towing

The LC200 can tow a maximum of 3500kg.

It cannot be varied. Alternative suspension may enable you to carry more in the vehicle (with an engineer's certificate) but you cannot increase the tow weight.

Airbags can be detrimental with a heavy van because they will increase the intensity of any shocks from bumps in the road or corrugations and threaten the integrity of the tow hitch.

If you increase your vehicle's load capacity, in theory, you need to reduce your towing weight because you cannot increase the Gross Combined Mass of the two vehicles. I say, in theory, because no one ever does it, but it's still a fact.

Gone Bush

I am sorry if i have misled you i did not mean air bags

I ment air suspension

Sorry Again
Terry

No probs Terry.

The LC200 has springs and can take airbags inside those springs, it doesn't have air suspension so that's where the confusion arose.

Cheers

Hullo Steven (Gone Bush)

What you have written is not entirely correct. You may have missed discussion on LCOOL about increasing GVM and Towing Capacity.

We have a 2007 GXL 200 Series which I have had the GVM upgraded to 3800kg (Lovells) and the Towing Capacity upgraded to 3850kg. Both upgrades have been Certified by separate Engineers. The upgrades have been noted by the RTA (NSW) and appropriate ammendments made to Registration. In addition our Insurance Company has been notified and the upgrades endorsed on our Policy.

I have the appropriate Compliance Plates and Engineers Certificates affixed to the vehicle or carried in the vehicle.

I must emphasise that I understand that some of the rules regarding Towing Capacity may have changed - so people should do their own homework!!

Your reference to Gross Combination Mass (GCM) is certainly irrelevant here in NSW! Toyota for instance make NO reference to it in their handbook. The RTA (NSW) make NO reference to GCM in any Registration documentation. I would appreciate it if you could indicate where you have sourced this information.

Just to help you further, I tow a van with an ATM of 4320kg. Remember the ATM is the maximum allowable loaded weight of the van. I have to restrict the actual loaded weight of the van to 3850kg to match the Towing Capacity of the 200 Series Cruiser.

I can tell you that the modified cruiser makes a great tow vehicle. I expect I will keep this vehicle for many years and drive probably 300,000km allowing us to make maximum use of the modifications made.

Regards, Jack

thanks for all your replies...ball weight of caravan drive 150kg so should be no problems

You would not get a single axle van at that size

Thanks aka,

The point was not so much how many axles but the amount of information in the question.

I appreciate you input to the original question.

Gday...

"a 24' van tare 2810 gtm 3060 atm 3210 " ..... you advise a 150kg tow ball weight with the van's ATM of 3210kg. Seems a very low towball weight. Have you arrived at this weight/s by putting the van over the scales?

Cheers
John

Thanks all for your answers.
Broometime

Broometime, Where did you get this ball weight from? Did you get it by subtractind the GTM from the ATM, is that ball weight actually stamped on the compliance plate?

If you believe ATM - GTM = ball weight then you will believe anything. Sometimes the unloaded ball weight will equal that but mostly it will not. Even if it does it certainly will change when you load you van. The change in the loaded ball weight depends how badly or how well you load your van. The only way to ascertain your ball weight is to weigh it.

I would also suggest that a ball weight of only 5% is far too low for an Oz built van. If it has a centre kitchen and light loading at the ends then the ball weight should be at least 10% of the weight of your loaded van. If you have a front or rear kitchen or have heavy objects loaded on the front or rear you should be looking at something nearer to 15%.

If you do not have sufficient ball weight then you will reduce the critical speed of your van to an unacceptably low speed. The critical sped is that speed where if you are travelling above it and your van is hit by a large unsettling force then you will have no chance of controlling your rig. That force could be as simple as a bump in the road, the van tram lining in depressions in the road or a gust of wind. Read this link Site Link for confirmation of what I am saying.