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53 CommentsGreg KingdomA big help. But does a weight distribution hitch change these figures and can I keep this as an app?12 October 2019 (11:25 am)10 5Brendan BattyHi Greg, thanks for the question. No, a weight distribution hitch doesn’t affect these numbers – all a WDH does is transfer weight from the rear axle of the tow vehicle to the front axle ‘distributing’ the weight more evenly across the vehicle. Check out a video here describing the process – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-PyN0EY3Ww22 October 2019 (3:15 pm)5 1MattThose WDH’s are a heavy item in themselves, so if you’re watching your weights, their weight should also be included in the tow ball weight or subtracted off the vehicle payload.8 January 2021 (1:26 pm)4 0carli am under weight every ware but my caravan is over weight by 300 kg i dont understand14 November 2019 (9:24 pm)0 3Brendan BattySend us a screen-shot Carl, and we might be able to help you.16 November 2019 (7:49 pm)0 0GeDouble check that next to your final answer if there is a minus sign you are under by kg.2 July 2020 (8:11 am)1 0PeterI am under weight everywhere but my GVM is over weight by 300 kg. I dont understand, like Carl.24 November 2019 (3:00 am)7 0Gary AlthorpeHi Brendan, I am confused by your details included in the latest RAC magazine re vehicle weights. Page 30 refers to a Toyota Fortuna and the relevant GCM and GVM values.I don’t think your maths are correct, and would appreciate your comments.
Regards
Gary Althorpe
28 November 2019 (11:31 am)3 0Jos WillemsenHi I am confused also as I am under weight on all sides but over on the Gvm!I changed the figures around cause I am confused by the tare and kerb weight as the caravan has a tare and agg weight and as I understand the tare is the caravan and the agg is the loaded caravan?
25 December 2019 (2:30 pm)0 0DanielHi does anyone know how the towball weights work at with the caravan does as ive got a ball weight off 138 kg and my caravan weighing at 900kgs empty am i under the limit of towing weight ??? And i also have a 94 pajero 3ltr v6 that does tow it well tho as tows upto 2500kgs at the ball can anyone tell me if im fine for towing an 16ft poptop caravan tho????5 January 2020 (6:40 pm)7 0juliehi dont understand the weights in the calculation as they came back as – does this mean im ok to tow the van with is says-440kg too heavy
gcm -592kg
gvm -598kg
caravan overweight -438kg
9 January 2020 (4:23 pm)4 0ChookHi Julie….a minus (-) means it’s under the limit…all OK. (if I’ve read it correctly)8 July 2020 (10:44 am)2 0MegsOur vehicle worked out safe on all accounts, but, the compliance plate on van axle group load capacity is lower than the GTM.Why would a manufacturer of a new van quote an axle load less than the GTM.
28 January 2020 (10:40 pm)1 1Laurie ReidyOption rv have done the same with my van24 May 2021 (3:31 pm)0 0BrianI have been weighed by RTA Queensland I put in the weights they put in they show me under by 150kg your numbers tell me I am over by400 ??1 March 2020 (7:37 pm)0 0Brendan BattyHi Brian, have you got all the numbers around the right way. Often people mix up aggregate and total mass.13 March 2020 (5:21 pm)0 0TrentHi all just trying to figer out what suspension kit to put underneath my van with the van fully loaded it weighs 1800kg but hooked upto the car it weighs 1600kg so i understand that i have a 200kg ball weight but my question is do i need suspension to handle at least 1800kg or 1600kg cheers for any info28 March 2020 (9:53 pm)3 1Tim ProctorI have a 2018 Toyota 200 Sahara with a Lovells 3800kg GVM upgrade and a Lovells 4000kg BTC upgrade. My ball weight is 310Kg and Van has an ATM of 4000Kg. What is my maximum GCM?24 April 2020 (7:23 pm)0 8Brett HughesCan’t tell from those figures Tim. Most upgrades don’t change the GCM.Your supplier would need to tell you if you got a GVM AND a GCM upgrade.
You should have it on a new compliance plate either, otherwise your legal capacities may not have changed.
