gross vehicle mass

Oz Trekker,
Are you sure that the Hanrahan Rd weighbridge is a registered public weighbridge and thus is certified correct.
If it is not registered it may not be weighing accurately.
However as you say, it's the only weighbridge available in or around Albany.

You could try weighing the front and the back of the 80 series individually and see what comes up when compared with your original reading.

Just my thoughts

Disco.

One would imagine that if a business (the tip) is using a weighbridge/set of scales to charge customers then like any other business the weighbridge/scales would have to be regularly certified under the law. Unless things are horribly different in WA ;-))
On the weight of touring 4wd's there would be very few fitted with a few accessories that wouldn't be over GVM when setting off on a trip.
Then you have the people that stack it all in the trailer so then it is over GTM.
A mate had an ex 4wd accessory business vehicle that was fitted with every accessory and mod known to man and it was 200kgs over GVM before any fuel, water or personal gear was added.

Mmmmmmmmmm overweight problems. I have them and so does our new Cruiser Ute. Since we fitted the steel canopy, winch, bullbar and the list goes on, we are really overweight. Then we add the tow ball weight of the van and we go further overweight. With our plans of heading off to travel Oz for the next few years very soon, we have had to now take the steel tray of the ute and are having a sub frame made for the canopy. Now we have the hassle of selling the steel tray, which is virtually brand new. We think that will bring us down about 300kgs, as we had it originally made with reinforcements. The sub frame is only going to be about 50kg's all up.

Geoff is so pedantic about the weights, and said we are not leaving home with the van until the weights are right. It will be interesting to read the replies to this thread, as I think alot of us have this problem. He even mentioned to me I could do my part and lose some weight to help the problem.........................what can I say!......lol

Karen
:-O

I think the weigbridge is incorrect.

I have taken my vehicle to the heavy vehicle checking station in Alice and they were happy to weigh it.

PS On the weekends when it is unmanned you can still see your reading thru the window. ; )

They can all be overweight and most are!

Seriously do we need all the junk we take along? Our ancestors travelled on horseback or by foot and would not be able to comprehend our modern "needs".

Between ordering my cruiser and delivery I worked out it would go overweight for a CSR type trip but should be OK on anything else, and this is a cruiser trayback. Almost talked myself into getting a suspension upgrade and GVM upgrade before registering it. Sanity prevailed as I worked out that a lot of stuff can be left behind or not fitted at all, as it is not needed.

In my case a steel bull bar with side rails and Warn winch was abandoned in favour of a Teampoly Smartbar. That decision alone saved a lot of weight. The drop sides will be left behind on next trip as well. Offsetting this will be weight gain from dual battery and some other bits. Offsetting that will be less camping gear will be carried so I should finish up lighter than the last trip.

I think we should look at our vehicles as a sailor looks at his boat. Once it is down to the waterline (GVM) anything that goes in has to be compensated by something else coming out. With this discipline the boat stays safely afloat and likewise the vehicle does not get overloaded. It is absurd for a sailor to keep "improving" his boat by adding gear until it sinks but we seem to be pretty oblivious to the consequences of overloading vehicles. The analogy is a rough one but relevant I think.

If our vehicles start to look like an ARB or TJM catalogue cover picture than we have got way too much stuff fitted.

A tip to reduce weight is to look at getting camping gear at shops that cater to the mountain climber types. They have some really good compact light weight gear that does the job.

Another is to take nothing for "just in case" if it is not used every day it likely is not needed at all.

Essential tools and safety gear are needed but even here with very careful selection of gear big weight savings could be made.

Flynnie

Hi guys and gals, all read and much appreciated. Must admit, didn't think about upgrading my GVM. Have done the suspension bit but must get the certificate bit done. As for taking all the 'extras' for just in case, what can come off easily does. drawers out only a small assortment of breakdown gear and that's it. Have since used a weighbridge at the grain centre. Came in at 2500kg nearly 400kg less than the weighbridge at the tip!!!!! Wonder how many people would like that?!! Again many thanks

Maybe you have to change your diet ? or go to the gym ??
rofl :), sorry could not resist
good luck
gmd