SETTING UP YOUR 4WD TO TOW - Expert Secrets! GVM vs. GCM - Towing weights explained
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 พ.ค. 2024
- EVERYTHING you need to know if you're going to do ANY towing with your 4WD! Shauno's towed his fair share of camper trailers, caravans, big boats and box trailers (also Nissans?) over the years and he's got some wisdom to share on how to set your 4WD up for towing, and what towing mods will make all the difference.
We cover setting your car up as a safe and reliable tow vehicle through installing electronic brake controllers, GVM upgrades and heavy duty suspension for towing, trailer brake systems, and we explain GVM, GCM, Payload AND ATM!
Make sure your 4WD is set up for towing, or get a free suspension and weight check from fulcrumsuspensions.com.au/
Find the right tyres for towing both on and offroad at www.goodyear.com.au/
High load rating wheels from dynamicwheelco.com.au/
Get the best extendable towing mirrors on the market from www.clearviewaccessories.com.au/
Easy to use & install electronic brake controllers at www.redarc.com.au/
EVERY tow vehicle needs great brakes, find a kit from www.bendix.com.au/
Aussie made UHF gear for every environment at www.gme.net.au/au/ - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
Hi Shaunno
Best tow tip by far is SLOW the F DOWN !
You see so many towing vehicles on the road that think they are sports cars 🚘
110 kmh or better when towing 3.5 tonnes is MADNESS
Take it steady and allow extra room for braking/ emergency’s
Great informative video
Cheers 🍻
Was 90kg over last camping trip so I left the missus at home for the week.
💀
That's a solid lady
Ya missus is 90kg???💀
Apparently she can deep dive without air tanks. heavy set of lungs... rumour has it.
Wow mate time to get a lighter rig ( but keep your setup) 😂
Love the show fellas. My tip is not to try to sit on 100+km/h when your towing a big van just because it’s the speed limit. Drop back to 90-95 km/h and you will save a bucket load of fuel and go heaps easier on your rig. Just consider other drivers and make yourself easy to pass for those wanting to go quicker
I drive a truck. Sit on 90kmh most of the time for better ride and fuel. Best advice for caravaners, be consistent with your speed. Predictability is safety. And when there is a good chance for following vehicles to overtake, lift your right foot and let them pass.
Best advice ever.
Even in normal usage the fuel needed to take a vehicle of almost any type from 80>100 is very close to equal to fuel needed to get to and hold 80 in the first place. Gravity and air flow sucks but it is what it is.
My best towing tip - when reversing, turn the bottom of the wheel in the direction you want the trailer to go and make twice as many small corrections.
The first question one should ask: do you really need a 2,5 tonne caravan? Do you really need a 500 kg canopy? Do you really need 6 35 inch tyres on the vehicle? It appears to me most touring vehicles have to same problem as some of the Australian people: too heavy, too thirsty and very, very slow.
Cheers
700hp LSA is not slow
Australia's one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse countries in the world. So when you say "Australian people: too heavy, too thirsty and very, very slow." Well, you're referring to every nationality on the planet... 🤣
@@grimreaper6112 Especially in a HQ Holden😊
Yes, yes we do need all of those things
And what’s even more amusing is the bigger the van the more they sit outside at camp lol
Tip! Wireless backup camera, that you kan move to the back of the caravan. 👌
What brand do u recommend?
Can’t beat low range when reversing especially in tight situations. Use you mirrors not your neck. Steer towards what ever mirror can see your trailer to stay straight.
Really appreciate your explanation of GVM, GCM, tow ball weight, etc., so straight forward and easy to understand. I've got a 2.8T van and have been test driving 4WD's to buy for towing. After watching this video I'll stick to my original plan of not towing it myself, instead paying to relocate as required (it's my permanent home, not for tripping around Oz). I like to do stuff properly the first time and you've helped me decide not to even attempt it, despite friends and family prompting me to. Yes it's a bit daunting thinking about the total weight of vehicle and van on highways that don't have enough overtaking zones or rest areas, but the real reason is vehicle set up costs to do it properly are simply out of my budget.
Well done buddy,I’m 67 and travel and you taught me stuff.
Number 1 for me is weight distribution of both, then test drive locally reload if required, final test drive when your on your way at 80, 100/110klm if it's not right stop & reload. Another good Ep Thanks..
