handles really well towing on and off-road.

Cheers!
Cam, Tiff and Chloe,
[email protected]

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