1 October 2020 (7:26 pm)2 0KevinHi Brendan, can the tow car be to light Compared to the caravan it’s towing even it meets all the requirements17 June 2020 (9:22 pm)0 0JackThis showing my weights to be over by 720 gcm, which is not correct. this is not set this up correctly as seen by the previous comments11 July 2020 (4:42 pm)0 0John ashtonThe calculator is a great idea, very useful, after a trip to the engineers and a couple of small mods my Jayco and Pajero sport are now legal. Thanks again for a great idea, Cheers John13 July 2020 (3:24 pm)2 0Brian BarrettThank you for the use of the calculator, I’m under on all counts.22 July 2020 (6:28 pm)1 0TrevorYour pic showing the tow ball scale is not going to show the full weight unless we can see clearance under that jocky wheel!!22 July 2020 (10:52 pm)0 2FrankAfter nutting out the figures for days and putting the rig over the weigh bridge, I then discover your calculator. It’s very pleasing to see a calculator that is so easy to use.16 August 2020 (3:14 pm)2 0DavidHi TTR, I have used the calculator and am under on all accounts. I have tried to recreate the calculations on a spreadsheet and I am close. A question I have is whether the GCM (max) is the sum of: the ATM (loaded weight of the VAN), the GVM (loaded weight of the CAR) and the Towball down weight. If yes, then I don’t think this is how the TTR calculator works.A second question is whether the Towball down weight is transferred to the CAR when hitched, thus increasing the Payload capacity when unhitched.
Thanks for your help.
David
7 September 2020 (12:38 am)0 0Brett HughesThe total combination mass is the total laden mass of the tow vehicle (excluding the towball weight), plus the ATM of the caravan (which also includes the towball down weight).However, the towball down weight is included in the GVM calculation AND in the ATM calculation.
That also answers your second question – the towball down weight doesn’t transfer to the tow vehicle in the ATM calculation (ie it’s not subtracted).
This is why people rarely get to their maximum GVM and their maximum ATM. And I’ll guess that’s the difference in your calculations.
There are several websites that show the calculations and diagrams.
1 October 2020 (7:19 pm)2 0Mark MeurisseI’m trying to discover the tow ball weight of a 1999 Jayco (unknown model) 6.17m caravan as my VW Tiguan 132 TSI has a towball limit of 100kg. Please advise how I might be able to confirm this as the sellers aren’t sure.Thanks,
Mark
22 November 2020 (10:33 pm)0 0KelMy caravan is overweight by 160 KG. My GVM over by 210kg. Maybe I can reduce some weight in the van?15 December 2020 (5:53 pm)0 0WayneDoes the loaded/total weight of the caravan discount the towball weight or is it inclusive of it?16 December 2020 (7:14 pm)0 0Robert JohnstonThe loaded weight of the caravan is what the van weighs unhitched from the tow car. The loaded weight of the tow car is what it weighs unhitched from the van. Add both together you have your GCM. The towball weight is used to determine the added weight applied on the rear axle of the tow car which impacts the tow cars GVM.1 February 2021 (1:22 pm)1 0Geoff ProtheroGCM is a figure set by the cars manufacturer, you cannot add ATM and GVM and say this is my GCM, you can only check that you’re not over your GCM using this method and you must include your towball weight in the GVM.23 August 2021 (7:15 pm)0 0Mark yorkGreat calculator, easy to use and clarified what i thought anyway. Good peace of mind.6 February 2021 (8:31 am)1 0greg charetI have put approximate weights for car and caravan am i over the weight on both the caravan and car as i don’t see a Pluss Sign only Minus and will take to a weigh bridge for exact weights ,but going by what i have put am i over weight Thanks GregCaravan’s weight, fully loaded for travel
2208
How much does your caravan weigh, packed with all your gear, water and gas? 2220
Caravan’s Aggregate Trailer Mass
1999
Caravan’s Tow Ball Download
250
What is the tow ball download when the caravan is fully loaded?
Car’s GVM
2275
What is your car’s Gross Vehicle Mass?
Car’s Braked Towing Limit
3100
Car’s Kerb Weight
2110
What is the car’s kerb weight (weight before a load)?
Loaded weight of tow car
2550
much how much does the car weigh, with all passengers, packed for a trip, without the caravan hitched?
Car’s GCM
5565
What is the Gross Combination Mass of the tow car?
The caravan is too heavy for my car to tow by:
-892kg
A positive value means your caravan is too heavy for your car to tow. Reduce the weight by the number shown.
I will be over GCM by:
-807kg
A positive value mean’s you need to remove weight from your car or caravan to stay legal. A negative value mean’s you’ve got some capacity to spare.
I will be over GVM by
525kg
A positive value means you need to remove weight from the to vehicle, either by reducing luggage or accessory weight, or reducing tow ball download.
My caravan is overweight by:
209kg
A positive value means your caravan is overweight and you need to remove weight from it to legally tow it.