Towball weight is a huge issue with the very long draw bars on off road trailers.
Load levelling hitches are great for on road.
1. The big one you missed. You mentioned tyres for the vehicle. BUT you failed to mention trailer tyres.
So often trailers are fitted with really cheap and narrow tyres. Fine for going to your local boat ramp, not for long trips though.
Shauno, you're guilty of this on your boat trailers. You can see the trailer digging ditches on the older Fraiser island episodes.
2. Weight balance on the trailer. Loading the trailer properly will make it much easier to tow.
3. Lockup kits, intake, exhaust. So vehicle mods that will improve fuel economy, control and power.
Some good points there.
Read the RAC recommendations on load levelling devices/hitches with vehicles with sway control. Most new vehicles and caravans over 2T have sway control. These conflict with vehicle sway control. Some insurance companies have denied claims due to this.
Another great episode full of practical advice Shauno. With a SE QLD long weekend approaching I’m going to put it into practice. As always I’m hanging out for the next epic adventure mate. Cheers
It is a good day when you guys post
Thanks mate!
@@4WD247 no problem😎
yet another evening sorted. Cheers again from NZ.
Awesome mate
Best upgrade to my 76 after the lift and airbags was getting the Castor correction. Drove it for 18 months while pulling a 6m boat or caravan and couldn’t believe how bad it drove floating all over the road!! Castor correction sorted everything almost drives like a 200🤣🤣
If you get in a trailer sway, don't panic, just manually push the electric trailer brakes. Do not press the tow vehicle's brakes. Afterwards, take it slow and reload your trailer when you can, chances the trailer is too rear heavy. A 60% front, 40% rear is ideal.
Great film Shauno, there are some great tips in this video. Thanks mate.
A pretty simple one. Don't kid yourself on doing 110 down the highway! Slow and steady, stick to 90 km and you'll save your motor and perhaps your life. And never tow in 5th gear!
And just hold up everyone who wants to go 110 in a 110 zone?
There are overtaking lanes and people can overtake safely.
@@samuelsutton8299 90kph is fine by me towing 2.5 ton really. Pretty sure you be pushing alot of vehicles at 110 for extended periods hey. Anyways if you can't overtake someone at 90kph probably should look at something with a bit more hp lol.
@@troymatthews668 there's no overtaking lanes near where I live and if there's people coming the other way sometimes you can't overtake and get held up
I'm not sure my 80 can do 110 alone! It's top speed without caravan/boat is 100
Great video, cheers the effort you’ve put in made, really good work.
it’s always a great day when u guys upload mannnn
We have a 2021 Isuzu DMax XTerrain - LOVE it!!! My husband was going to purchase and install a catch can,an oil cooler and a fuel filter, however we have now been informed by the dealer that if we install these items we will void the warranty!!!! How ridiculous!!!! We tow a campervan (like a Jayco but not) and we want to ensure our engine is protected. What a joke that the warranty can be voided by protecting the engine!!!! Maybe you could mention this when you do your videos. By the way - awesome episode!!! Very informative and easy to understand all the GVM, GCM etc, etc. Cheers.
dont worry about it so long as whatever mods you do can be reversed easily, its not like you are getting the car turned to hacking pannels.
A warranty isnt worth the paper its written on they will worm there way out of any way they can.
Cheers boys been waiting for a vid from youse have made my day top blokes 👍
The good ball weight scale is another essential tool to set up your trailer.
Excellent info cheers
Master class of basic info…thanks!
Thanks mate!
Load leveling airbags huge help in getting your rig sitting nicely on the road easy to adjust easy to let down when not towing.
Good for snapping chassis rails aswell
Be carful with air bags as they are the number one cause of bent/ snapped chassis!
Do your research. The alleged damage of (good) airbags to the car chassis is a myth.
@@svenfokkema3440 how? It's creating a 3rd pivot point when there was never designed to have load there?
