HEAVY LIFTING

WHY LOAD-RATINGS ON YOUR WHEELS AND TYRES ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT WHEN CARRYING HEAVY LOADS OR INCREASING YOUR GVM

WORDS TRISTAN TANCREDI

MODIFYING a four-wheel drive for off-road travel is inevitable for most owners with an appetite for adventure, but loading a 4x4 with gear – think bullbars, rooftop tents – or hitching a caravan or camper trailer behind it can vastly increase overall weight and lead to the vehicle being overloaded. From the factory, a vehicle is stamped with a GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass) rating by the manufacturer, which indicates the maximum weight that vehicle can legally carry – this includes the vehicle itself, vehicle occupants, all cargo, fuels and liquids, and any aftermarket accessories that have been fitted. GVM isn’t to be confused with GCM (Gross Combined Mass) which is the maximum combined weight of a vehicle and what it is towing. For example, a Mitsubishi Triton GLX+ has a GVM…

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4x4 Magazine Australia (Digital) - 1 Issue, August 2024

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