More towing capacity confusion

You are right. GVM is GVM not matter how it is achieved or where the load comes from.

John, in my view I believe you are right in what you are trying to say, but not in what you actually said.

You posted:
'I said that tow ball weight is limited by the towing vehicles gvm and that passenger weight, fuel, accessories all reduced the legal tow ball weight'

Passenger weight, fuel etc don't automatically reduce the legal ball weight. But if your GVM (including ball weight) exceeds the manufacturers spec, you must reduce to be legal. If you can't reduce elsewhere, then you must reduce ball weight.

If you have not exceeded GVM, then the vehicle load has no impact on the legal ball weight.

I suspect you meant largely what I have posted. But you did not quite say it.

You raise an important point though. Not a lot of people include their ball weight in their GVM. Most probably don't even know what their ball weight is (or their GVM for that matter).

^ Towing capacity is subject to towbar/towball capacity. The capacity may be reduced if a non genuine Nissan towbar is fitted. The permitted download is directly related to the laden mass of vehicle. At the maximum laden mass of the vehicle (Gross Vehicle Mass - GVM**) the maximum towball download is 200kgs.

Towball download Loaded vehicle mass
200kgs GVM** (all models)
250kgs Reduce loaded vehicle mass below GVM** by 150kgs
300kgs Reduce loaded vehicle mass below GVM** by 220kgs
350kgs Reduce loaded vehicle mass below GVM** by 290kgs

If the loaded vehicle mass is reduced as shown in the table, the towball download can be increased correspondingly. Accordingly, if the laden mass is 290kgs less than the GVM**, a towball download of 350kgs is approved.
Different trailer types and different trailer manufacturers have varying towball downloads. The customer will need to contact the trailer manufacturer for information as to the download.
Nissan is not able to make any recommendation on the use or suitability of load-levelling or weight distribution devices to be fitted to the vehicle. Customers should contact the manufacturers of these devices for further information


This is directly from the Nissan Australia website.......^^^^^^^^

WEIGHTS & CAPACITIES
(Note: Kerb, tare & payload weights are nominal and will vary depending on options and tray/body type.)
Kerb Weight (kg) 2630-2700kg
Gross Vehicle Mass (kg) 3300kg
Maximum roof load (kg -Includes roof rack weight) N/A
Seating capacity (includes driver) 8
Luggage capacity (litres) N/A
Cargo volume N/A
Fuel Tank Capacity (litres) 138 litres
Vehicle Towing capacity - with trailer brakes (kg) 3500kg
- Without trailer brakes (kg) 750kg
Genuine Towbar D/F
(Note: Genuine Towbar Capacity - Refer to Genuine Accessory Guide, as it may differ from Vehicle Towing Capacity in some circumstances.
Towing capacity - Subject to state regulations, towbar design and towing equipment.)


This is from Toyota.......^^^^^^^^^^^

meow.

rick.