GVM Upgrade's Success - Epic Fail to Legal

[@jeofflemon5561]

About time one of the best videos about gvms 👍💯 stay with Toyota better for parts and services

[@caravansbythecampfire]

Cheers - we agree!

[@davidbreen3287]

Like yourselves I have come to learn weights are everything when it comes to vanning - if you are to be legal! The reality is most people touring will need a gvm upgrade on their towing vehicle - even with a conservative load on board. Some of the rigs on the road today are dangerously over weight - most often through sheer ignorance !

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@@davidbreen3287 yes, the marvels of modern engineering is saving a lot of people from major life altering events!

[@jorobson1]

Another great very informative video. The American 1500 trucks are just over sized Rangers! The 1500 figure used to be carrying capacity in lbs in the states (1500 1/2 ton, 2500 3/4 ton, 3500 1 ton etc) you need to go to the 2500 / F250 + to be able to tow heavier loads. We went through a similar exercise with our 200 series (too heavy on the rear axle) and did a GVM upgrade to cover it. But at the end of the day we still had a trailer heavier than the tow vehicle (tail wagging the dog). The gvm upgrade gave us heavier suspension componentry but there was no change to factory designed brakes, drivetrain, chassis frame etc. We have just recently changed to a American 2500HD truck. The difference towing is like night & day. It is built to haul big loads so towing our caravan is a walk in the park and now we have a tow vehicle that weighs more the than item being towed which is good physics 😉. It was not a cheap option but it has a better fuel burn than our Toyota did and is the next level in travelling comfort. I was not a fan of American trucks until I actually drove one now I am sold on the concept. I believe it is the right tool for the task when towing anything over 3000+kgs.

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@@jorobson1 I completely agree, the best option is to purchase from factory the correct vehicle to meet your need with safety and comfort be that a truck, American Ute or otherwise. Well done - I always have the vehicle heavier than the van - golden rule eh! Thanks for the comment and HNY

[@niftee7628]

100% correct. Lovells don't upgrade the axles. just do HD suspension and put a magic sticker on the vehicle and let customers believe that the axle capacity has increased. Legal & safe GVM dictates that the GVM should not be greater than the sum total of the axle ratings as per the Manufacturers specs. Lovells must have paid someone a lot of money and maybe a few more favours to get a sticker which magically increases the load rating of the axles. If you need a truck then buy a truck.

[@SJI_77]

I've always said, one can be under the GVM, but over on the rear axle load limits. Fulcrum leverage from towbar to rear axle, and drawbar length play a big part in rear axle load. Very informative vid.

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@@SJI_77 yes, that rear axle load is overlooked by most, hardly even discussed. Thanks for your comment.

[@nzmarkb8713]

Great episode Craig, I’ve had the same upgrade and a BTC upgrade installed on my new 300. 👍

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@@nzmarkb8713 sounds epic - you are ready for all occasions! Thanks for your comment and HNY!

[@donks5306]

Thanks for you detailed explanation, it helped immensely. The only video I’ve seen that’s broken things down easily. Good job!

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@@donks5306 Thankyou - I try and keep it straight forward! Cheers for the comment and HNY

[@mickusms700]

Loved your honesty in this video Craig. I was very interested in hearing how the 2hunge drove firmer after the work performed.

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@@mickusms700 Thank you. Since driving it loaded around 6K kms it has settled in and is softer when not towing - I think the springs just settle in a bit. Thanks for the comment and HNY

[@Tony_ASA]

Was the rear axle upgraded? If not how do springs and shocks fix that?

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@@Tony_ASA load rating was upgraded, the diff itself is standard. New shocks and springs plus airbags - the diff housing must be able to handle any additional values placed on it. The load is managed by the suspension. Well that’s my understanding anyway. Thanks for your comment.

[@Tony_ASA]

@ yeh well as an engineer (not mechanical) , i don’t get that. Suspension wears out and fails. Some people may get it replace and some don’t. The rear axle is the foundation. When i got mine done in the 70 cruiser which has a hight rear axle load rating standard than the 200, i had to put it an upgraded axle, bit there was an extra benefit for that on the 70 series (track correction) So not sure. Axle is now rated to 3020kg. But if you’ve got the paper work and plate upgrade on your Vehicle happy days. Im sure it will be a hell of a lot better mate. 👍

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@ feels great towing and on the road - I do understand what you are saying however. All above my pay grade. Thanks again for your comment - noteworthy.

[@ausguy4385]

Lovells are stupid.... claim crap on everyone then do paper axal upgrades only ​@Tony_ASA

[@christinelillie8422]

We put the 4200 on our GR by Lovells very happy towing a Titanium ATX 21ft Very happy. Thanks for the info

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@@christinelillie8422 excellent, works a treat! Thanks for you comment and HNY

[@TA-wg9oi]

That sounds great Craig. Your van loaded is about 3.1 so you are well under now but I guess with the extra shoe's, you also now have to carry Tracey's foot pump for the suspension airbags! We looked at a Chev 1500. Payload was 695kg or an extra $4500 for a 305kg upgrade to 1 tonne.

