What is GVM & why should you care?
Your GVM is your gross vehicle mass and is the maximum loaded weight of your 4wd while driving on the road. The GVM is specified by the vehicle manufacturer from factory.
The problem is that if you're planning to add after-market accessories to your car - think bull-bar, tow bar, roof rack, roof-top tent, long-range fuel tank, fridge, drawers, toolboxes - then it may well be the case that you're going to overload the 4wd and exceed the GVM. This is where a GVM upgrade gives you a solution.
A GVM upgrade increases the legal load limit of your 4wd to enable it to carry more weight. A GVM upgrade from America's Garage ensures you don't just meet the legal requirements, but also ensures your vehicle can handle the added weight by upgrading key suspension components.
GVM Upgrade Calculator
Select your vehicle and accessories to calculate your estimated gross vehicle mass and determine if an upgrade is required.
A GVM Upgrade May Be Required
Speak with our team to find the right upgrade solution for your vehicle and build.
Weight figures are estimates based on typical accessory weights. Always verify with your vehicle manufacturer and a certified engineer.
This calculator is a guide only and does not constitute engineering advice.
What should I do about it?
If you overload your 4WD, it means you're likely to experience poor handling and performance, more-so when you're travelling at speed (i.e. highway) or if you're driving off-road. Further to this, you decrease the reliability of your 4WD by operating beyond the limits of the vehicle.
By exceeding your GVM, in addition to risking your safety, you're also risking:
- Fines from your state/territory
- Voiding your insurance in the event of an accident/being liable if one of your employees are in an accident
being liable if one of your employees are in an accident
If you are required to carry additional weight, what can you do?
In the event that you need to carry more weight than your GVM , you are able to undertake a GVM upgrade, by upgrading the key components of your vehicle most affected by excess weight, and your GVM is increased to suit your needs.
In order to make it easier for you to check how close you are to exceeding the GVM of your vehicle we have a created a tool which is the first in our simple three-step process to driving with peace of mind: