Has anyone had their caravan weighed by Police or Authorities ?

Peter Rose · Veteran Member

Has anyone had their caravan weighed by Police or Authorities ?

Dhutime · Senior Member

A common occurrence I'm afraid . Just having our GVM upgrade done on our caravan.

Dick0 · Guru

Hi Peter Rose.

No, I have not as yet been weighed.

You mention GVM weight.

I would be more concerned about complying with the ATM weight of the van, as stated on the compliance plate, that is, the total weight of the van fully loaded for travel and unhitched.

Then the GCM, combined weight of vehicle and trailer.

-- Edited by Dick0 on Saturday 22nd of April 2017 06:40:21 PM

Desert Dweller · Guru

Lots of people ''JUST A LTTLE BIT OVERWEIGHT''. We're legal & have been through two police road blocks feeling very relaxed about the experience.

Saw some rigs pulled over with their owners not looking happy. Such is life.

Dhutime · Senior Member

Yes Dikko is right should be worried about ATM

Radar · Guru

I hope you have noticed that no one, not one have been weighed by the law enforcement agents.

For your safety and protection try to keep it legal that said learn to drive and live by your essences.

Just saying.

Possum3 · Guru

Radar We were pulled over by Police and Mermaids (They are the one's with scales) East of Camooweal, along with all heavy vehicles - They checked weights (van and tug), licences, BAC (Breathalysed), Compliance Plates - They even mentioned that number plate location was OK.
The State Police were brought in from Cairns for a week long "Targeted Operation" in Qld.

Peter Rose · Veteran Member

So far only 1 person saying they have been stopped and weighed which is the question I asked.
Interested in actual events please

FYI
on NSW rego papers the empty weight of the caravan is stated as Tare and the loaded weight of the caravan is stated as GVM

elliemike · Guru

We've never been stopped anywhere.

Never met anyone who has been weighed at the roadside.

suppose there is a first time for everything though.

Dick0 · Guru

Peter Rose wrote:
So far only 1 person saying they have been stopped and weighed which is the question I asked.
Interested in actual events please

FYI
on NSW rego papers the empty weight of the caravan is stated as Tare and the loaded weight of the caravan is stated as GVM

I think all vanners tend to comply with the ATM compliance of the van, IMO biggrin

But, good luck with the GVM.

I do wonder, however, what weights the NSW authorities check?

Welcome to the forum and happy travels mate smile

the rocket · Guru

Dick0 wrote:
Hi Peter Rose.
No, I have not as yet been weighed.
You mention GVM weight.
I would be more concerned about complying with the ATM weight of the van, as stated on the compliance plate, that is, the total weight of the van fully loaded for travel and unhitched.
Then the GCM, combined weight of vehicle and trailer.

-- Edited by Dick0 on Saturday 22nd of April 2017 06:40:21 PM
Hello dicko, you mention thr total weight of the van fully loaded for travel and unhitched. Does the ride levellers get counted in the caravan weight or car weight? So peter rose for going off you topic but i am curious.

Peter rose, answer to your question, no.

Dick0 · Guru

the rocket wrote:
Dick0 wrote:
Hi Peter Rose.
No, I have not as yet been weighed.
You mention GVM weight.
I would be more concerned about complying with the ATM weight of the van, as stated on the compliance plate, that is, the total weight of the van fully loaded for travel and unhitched.
Then the GCM, combined weight of vehicle and trailer.

-- Edited by Dick0 on Saturday 22nd of April 2017 06:40:21 PM
Hello dicko, you mention thr total weight of the van fully loaded for travel and unhitched. Does the ride levellers get counted in the caravan weight or car weight? So peter rose for going off you topic but i am curious.
Peter rose, answer to your question, no.

Hi the rocket.

Good question.

I can only assume if the van is unhitched so will be the levellers.

The levellers being an add on, may perhaps, be included only in the GCM.

A good point to follow up though. confuse

macka17 · Guru

Hey.
The FIRST thing ALL shoud do. (with vans)

Is crawl under and chaech van CHASSIS.
They all rated differently, then STAMPED accordingly.

Find your weights. then figure.

Normally it is controlled by brake drun size.
10in drums to one weight. 12 in Heavier.

IF your van is plated to MAX weight on axle\s. you stuffed.
NO MORE without a LOT of money spent.

It figures MORE than plate.
You can pay to have it changed.
(Engineer. or maybe letter from MFG to Highways)

With water.
My last van had 3 x 90 ltr tanks.

I always TRAVELLED on highways
oads. with tanks empty
and a 20 ltr in van for drinking.
Topping up when I either got to destination.
or before we turned OFF roads.

Patrol rated to 3.2ton and 6.2?ish combined.
I was normally around 5.6\5.7t Comb.
Over weighbridge at home.
Just don't weigh individual axles PLEASE....

As long as you stay a decent figure UNDER max rated.
with tug at least 3\400kg heavier than van
Preferably more. For safety.
You can travel safely and legally.
Anywhere.