[@caravansbythecampfire]

She is going to luv this comment! I have an electric pump so I can make quick work of that! Cheers and thanks for the comment - HNY

[@TA-wg9oi]

@@caravansbythecampfire haha. Happy New Year to you two too...

[@kimavery2560]

Great information thanks mate

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@@kimavery2560 thanks for your comment! HNY!

[@jeffrollason1190]

Happy New Year 🎉 🥂 🍻 🏝

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@@jeffrollason1190 cheers!

[@paulcallan5540]

Thanks Craig for a very simplified explanation of GVM upgrade. My LC200 has a 4000 kg GVM upgrade done here in Newcastle at my local Lovells supplier. My advice I've been given is to Get a Lovells BTC upgrade. This gives me 400kg on the ball . My Van is around 3180 tare . So its heavy and I have to manage my loading. The BTC gives you a combined weight of 7800 kg . The Lovells coupling is used for this upgrade. Happy Travels. Paul

[@caravansbythecampfire]

Thanks for the info - am I correct in saying you need the 4.2 upgrade before you can have the tow hitch to enable pulling 4T? Not sure. Our van has a 4.5T rating on the cruisemaster suspension so it easy to upgrade also but I can’t imagine what I could put in or on the van to warrant that. Do you need brake disc and calliper upgrade also? Thanks for the comments.

[@paulcallan5540]

​@caravansbythecampfire a brakes upgrade would be an advantage. Can I get your permission to put this to the Boss 😂

[@paulcallan5540]

The BTC is for genuine Toyota hitch only. After market products aren't supported.

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@ of course, essential requirement. Must be safe at all times! See how that goes..

[@paulcallan5540]

Craig . Can I share an email I got from my local 4x4 company. Re: Lovells BTC upgrade

[@NickSaravanos]

Great video. I did a ARB 4015 GVM upgrade on my LC200 and it made a massive difference. Yes harder. But the 2” lift allowed me to go up a tyre size to 285/65R18 which gives you some comfort back. The vehicle is awesome on the beach now. Much much better towing. BUT. AND MASSIVE BUT. We literally decided before Christmas to swap it out and get the Lovells 4200 Platinum kit. Why/? Because we want a new van and need to tow 3500 again, with all the mods. My cruiser is 3350 with a full tank and just the around town stuff in it. If you are reading this, please do what Craig said and research research and do some more research.

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@@NickSaravanos research is correct. Thanks for your comment, love hearing about real world experiences. Good luck with your new setup and van, sounds good. Cheers and HNY!

[@brianrose5971]

Just wait until you try and purchase a 18" trye in country W.A....

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@ I’m sure they might have a few 17” ones hanging around?

[@NickSaravanos]

I didn’t think you could fit 17” on a Sahara due to the bigger brakes.

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@@NickSaravanos sorry, I didn’t see you had 18s, I know nothing about the Sahara wheel sizing. 🤣

[@gregjacques3159]

G'day, I'm digging your videos. The questions no one seems to be asking or answering are: Can you get a Vehicle Manufacture to give you a GUARANTY IN WRITING that a GVM upgrade will not void the warranty? If you upgrade the suspension, why doesn't the axle need upgrading if it's supporting more weight? If the axles are able to support the extra weight, does that mean the Max load safety margin is is reduced? Will your vehicle insurance be invalidated because of an GVM upgrade?

[@caravansbythecampfire]

I agree, the bottom line is we should all purchase a stock standard capable car for the assignment requiring without upgrades. Unfortunately few can afford such prime mover luxury and have to resort to the slippery world of the gvm upgrade. At the very least, have any “upgrades” put on your insurance policy. I don’t think a vehicle manufacturer would give written endorsement however there are endless dealers who work closely with aftermarket suppliers on pre-registration mods so it’s worth seeking written confirmation of warranty at that time. You raise great points which I’ll dig further into. Thanks for your comments.

[@paulcallan5540]

I forgot to say .. I can see that you love the Hawksberry River

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@@paulcallan5540 yes, we are regularly at Greenmans! Too good and so close.

[@snakeo99]

What is the rough breakdown of the $8000 cost? Ie. Parts, install, engineering. In QLD its about $8000 for the mid level suspenion from Lovells.

[@caravansbythecampfire]

Sorry I don’t have labour price seperate. 7150 fitted for the premium kit, upper control arms fitted 1350 and the airbag spacers 80. Includes engineers certificate. Good value overall I think.

[@snakeo99]

@caravansbythecampfire thank you!

[@simonstone3336]

Great work guys 🇦🇺 👍

[@caravansbythecampfire]

Thank you! Happy NY!

