Maximum safe towing weight

I agree Batts but I think things may start to change soon. There was an accident near me recently where insurance was refused due to overloading and charges being laid against the driver who was towing the caravan. A few more of these incidents may create a change of “ she’ll be right mate” attitude.

Did I miss something, then? I thought the article explained the issue quite well.

Me too. Looked ok from my end, but we are told us Queenslanders are not the smartest ones in the zoo.

I don't think you missed anything Frank.


I think Ivan may have overdosed on laxatives again.

bleep this forum is quite predictable. Dont ask why just have personal shot at an individual. bleep ing waste of my time

I did ask, Ivan. Have I missed something about that article?

May be Ivan is one knowingly driving overloaded :-)

Maybe this is Ivan
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10213399967099386&id=1405731070

Ivan may have a genuine personal reason for disliking Car Sales but that does not mean everything they do or say is of no value. I felt it is a great article, so well done car sales and to others that continue to provide critical safety information. Risk ignorance can be overcome by such articles, Risk arrogance or a contemptuous disregard for safe legal towing cannot.

I don't think Ivan is misguided, he simply doesn't take for gospel anything which is CarSales related, purely for the reason it is CARSALES.
Having a go at him and claiming this could be him is unwarranted.

Actually I sort of agree with Ivan, but from a different direction. This same article has been around for a while and in multiple Forums. To me it reads as coming from someone biased against twin cabs.

To be a truly unbiased article it should have included other vehicles, primarily Landcruisers as they are touted by many as the best choice for towing, short of US vehicles.

I do have a Ranger but recognise that category of vehicle does have it's limitations. I didn't consider getting an LC200 because after 35 years with a station wagon type 4x4 I didn't want another one.

LC200's also have their limitations for towing. With their prevalence for choice of towing they should also have had some commentary about them. I've looked at so many of them and from looking at their passengers and loading together with external accessories fitted I just don't see how so many are legally towing and staying with their GVM limitation. Yes at maximum GVM they can still legally tow 3500kg, apparently, but if you remove 350kg from the vehicle loading limit you are left with very little for passengers, cargo & accessories etc. Not many seem to have had the GVM increase necessary for how they are fitted out.

Fair and balanced doesn't describe that article as it doesn't cover the full range of popular towing vehicles.

To follow up PhilD-NT, just had my Patrol GVM increased and the ATM was reduced by the GVM increase, 500 kg. ATM was 3500kg. So even if you get legal with GVM increase, you can still not tow 3500kg.

John,

That is because as of July 1st last year a grey area in the interpretation of the rules was removed. A GVM upgrade is no longer permitted to increase the manufacturer's GCM.

No offence meant to Ivan, all just a bit of fun.

RMD, I spent most of my later life adhering to load limits and earlier ones avoiding them, car sales posted real information of on the ground weights.

If he doesn't take anything for gospel, then maybe he should investigate it a bit further.
Why would they be labeled sceptic tanks.

Just a simple Queenslander your honour

Yes the article and figures have been around for a long time. It is not biased against twin cabs. Twin cabs represent the biggest and fastest selling tow vehicles on the market. If you also followed the link in the story the Land cruisers, patrols and Jeeps also get a mention. If you want to see overweight/overloaded 4wds/vans...check out Cairns region and the Cape road in the tourist season. The sooner the overweight wobbly boxes are off the road the better. Compulsory weighbridge checks should be the norm for all vans at time of purchase before hooking it up to the "highly capable of towing 3500kg" twin cab.......


Still haven't seen Ivan's explanation as to why its a septic tank...maybe Ivan does indeed tow with an overloaded twin cab...

Salty hilux owner? :)

Alloy, that is an amazing answer from one that used to uphold the law, good luck if/when he is pulled over and weighed or he has an accident and no insurance cover........

Just another example of the entitled ones walking amongst us. Wonder if he would be so stupid if a family member was in an accident caused by an overloaded/over weight vehicle.

Well, if you can't trust someone to obey the rules when their profession is to enforce the rules, then who *can* you trust?

It seems there are quite a few people weren't paying attention during high-school physics classes.

I guess it's a bit like expecting a university graduate to have "Common Sense". There are quite a few Police who probably also lack this quality! Along with a heap of other ordinary Aussies.