This rig has a 800+kg differential weights,
UTE and 18ft Tandem van.

Uts 2.7ton. Van 1.8ton. ACTUAL weights.

Loaded 2 persons (and cat) Full fuel.

79ltrs plus 2 x 25 jerry's.

-- Edited by macka17 on Sunday 23rd of April 2017 12:38:35 PM

The Belmont Bear · Guru

A few months a go while booking into a CP I was parked beside a NSW highway patrol motorbike cop who happened to be there making a reservation for a site. I asked him what were they looking for in terms of weight when they saw people out on the road towing vans and his response was -

1) Most of us don't worry too much about weight unless the mismatch is obvious i.e. small tow vehicle/large van - he said it's too time consuming for them to get you to follow them back to a weigh station or to get someone to come out with a set of scales to check.

2) He said normally with a 4 wheel drive such as the one I was driving (Pajero sport) pulling a 21ft van it probably wouldn't even warrant a second glance from him.

At the end he quanitified it by saying - "but that's only me don't be too surprised if one of my more concentious mates has a different view".

Cheers

BB

Radar · Guru

I was a transport driver for 43 years, if and when the authorities pull you the driver in they will check your gross combination maximum, they may weigh your car at a roadside stop with 4 independent small platform scales first and then weigh the caravan second adding this altogether.

Providing you are with in your allowable weighs they will do nothing but from heavy transport experience and you are over somewhere then they may allow 10% tolliance

I personally can not see them forcing you to spit your combination to find the tow ball weight, never seen a semi trailer split.

From experience the smaller the overload the more easier for them to handle eg 200kg overload on a axle group for them is not a lot to write up, drivers don't have time to go to court, quick as but to grossly overload truck gets grounded, they need to do a lot of writing perhaps sit there in the cold to keep an eye on the transport so it don't get moved until its load is brought back to legal. Sometimes this can take days waiting for crane or forklift and another truck to take away the overload.

Now remember while this is going on how many other small easy overloads are slipping bye and the boys have really nothing to show for there days work, except that grossly overloaded vehicle parked over there not counting anymore.

Hope I have painted some sort of picture and do hope the new generation authorities have been trained in better handling the travelling public, as transport drivers were treated as crims until we proved ourselves not guilty to there discuss.

Enjoy the road out there and remember there is about 2 hundred thousand caravans moving around Australia if your one that gets pull over to be weighed, don't by a lotto ticket you have just run out of luck to win.

Cupie · Guru

Radar wrote:
I was a transport driver for 43 years, if and when the authorities pull you the driver in they will check your gross combination maximum, they may weigh your car at a roadside stop with 4 independent small platform scales first and then weigh the caravan second adding this altogether.
Providing you are with in your allowable weighs they will do nothing but from heavy transport experience and you are over somewhere then they may allow 10% tolliance
I personally can not see them forcing you to spit your combination to find the tow ball weight, never seen a semi trailer split.
From experience the smaller the overload the more easier for them to handle eg 200kg overload on a axle group for them is not a lot to write up, drivers don't have time to go to court, quick as but to grossly overload truck gets grounded, they need to do a lot of writing perhaps sit there in the cold to keep an eye on the transport so it don't get moved until its load is brought back to legal. Sometimes this can take days waiting for crane or forklift and another truck to take away the overload.
Now remember while this is going on how many other small easy overloads are slipping bye and the boys have really nothing to show for there days work, except that grossly overloaded vehicle parked over there not counting anymore.
Hope I have painted some sort of picture and do hope the new generation authorities have been trained in better handling the travelling public, as transport drivers were treated as crims until we proved ourselves not guilty to there discuss.
Enjoy the road out there and remember there is about 2 hundred thousand caravans moving around Australia if your one that gets pull over to be weighed, don't by a lotto ticket you have just run out of luck to win.

Where do you find the 'Gross Combination Maximum' for an older, no old, vehicle like my 1996 4.2Efi Patrol?

Radar · Guru

Cupie wrote:
Radar wrote:
I was a transport driver for 43 years, if and when the authorities pull you the driver in they will check your gross combination maximum, they may weigh your car at a roadside stop with 4 independent small platform scales first and then weigh the caravan second adding this altogether.
Providing you are with in your allowable weighs they will do nothing but from heavy transport experience and you are over somewhere then they may allow 10% tolliance
I personally can not see them forcing you to spit your combination to find the tow ball weight, never seen a semi trailer split.
From experience the smaller the overload the more easier for them to handle eg 200kg overload on a axle group for them is not a lot to write up, drivers don't have time to go to court, quick as but to grossly overload truck gets grounded, they need to do a lot of writing perhaps sit there in the cold to keep an eye on the transport so it don't get moved until its load is brought back to legal. Sometimes this can take days waiting for crane or forklift and another truck to take away the overload.
Now remember while this is going on how many other small easy overloads are slipping bye and the boys have really nothing to show for there days work, except that grossly overloaded vehicle parked over there not counting anymore.
Hope I have painted some sort of picture and do hope the new generation authorities have been trained in better handling the travelling public, as transport drivers were treated as crims until we proved ourselves not guilty to there discuss.
Enjoy the road out there and remember there is about 2 hundred thousand caravans moving around Australia if your one that gets pull over to be weighed, don't by a lotto ticket you have just run out of luck to win.
Where do you find the 'Gross Combination Maximum' for an older, no old, vehicle like my 1996 4.2Efi Patrol?

