Hi everyone. Since the new Federal Government Regs came in 01Jun18, preventing GCM upgrades I have read conflicting information as to the legality of carrying out a GCM upgrade. Recently I read article that NSW and Vic are allowing GCM upgrades, Tas OK but not towing, NT "No" and nothing on WA or QLD. Despite the conflicting information I contacted a well known business in QLD which carries out chassis extensions, upgrades etc who has advised that a GCM can be done. I am totally bewildered and ask the Grey Nomads community can than shed any light on this issue. By the way we live in WA and drive a BT50, but are struggling whether we can upgrade or have to change the tow vehicle.
Why start another thread. There is another thread going quite recently in 2019. I posted links to the new federal legislation. You should read. Its complex with staged introduction and likely exemption (though getting rearer) from Dec18 to Dec19. Suggest you read my post and do informed research rather than get 100 opinion. Cheers Baz
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Why is it so? Professor Julius Sumner Miller, a profound influence on my life, who explained science to us on TV in the 60's.
It may be he wanted to contribute to the forum, and thought he may get some answers that were constructive
and he could start his research there
there may also be a lot of reasons your question is not practical for him
Baz421. No need to get annoyed about a question. I did research on GCM in the forum but only found info dating back to 2017. No good. The web site for Dept of Transport in WA is as informative as Donald Trump on world affairs.
For what this is worth, I don't believe you can upgrade the GCM which is the total max weight the Tow vehicle and van can weigh in combination when towing.
I believe the GVM can be upgraded which is the total amount the Tow vehicle can weigh, but I think this will then reduce the total weight of the van that can be towed to meet the manufacturers GCM.
Jedsdad. Go to google search modified vehicles WA. EVERYTHING is there including an online format that guides you. If you can't do that for any reason there is a form you can fill out. As mentioned GCM changes are probably not allowed especially for light vehicles, less than 4500kg. A whole pile of ADR's are effected for GCM upgrades including the braking efficiency of the caravan. Given the caravan is probably a LOW VOLUME APPROVAL this would be hard to achieve IMHO. Sorry if i was a bit short this morning. Cheers Baz
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Why is it so? Professor Julius Sumner Miller, a profound influence on my life, who explained science to us on TV in the 60's.
I believe the clamping down on GCM upgrades was an attempt to reduce the instances of the tail wagging the dog, where the towed vehicle takes control of the towing vehicle with drastic results. I can see a limited future for towing a heavy van with a vehicle that does not fall into the heavy vehicle class where the GVM of the owing vehicle is less than 4.5 tonnes.
There had been a serious move toward vehicles that only required a car licence towing mega vans that weighed well over 3 tonnes, I've had a few in the shop that would be closer to 5 tonnes, yet still towed by a vehicle that only requires a car licence.
This could be their way of getting the bigger rigs to have to drive through the weigh stations. If the tow vehicle is classed as a heavy vehicle then the transport depts. in various states gain control over directing the rig across a weigh bridge, a vehicle that only requires a car licence can only really be directed to a weigh station by a Police officer.
T1 Terry
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You can lead a head to knowledge but you can't make it think. One day I'll know it all, but till then, I'll keep learning.
Any links to any sites or products is not an endorsement by me or do I gain any financial reward for such links
Thanks to all for the feedback. Still not 100% clear on the situation of upgrade across the country, however the WA position seems clear, the answer "NO". As a Grey Nomad now travelling more often, we have to consider our tow vehicle, weight of our van and our love of taking the roof top tinny when we travel. Either way it looks like an expensive exercise to rectify. Many of us have been doing this type of travel for years, although not fully legal , it has now become an issue across Australia. Sad to let us enjoy ourselves, now a very real threat of costing more money from our retirement funds.
You can't may rules for one and not for another, unless you are a parliamentary member of course, then the rules for common people only apply to the commoners.
With so many new to caravanning Grey Nomads hitting the road that have virtually no experience regarding towing anything, they had to come up with a way to reduce the number and frequency of caravans ending on the their roof and the tow vehicle a mangled wreck. Eventually those out of control vans and tow vehicles are going to come in contact with other innocent road users and people will be killed or seriously injured as a result.
It is a case of either upgrading or down grading so the whole rig returns to a legal status. Would you still think the law was wrong if it wasn't implemented and an out of control caravan and tow vehicle killed one of your grandkids?
T1 Terry
Fixed my poor typing
-- Edited by T1 Terry on Saturday 16th of February 2019 10:36:11 PM
__________________
You can lead a head to knowledge but you can't make it think. One day I'll know it all, but till then, I'll keep learning.
Any links to any sites or products is not an endorsement by me or do I gain any financial reward for such links
Thanks to all for the feedback. Still not 100% clear on the situation of upgrade across the country, however the WA position seems clear, the answer "NO". As a Grey Nomad now travelling more often, we have to consider our tow vehicle, weight of our van and our love of taking the roof top tinny when we travel. Either way it looks like an expensive exercise to rectify. Many of us have been doing this type of travel for years, although not fully legal , it has now become an issue across Australia. Sad to let us enjoy ourselves, now a very real threat of costing more money from our retirement funds.
plenty of vehicles around that will tow the required weight, some of the small trucks like fuso and others fit the bill nicely. Cost is some times better than the duel cabs every one likes to use (to me they are a half baked work vehicle, not here nor there. Some of the $200k combos I have seen leave me shaking my head, seen a 200 series at the head of thee bight with the drabar nearly one the road and the headilghts had to be moon spotting. Tell me how far he had come. Get em off the road
I believe the clamping down on GCM upgrades was an attempt to reduce the instances of the tail wagging the dog, where the towed vehicle takes control of the towing vehicle with drastic results. I can see a limited future for towing a heavy van with a vehicle that does not fall into the heavy vehicle class where the GVM of the owing vehicle is less than 4.5 tonnes. There had been a serious move toward vehicles that only required a car licence towing mega vans that weighed well over 3 tonnes, I've had a few in the shop that would be closer to 5 tonnes, yet still towed by a vehicle that only requires a car licence. This could be their way of getting the bigger rigs to have to drive through the weigh stations. If the tow vehicle is classed as a heavy vehicle then the transport depts. in various states gain control over directing the rig across a weigh bridge, a vehicle that only requires a car licence can only really be directed to a weigh station by a Police officer.
T1 Terry
Not only caravans Terry, many Motor Homes are downgraded and sold to people with a car licence. Then they
connect a small car on the back and travell down the road without any knowledge of the weight.
