Reently I was looking at a second hand 4WD as a potential tow vehicle,and while it looked to be well set up with a powder coated steel bullbar, manufacturer towbar, roof rack, luggage barrier, drawers in the back, with a custom built fridge mount. Looked really good, it was in good condition, with moderate mileage (under 150k). But add 138litres of diesel, and 350kg on the ball, and the driver would need to run alongside to keep the load under the 720kg payload.
The seller lost interest in selling the vehicle when I asked him if we could find a weigh bridge and weigh the vehicle.
Beware of the payload of any potential vehicle, or more correctly, beware that the total weight of the tow vehicle with the van attached stays under the Gross Vehicle Mass. This is just the weight on the four wheels of the tow vehicle.
The payload figure can be mileading, as some manufacturers quote kerb weights with half a tank of fuel (example Mitsubushi), while others appear to quote the kerb weight with an empty fuel tank (example Toyota).
I never really looked at it that way...but your right.
We have a Prado, it has an aluminium bull bar so lighter than steel, but not as strong. We don't have any drawers or any extras in the back so other than filling both tanks full, the weight is about what they say. We will only be carrying the generator, chairs and extra car parts (hoses, oil, belts, air cleaners, etc) in the back.
Has anyone here been pulled over and had their total weight checked by the Police or transport?
Unfortunately it goes a little deeper than the fear of being pulled up and weighed, the whole safety aspect of operating a vehicle outside the limits as certified by the manufacturer also provides your insurance with a perfect get out clause if they need one.
I personally am going to do everything in my power to stay absoloutly, and demonstrably legal.
The roof rack is another trap and I've been guilty of overloading the rack with shovels and high-lift jack etc. Was some years ago but the scalies (Transport) raided Normanton during Burra Season and put most vans off the road as their fridges/freezers full of barra which overloaded the vans.
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Cheers Peter and Sue
"If I agree with you we'll both be wrong"
No, I'm not busy, I did it right the first time.
Self-powered wheelie walker, soon a power chair (ex. Nomad)
A friend of mine got pulled over and weighed on the Western highway last xmas ,and ended up in all sorts of bother ,due to him towing a 5thwheeler behind his ute...He has just had to out lay for a small truck to be compliant with the weight regs.When he brought the 5th wheeler the pay load thingo was all honky dorey ( unloaded ) ,but not when he was loded.
Last year I thought I was going to find out the bad/good news of things, travelling Qld just on the out skirts of Rollingstone heading south, had three semies behinde me & I was going to pull oner in the village to let them go.
Just before the village I rounded a corner & there were the police, directed me in & thought here we go, directed right up onto the weigh bridge & stopped, copper walked back to the door & said; you can go we only wanted the three trucks that were right me, said they had to bring me in to get them as they were close behinde, thank you very much & didnt argue just left quitely.
JC.
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