RV FEATURE
For the last five years , the general motoring and RV media has talked about the unrealistic towing capacities of dual-cab utes available on the Australian market . Principally , we ’ ve been critical of the claimed 3500kg towing capacity and how unrealistic it is considering these vehicles ’ low Gross Combined Mass ( GCM ) ratings .
As we begin 2021 , you might think the manufacturers have gotten the message and given their vehicles more realistic towing capacities .
Before we get too far into this , let ’ s recap the relevant specifications , what they mean , and how they apply .
Kerb Weight : This is the empty weight of the tow vehicle , with all necessary fluids and a full tank of fuel .
Gross Vehicle Mass ( GVM ): This is the maximum permissible weight the vehicle can be with everything loaded , including passengers , cargo and the towball weight of a connected trailer .
Gross Combined Mass ( GCM ): This is the maximum permissible combined weight of the vehicle and a connected trailer .
When you connect a trailer to a tow vehicle , the towball mass of the trailer is transferred to the tow vehicle in much the same way as putting any weight into the vehicle itself . For this reason , we must include the towball load in our GVM calculations .
However , when we look at GCM , we do not need to consider the towball weight separately as it is part of the trailer ’ s total weight , whether it ’ s connected to the tow vehicle or not . This transfer of mass is the source of much confusion among vehicle owners trying to assess if their rig is legal and safe .
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