Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) has released new modification codes which will allow some vehicle owners to legally increase the payload of their vehicles.
It says the primary reason for the change is to allow owners of light vehicles in the state to safely carry out modifications to their vehicles which would enable them to increase the vehicle’s payload, and offer more options when looking to tow a heavier caravan.
Queensland’s new Gross Combination Mass (GCM) code details the upgraded sum of the maximum weight a vehicle can both carry and tow, providing assurance and clarity for consumers and aftermarket manufacturers. Also updated in the code was re-rating of the Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) which refers to the weight of the vehicle when fully loaded.
The new rules will be welcomed by many caravanners. PIC: Cizza
Deputy Director-General Geoff Magoffin said there had been continued calls from both industry and the wider recreational motoring community to allow for the mass re-ratings of light vehicles.
“I am pleased to announce we have listened to the needs of industry and the towing community and have developed safe and robust modification codes which we believe will be welcomed by those wishing to undertake these type of vehicle modifications,” Mr Magoffin said. “These changes have been made to assist Queenslanders who want to explore our great State, whilst also ensuring vehicles continue to meet important safety and modification standards.”
The Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) immediately welcomed the new Gross Combination Mass (GCM) modification code, calling it ‘a huge win’ for Queensland recreational motorists and aftermarket product manufacturers.
It said towing capacity limitations of many vehicles sold in Australia had driven increased demand for legal and safe modifications by vehicle owners to support increased payloads, including towing caravans and trailers.
The organisation’s CEO, Stuart Charity, said the Queensland decision could be just the start.
“We look forward to productive conversations with the other states to see if they can consider the Queensland Code as a best practice and a good way forward for industry and consumers,” he said.
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It is interesting that this is only a Queensland Code – Will vehicles modified in Queensland be permitted to travel on roads interstate?
If the vehicle is upgraded to bigger weight and towing limits, then i hope the drivers have to upgrade their licence to suit . Because a lot of vehicle van combinations out there are already close to
light truck specs.
I think if Queensland wants to go down that path then keep those vehicle/van combinations there.
Dave I totally agree with you mate
Looking at some of the combinations out there, a lot of these drivers are probably unlicensed for the vehicle?
I agree as well, so many steerers out there.
I have had a HR licence for 55 years.
Good for you
Had one for 61 years
Yeah cause a licence is going to fix things…. NOT.
maybe they should introduce a training course, or will indoor and teach people.a licence won’t do anything.
Or even better…make the fines ridiculously high so the idiots learn a lesson.
I have a HR licence and I tow a 32ft caravan and yes it is unlikely that some people would not have a clue how to tow and they can not back a caravan i see this all the time and I am in Victoria
I agree. Drivers should need an articulated vehicle licence as they are already towing trailers weighing more than the loaded tow vehicle.
they not an articulated vehicle, doesn’t matter the weight of either.
spot on on that.
Do you realise that some states already have these laws. And in Qld you could get the upgrade on new vehicles before first rego.
No matter which state the vehicle is upgraded it can be used in ALL states, same as current rigs for all states.
TRUE, if legal in qld it is in other stares
Hope not.
At the moment they are if you are just travelling through.
But be aware that if you were to move interstate, the GCM upgrade may not be recognised in your new State.
WA does not recognise or authorise GCM upgrades. Only GVM upgrades are allowed..
I recently bought a new “light weight” 4wd , you know , one of the 3ish litre turbo diesel brands , and did a full pre registration GVM upgrade to approx 3.6tonne. I did this for stability & driving enjoyment purposes. She already had a 3.5t tow capacity. I’ve towed for 35 years. I love this vehicle and it performs brilliantly BUT , I don’t care what the manufacturer or the after market industry & QLD Transport dept says….these vehicles towing anything over 2.8t are defying safe principles of a moving mass. This is all just about dollars compromising safety.