[@lyndoncarter1528]

Well explained

[@caravansbythecampfire]

Cheers, thanks for the comment - HNY

[@ausguy4385]

Paper axal upgrade 😂 No actual befits other then insurance will no be void.

[@TheTripleDubya]

And a boat !

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@@TheTripleDubya I have the perfect little tin!

[@TheTripleDubya]

@@caravansbythecampfireand there’s the rub, ride quality ! We found the same, when we went to the Chevy it was a similar experience, ok ride not loaded, great ride loaded up but no GVM/GCM issues. It’s a quite a task to cover all of the bases and know your stuff, some of the things I’ve heard on the road and in showrooms has made near faint, they walk amongst us.

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@@TheTripleDubya yes I spent a bit of time chuckling at “experts” around the fire. Thanks for your comment and HNY!

[@ufargarnidgit1927]

A GVM upgrade is just like putting lipstick on a pig.

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@@ufargarnidgit1927 and a dress. If only we could all buy a stock product that meets our needs - this is first preference. Thanks for your comment and HNY.

[@brentonl2631]

I was just wondering if, after all the upgrades in weight capability, do you do anything to the brakes for the extra load.

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@@brentonl2631 when I have to replace the discs next time I will put ventilated ones on - The LC200 stopping performance is not great but good enough for now - the van’s brakes are excellent. You can put larger discs on but I don’t feel they are needed based on what we do so far. Thanks for your comment and HNY to you!

[@davetunbridge6637]

@@brentonl2631 here in gods country(Qld) I can get a 10% gvm upgrade with no modifications, however they do check your stopping capacity with some electronic skullduggery and inspect your suspension. 10% on my 105 will take me from 3180 to 3498. GCM stays the same but I basically pick up ball weight for the van which in my case is all I need. Not planning on loading the van up. I’m with Craig, never let the tail wag the dog.

[@NickSaravanos]

@@caravansbythecampfireHi Craig. After burning my brakes on a long steep decline I went with the dba slotted and the high heat pads. Massive upgrade in performance. Decided to not get the drilled because they are prone to getting filled with crap when on the trails or beach. The loss of brakes was user error. I left the red arc in proportional “blue” where I have since learnt to always do steep downhill in basic “green‘’ mode.

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@ that’s good info, I’ll check those out. Yes I’ve had a few BC issues myself pushing too many buttons and turns hahaha!

[@dtester1974]

In the real world you still wont be able to load the car up to the max GVM as the rear axle loading is the limiting factor

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@@dtester1974 correct! Thanks for the comment and HNY

[@dtester1974]

@caravansbythecampfire Happy new year 😀

[@rhondaclelland4134]

Like everyone I find this topic very confusing. I’m not sure what state you are in but in Queensland the relevant vehicle modification code for GVM Upgrades is LS11. It states that the GVM increase must be within 10% of the original manufacturers rating and an increase in GVM does not give you an increase in the GCM or overall towing capacity. If you have increased your GVM from 3300kg to 4200kg that’s a 27% increase. How did you manage to get a new compliance plate outside of these parameters? And Greentrees also said your GCM has increased which the code states doesn’t change. Can you shed light on this please so I can figure this out?

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@@rhondaclelland4134 thanks for the comment and HNY! If a Second Stage Manufacturer (SSM) has obtained approval for a particular GVM/GCM upgrade for a vehicle/s then your upgrade can be whatever that approval states. This is more to the point which is also specified in the code you refer, there are other codes detailing those requirements also. I’m not an expert in what codes apply to what in any state but I do trust the professionals with greater knowledge (to a some degree). I thought QLD was the Mecca of 4x4 so it should be relatively straight forward to establish what’s ok and not ok. I recommend you call Lovells directly in QLD and have that knowledge provided to you directly. Hope this helps. We are in NSW and the upgrade complies with federal and state requirements here for a SSM product for our car. Cheers and thanks again for your comment.

[@niftee7628]

@@caravansbythecampfire In NSW any GVM upgrade must not be greater than the combined axle rating. SSM does give national compliance but the small print also says that some States have extra compliance which Lovells SSM does not cover. In NSW the GVM over rules Lovells claim. It cost me a fine of $2000 for being over weight on their upgrade. Got done for GVM and axle overloading. I now have a truck that does the same job but legally NSW compliant. Sorry if I have burst your bubble. I don't know about other states just NSW.

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@@niftee7628 Thanks for the info - all I know is that it is registered with the upgrade noted - insurance company happy and a recent police check pass without question. I do like your truck option - a clear winner.

[@famdrijver]

Careful, on a new car you could loose the warranty.

[@caravansbythecampfire]

Always check with the manufacture first, GVM that are certified are typically fine, mechanical enhancements like mapping, catch cans and transmissions mods are likely to void the warranty or parts of it. Thanks for your comment and HNY