Hi Cupie

Not knowing the exact model I just googled 1996 Nissan Patrol it read 5300 gcm, 2500 towing from redbook.

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

I've heard the same thing as Belmont - also from a copper.
He said if the load looked cactus, ie not level & was all over the place on the road, then they often looked closer.

On my past Eagle, I added another 50L water tank for when we went to isolated National Parks - 50 L for an extended Easter holiday didn't go far but the additional 50 made things more comfortable. Most of the time, the 2nd tank was empty.

On GCM - isn't that a weight that appears on utility compliance plates? My wagon doesn't show it.

One question - should I pull in & stop when I see a sign "All vehicles over 4.5T should stop"?

Radar · Guru

Warren-Pat_01 wrote:
I've heard the same thing as Belmont - also from a copper.
He said if the load looked cactus, ie not level & was all over the place on the road, then they often looked closer.

On my past Eagle, I added another 50L water tank for when we went to isolated National Parks - 50 L for an extended Easter holiday didn't go far but the additional 50 made things more comfortable. Most of the time, the 2nd tank was empty.

On GCM - isn't that a weight that appears on utility compliance plates? My wagon doesn't show it.

One question - should I pull in & stop when I see a sign "All vehicles over 4.5T should stop"?

Yes.

Bill B · Guru

Warren-Pat_01 wrote:

One question - should I pull in & stop when I see a sign "All vehicles over 4.5T should stop"?

Only if the GVM of your tow vehicle exceeds 4.5 T.

PeterD · Guru

Dick0 wrote:
You mention GVM weight.
I would be more concerned about complying with the ATM weight of the van, as stated on the compliance plate, that is, the total weight of the van fully loaded for travel and unhitched.

If Peter read the weight from the registration papers it is shown as GVM and not ATM, hence his terminology. The state registry authorities do not have a field for ATM so they record the ATM in the GVM field.

macka17 · Guru

Therer is a paper out on the hows. Why's and whens. to tow a trailer.

Fairly comprehensive and with a quick glance through.
Fairly useful.

Practical Motoring.

"Everything you need to know about towing heavy trlrs"

Dated 09\Jul\2015.

I just brought it up on Google.

It'll help most I would think. Nobody knows it all.

-- Edited by macka17 on Monday 24th of April 2017 10:45:51 AM

rockylizard · Guru

macka17 wrote:
There is a paper out on the hows, whys and whens to tow a trailer.

Fairly comprehensive and with a quick glance through. Fairly useful.

Practical Motoring - "Everything you need to know about towing heavy trailers" Dated 09\Jul\2015.

I just brought it up on Google. It'll help most I would think. Nobody knows it all.
This is the link to the article referred to above by Macka.
https://practicalmotoring.com.au/car-advice/everything-you-need-to-know-about-towing-heavy-trailers/
I would suggest that it is more than 'fairly' comprehensive ... it is comprehensive!
It is a long read, so I would suggest you save the link to your 'bookmarks/favourites' and read it progressively and perhaps often.
It would be a good reference point when setting up your trailer/caravan.

Gday...

Cheers - John

macka17 · Guru

Thank's John

Birdo · Veteran Member

Hi Peter Rose
We bought our first caravan in 1969,a Franklin,and have owned many caravans since and still doing three to four caravan trips each year.
I have heard or read on many occasions of people being pulled over and weighed by the authorities and even said they are not to continue their trip unless they reduce their weight in the van.
In the fifty years i have been caravanning I have yet to meet a person who has said they have actually been pulled over and weighed.
Plenty of stories going around like "i was speaking to a person the other day and he said somebody told him that they heard of this guy being pulled over and weighed" but as I said previously i am yet to speak to anybody with first hand experience.
We should be o.k.as my van has a 2450 tare and 3500 ATM.
Cheers

macka17 · Guru

Birdo.

As long as tug and combined comply too hey.

Birdo · Veteran Member

Macka 17

They do

Symo2540 · Veteran Member

Interesting thread. If you are all legal with your weights then you should be ok if you're unfortunate enough to need to make an insurance claim. I imagine any excuse would do to get out of paying a claim. Just my thoughts.

Pradokakadudavid · Senior Member

You can add the water tank but only fill it when parked.

Pradokakadudavid · Senior Member

Doesn't matter if most don't get caught or not. If you have any kind of accident, the insurance companies will crucify you if your vehicle was over it's ATM at the time. They will find any excuse not to pay. How do I know this? My son in law is an insurance executive!