I’ll be interested to see the accident statistics in a few years. I’ve been an MC Driver for over 40 years. I can say that the majority of caravan drivers are cautious and can handle their vehicles in good weather during daylight hours…although I know many other MC drivers might disagree with me.
However, increased weight capacity is probably not a good idea. But time may prove me wrong.
Say what you like but do you realise the landcruiser, as an example I know of, has a higher GVM in some if not most other countries. The same vehicle as sold in Australia!
What a joke. A lot of cars are rated to tow more than they should now and people still over load. We will have 2ton cars towing 4ton or more and then overloading. More accidents on the way
Cant see vehicle manufacturers extending warrenty cover to vehicles with increased weights… has the govt any thoughts on this..??
As I understand it, if a vehicle is registered and legal under that state, it can go anywhere in the country. Thinking they’d all be better off having mandatory towing training with endowments on our licences before anybody anywhere!
It’s a serious business towing a van even if everything is legal, loaded properly etc.
Maybe stop building bigger and bigger 5 star vans !
spot on …
Only building bigger vans because consumers have an appetite for them. We drive the demand.
Good idea in theory , dangerous move if brake upgrades and additional driver training are not required as part of the process. It’s all good while the family are cruising along on holiday however there will always be drivers with potentially little experience driving a vehicle with a similar combined weight of a small truck and with a seat of brakes that were not designed to cope with excessive braking ? There is also potential warranty and insurance risk if the manufacturers limits on axle loads are exceeded . Would love to know if they consulted with the vehicle manufacturers before the change in policy ?
Very interesting and what about the insurance side??
A lot of them have problems now with their combination let alone making it heavier. Let’s see if they double rail the chassis to handle the payload and heavier van.
I just rolled a caravan I bought privately. The Vic rego said it was 990 kg which my vehicle can legally tow. After I rolled it, it got weighed and it came in at 1,880 kg, a huge difference, too big for my car. If I’d purchased it from a dealer, I’d get my money back. From an individual, it’s Buyer Beware. Not fair, and I could have been killed
Did you consider taking it over a weigh bridge before finalising the deal?
Clearly there is not enough deaths in caravans , some people can’t even tow unloaded or even reverse a box trailer not alone a caravan , a towing course to start with for many would help , no not everyone but many
I may be wrong here but if I recall correctly in the UK before you can legally tow even so much as a box trailer you have to have a towing endorsement on your driver’s licence. This means you have to be able to show that you can safely hook up, detach, tow and understand how to correctly load a trailer before you’re let loose on the roads to cause all manner of mayhem. Personally I’d be happy to have to go in and have a towing endorsement added to my licence. I firmly believe that if this was mandatory here we’d see a lot less under-skilled drivers towing massively oversized/overweight vans around. As a bonus we’d also see a lot less of the usual chaos at the tip from people struggling to reverse a box trailer full of rubbish. As for Mod Codes being recognised in other states, yes the vehicle is legal to use in other states as long as it remains registered in the state the mods were approved in. If you move interstate and they don’t accept the mods then you’re back to factory limits. A SSM Mod (Second Stage Manufacture Mod) if done prior to first registration is recognised in all states. If it’s done after first registration the each state has to be individually applied to for acceptance of the SSM Mod.
That was the case in the UK, but they have recently withdrawn that requirement. Why? because they found it made no difference … lesson learnt.
No mention of what the new regs actually are which would help to get some constructive comments.
I put it down to , I am better than you as I have a bigger van and I have a big 4wd to tow it .
Just look at all the new vans being built ,many of them are over $100,000 and require a yank tank to pull them ,some that Ive seen have a tare of over 2800kgs and you see them in caravan mags being towed by as some one said the 3litre dual cabs .the woolclasser
This is probably good for some people who actually know and have have experience with driving and towing heavy vehicles. The problem I see is all those people who THINK they know but really don’t have the experience or knowledge for towing heavier rigs.
Sounds like a vote buying exercise