{"id":26625,"date":"2018-09-25T08:19:30","date_gmt":"2018-09-24T22:49:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.snowys.com.au\/blog\/?p=26625"},"modified":"2023-05-19T11:01:43","modified_gmt":"2023-05-19T01:31:43","slug":"overweight-4wd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.snowys.com.au\/blog\/overweight-4wd\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Your 4WD In Need of a Diet?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Do you know what your 4WD weighs? If you\u2019ve never taken your loaded vehicle over a weighbridge<\/a>, then put it on the list of things to do ASAP!<\/p>\n

A heavy 4WD is a recipe for disaster, and there are a huge number of people with 4WD vehicles that are overweight… and in need of a diet.<\/p>\n

Next time your vehicle is loaded up for a trip away, swing past the local weighbridge and be prepared for a big shock.<\/p>\n

\"Hundreds<\/p>\n

How many 4WDs out there are overweight?\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Why is weight important?<\/h2>\n

The weight of your 4WD is important for a number of reasons.<\/p>\n

First and foremost, if you exceed the manufacturer’s weight allowances you can kiss goodbye your warranty and insurance, and put yourself at risk of a nice fine from Mr. Plod. Yes, I\u2019m dead serious – an overweight 4WD is not legal and puts you at substantial risk.<\/p>\n

If you have an accident in an overweight 4WD, things can get messy real<\/em> quick. When you take out an insurance policy, you agree to have a roadworthy 4WD. If its overweight, it\u2019s not roadworthy and any insurance claims can be reduced or declined.<\/p>\n

\"A-saggy-rear-end-is-a-good-indication-of-weight\"<\/p>\n

A saggy rear end is a good indication of weight.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Beyond that, the more your 4WD weighs, the more stress it puts on everything from wheel bearings to suspension, the chassis, and even your motor. If you haven\u2019t seen the number of bent chassis (particularly dual cabs) in the last few years floating around on social media, you should take a look. It is astounding, and many of them occur from having vehicles that are overweight.<\/p>\n

The really sad thing is that so many people are completely unaware of their responsibility to have a vehicle that isn\u2019t overweight. It\u2019s also extremely easy to end up with a 4WD that is not just a little overweight, but grossly obese.<\/p>\n

\"Heavy<\/p>\n

Excess weight puts a lot of strain on your vehicle.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

What can your 4WD legally weigh?<\/h2>\n

Fortunately, this part of the research is really simple. Your owner\u2019s manual will have the specifications of your vehicle, and if you can\u2019t find it, head over to Redbook<\/a> and find your make, model, and year. To start with, there are a few things you want to look for \u2013 GVM and tare mass.<\/p>\n

\"4WD<\/p>\n

Check your manual or head to Redbook to find out what the weight limits are for your vehicle.<\/em><\/p>\n

GVM and Tare Mass<\/h2>\n

The GVM is the Gross Vehicle Mass or the maximum weight your vehicle can be at any time. The tare mass is the weight of your vehicle when it is purchased brand new, stock standard, and with no weight in it. This makes the difference between the two – the amount of weight you can add to your 4WD, or otherwise known as your payload.<\/p>\n

When I say ‘add’, it refers to any weight sitting on or in your vehicle. This includes passengers, accessories, fuel, water, food, tools, anything else you throw inside the vehicle, and last but not least, the weight a trailer applies to your tow ball (if you are towing).<\/p>\n

4WDs start off with payloads (the difference between GVM and tare weight) of around 600kg and work their way up to around 1100kg. That might look like a lot to you on paper, but I can assure you it isn\u2019t. Those who have taken their 4WD over a weighbridge will attest to this!<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take a standard family of 4, in a 4WD with mild modifications like many on the road would have.<\/p>\n

\"Bull-bars-are-great-but-very-heavy\"<\/p>\n

A steel bull bar is great, but it is very heavy.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

An example of the weight of a family of 4:<\/h2>\n