Vehicle weights in spotlight
Certifiers of low-volume vehicles have been seeing an increase in the number of vehicles that exceed or are extremely close to gross vehicle mass (GVM).
The GVM is a vehicle’s maximum operating weight and cannot legally be exceeded.
It includes the physical weight of the vehicle, a weight allowance for passengers per seating position and extra equipment, such as water tanks on motorhomes.
“Affected vehicles are generally motorhomes or utility vehicles fitted with camper bodies or custom trays with equipment for commercial work,” says Tony Johnson, pictured, chief executive officer of the Low Volume Vehicle Technical Association (LVVTA).
“What follows is an example of a motorhome recently presented for LVV certification with a manufacturer’s GVM of 3,300kg.”
The owner supplied a weighbridge certificate stating the vehicle weighed 2,900kg. It had four seating positions so the provision for four occupants at 80kg each – the universally-accepted weight – added 320kg.
The motorhome was also equipped with a 75-litre water tank. When added, it brought the total vehicle weight to 3,295kg.
This only left 5kg between the vehicle’s driven weight and its maximum allowable weight. Adding luggage for four people would push this vehicle over its GVM.
Another example is a motorhome recently LVV-certified. It was so close to the GVM that the owners were unable to fit the extra seating position they required, meaning the vehicle was of no use to them because they had specifically purchased it intending to add a seat to take their grandchildren away with them.
While GVM upgrades can be LVV-certified on some vehicles, anyone thinking of purchasing a camper or ute fitted with heavy equipment should ensure it is suitable for their needs before purchasing.
The only GVM upgrade kits that can be LVV-certified are those that are ADR-approved and sold as a catalogued kit for the specific make and model to which they are fitted.
Vehicle owners, warrant of fitness (WOF) inspectors and LVV certifiers should check wheel and tyre ratings to confirm they are suitable for the GVM rating of the vehicle they are fitted.
The LVVTA was recently contacted regarding a series of utility vehicles belonging to a chain of tyre stores, which had each been fitted with a GVM upgrade kit.
The kits were designed and complied to work with the vehicle’s OE wheels and a specific tyre.
However, the wheels and tyres had been changed to after-market items with a lower rating than the upgraded GVM rating. This meant the tyres and wheels were below specification and unfit for purpose so could not be LVV certified.