8 February 2021 (8:45 pm)1 0greg charetI have another questionI used a Jack with a weight scale built in but will be going to a Weigh Station
The drivers side of the caravan weigh is approximately
1250kg but the off side is only 700kg
Is this illegal in NSW as all the heavy items built into the van are on the drivers side ,Fridge, Toilet, Water Heater ,Batteries ,The Axle weight is 2000kg ,but total van weight when loaded can be 2208kg
When i collected the van it was level and had no issue towing
8 February 2021 (8:53 pm)0 2Lisa BrophyOne thing missing is manufacturers tow ball mass maximum. If the actual ball mass is over this then game over right? Can’t do anything to fix it.16 February 2021 (8:02 pm)2 0Geoff ProtheroManufacturer towball weight is with the van empty.23 August 2021 (7:20 pm)0 0BobI thought your comment is very true. I’m facing that dilemma now. Did you get any response to your “game over” on towball weight?22 December 2021 (8:48 am)0 0BobI thought your comment is very true. I’m facing that dilemma now. Did you get any response to your “game over” on towball weight?22 December 2021 (8:48 am)0 0BruceI don’t get all this jargon if your car has a maximum tow of 2300 kg and you don’t don’t go over this weight you shud be legal right ? Is your weight what’s in your car part of this 2300 kg8 April 2021 (8:52 am)0 0Michelle MasefieldSee this video – explains it all:https://youtu.be/swUDFWQ5QhI
8 June 2021 (12:49 pm)0 1Peter FisherSo far so good, all under with the van being at zero as we haven’t actually added up the contents as yet. Just getting a guide as to where we are at with raw figures and all is looking great.25 May 2021 (2:02 pm)1 0Paul GrantI am under weight for my GCM, but this site tells me I am 2400kg over something is very wrong, I sure I have put in the correct figures. Think this is rubbish. My GVM is 3040kg, CGM 5550kg max tow ball weight is 300kg, can tow 3000kg, with with a full load of 3040kg takes trailer weight (with brakes) back to 2500kg max. Our caravan is Tare 1920kg GVM 2160Kg and still says I am over weight.5 June 2021 (12:52 pm)0 0Michelle MasefieldThe towball weight that you need to enter is, rule of thumb, 10% of the total weight of your full loaded van – not the maximum download weight that is stamped on your compliance plate.You also need to enter your vans ATM – not the GTM. ATM is your vans GTM plus the tow ball loading at TARE. The ATM or Ball loading (either/or or both) should be stamped on the compliance plate.
8 June 2021 (12:58 pm)0 0Michael FetzerBest explanation and calculation I’ve seen ! Upsetting because I found im a little over on my van weights for my tug17 June 2021 (7:59 pm)2 0Frank CascioYour calculator is an excellent resource for caravaners. But I am struggling to estimate the REAR AXLE LOAD on my proposed Ford Everest Trend RWD. The max allowed is 1650kg, but I cannot find the rear axle load AT KERB.17 July 2021 (11:02 pm)0 0Ian JohnsonHi, I am very new to this and still trying to get my head around the language of Caravans and weights etc. I am looking at the calculator and a little confused as I thought the caravan weight when fully loaded was the ATM.Can someone please help me out here.
Many thanks in advance …..Ian
6 October 2021 (11:06 am)3 0Stewart ParfettI always was happy how my van sat and towed. 120 Prado handles it well. Was really stoked to see that I under by 160 kg but not telling wife otherwise more nicknames from all over. Thanks for a great tool, 👍 takes the stress out of my maths6 October 2021 (3:20 pm)0 0DanMy car has not got plated GCM, contacted the manufacturer and they were unable to advise – even the DOT has that section blank on the vehicles registration. How will this affect my limits?10 October 2021 (7:54 am)0 0RozI have worked hard to try to get my van loaded weight + towball weight under the van ATM and I’m really struggling with this. Am I misinformed?4 November 2021 (8:54 pm)0 0AnthonyHi, when it asks for the total weight of the caravan I assume that means the weight at the wheels and at the jockey wheel, ie the tow ball weight, I ask as I have been on a weight bridge and they are two separated weights on the docket so wanted to be sure I was correct. Also I assume I don’t add the tow ball weight to the car he tool does that,thanks25 November 2021 (12:35 pm)0 0BobI need help to understand about tow ball weights. My Pajero max towball weight is 180kg if van is over 2500kg. There are caravan council “recommendations” that your tow ball weight should be 10% of the loaded van. My issue is if I tow a 3000 kg van, I can’t have 300kg on the towball. Your calculator doesn’t consider this. So can I assume that the 10% towball weight is not legislation, and that I will not be fined for this?Will my insurance be affected if I keep towball weight to 180kg, and NOT the 10% number?
22 December 2021 (8:41 am)1 0TonyThankyou, your calculator has just settled my thoughts, after putting in the figures for my regent caravan and 200 series VX land cruiser all the results have come out negative with 100Kg still available for the caravan.I am going to get van weighed whilst away shortly so will have an accurate number ,instead of what i believe is an over estimate.
21 March 2022 (4:12 pm)0 0