100 series GVM Upgrade

We have a 2004 100 Series Landcruiser which has a payload of only 605 kg and this has to include the ball weight of the van. We have a bullbar and drawers and by the time we added our weight, recovery gear, water, fridge and tools etc and then the towball weight we were over the limit.

Actually it is a very interesting exercise to do the figures - 300 for the towball weight, 150 for the passenger and the driver - that leaves you with only 150 for all your gear (and if you're travelling in the outback you need more than just a change of clothes!!!) plus all the non-standard accessories such as bullbar, winch, roof rack, drawers, heavy duty tyres etc.

For us it was either a GVM upgrade or we had to get a new vehicle.

After several months of searching in Victoria for an engineer who would give us this upgrade, Bob was ready to give up.

As a last resort we contacted Alltrac 4WD in Adelaide; what a surprise - Peter, the owner was most encouraging and said 'no problems'. He gave us the contact details of several people in Victoria, but once again we ran into brick walls ..... we kept getting told it was not possible.

In desperation I rang Alltrac again and Peter said that it could be done from SA as the Engineer that he used was certified for Vic Roads.

So, last month we drove 900 kms to Adelaide to have the vehicle inspected etc. No extra work needed to be done, so it was simply a matter of waiting for the engineeer to complete the paperwork and plates.

These arrived earlier this week and Vic Roads gave us the thumbs up yesterday!!!!

We now have a GVM of 3500 (originally 3260). We cannot take any more gear as our GCM is still 6760 ... but now we have peace of mind as we are legal.

Wendy