Air bags are just helpers not a solution
very good video and very informed
Day has gotten so much happier
My best towing tip would be take it easy, 90km top speed and if a van or camper is ontow, get out and meet lots of great ppl and enjoy the trip and stay safe... 🌞
Thank you for this video it is so interesting I new most of it but so interesting thank you so much
The 200 is looking so sick
We reckon he needs a few more scratches on it, what do you think? ;)
@@4WD247 yea for sure give it one more trip and it will
@@4WD247 Let Jocko have a drive in Coffs. Lol Awesome Rig. You guys are definitely my favourite on TH-cam.
thank you for sharing the video
love my Isuzu 300 /75 5ton 4x4 crew cab
Don’t load rear of trailer heavier than the front.
Best Towing Tip ? Slow Down and get there in 1 piece .👍
The trailer has to be loaded so the tow ball loading is not excessive. Some trailer brakes are useless (10 in electric) so make sure yours will actually stop you properly. Auto lock up kit needs to be mentioned as an option especially on a 200 series. Every single thing works better if you keep the weight down. Think weight and load balance with everything. Very good show keep it up
Not a tip or anytning but in my experience i believe people should learn to tow.
i know there is a lot of people out there with caravans or just any sort of trailer that just havent a clue what theyre doing and it can be quite dangerous even deadly for other road or offroad uses. Whether your not sure or have never done so before or just dont know how to reverse or take bends etc. Maybe get some lessons. there are people out there willing to help if you ask.
I've used air shocks for towing a midsize tractor, 3 point disk and a two bottom plow, did this behind a 75 chevy impala
My towing tip
When on country roads with a lot of bushland either side of the road turn your brake controller up if you have a manual controller that way if something jumps out in front of you the load will help you slowdown quicker ( it's not the best thing to be pulled backwards but it will hopefully save you destroying the front of your vehicle)
I have a stock 60 series that's my daily, I pull a 2.2 tonne trailer through the week with all my tools and stuff for work. I have a roof rack on the cruiser as well that I load up with building supplies. Fully loaded trailer and car is just under gcm
One thing to absolutely steer clear of is air bags as instead of distributing the weight across the chassis where the springs are mounted the weight is on a single point! = bent / snapped chassis!
Best tip, practice backing up, that way when mates are watching, you don't embarrass yourself
Hi lov your videos
In most U.S. states, trailers that weigh over 3000# must have brakes. Also, Goodyear Tire Co. recommends inflating trailer tires to maximum as stamped on sidewall. Trailers need a stiffer sidewall because of sway and bounce. Sand driving is a different matter.
Are you going to take a caravan on one of your 4wd247 trips
Don’t be in a hurry when towing a heavy van/trailer. Give yourself a safety margin for braking, etc. 90-95km/h is ample and you’ll save fuel too.
And you’ll piss off everyone else on the road behind you
@@Corey-pd3mi They will get over it or go around. That being said, where I come from if you have 5 or more people behind you, you must pull over when safe to do so and let them by.
@@Corey-pd3mi They will get over it or go around. That being said, where I come from if you have 5 or more people behind you, you must pull over when safe to do so and let them by. But good manners say you should do that anyway.
great info for the people that don't understand weights mate, but i think manufacturers should be held responsible to much of this , ie D Max, 3.500 kg towing , 350 kg on toe ball they claim its safe when we all know its not whats your opinion, i modified my own to take weight they shouldent claim its safe to tow 3,500 kg when its not
Yeah too many people belive the salesman aswell "it can tow 3.5T its classleading"....its not safe and the owner knows fk all about towing 3.5T 🤦♂️🤦♂️
@@Tom-lf8hx I agree, I'd go as far as saying that you should need an endorsement on your licence to tow that kinda of weight. The otherside of it too is that you get idiots tailgating you trying to overtake and then slam on the breaks in front of you to slow down and expect you can do the same.......
Good information, in my opinion anyone who tows a trailer should have to sit a test and license.
I always have a sticker on my back window that reads 'If you can read this I've lost my caravan' 😎
This is the best vid ever
This is best comment ever 🙌
There is a reason that manufacturers offer different classes of tow vehicle. My factory suspension leaves me with more than 2t (4,725 lbs) of payload even though the vehicle is de-rated to stay in class 3.
Thanks that was super helpful. Quick questions, how does doing a GVM upgrade impact on your vehicle warranty?
Your Vehicle Warranty is no longer a Warranty with an Upgrade.
Shauno,
Can you please tell me more about the braided brake lines and do they come in plus 2 inch for raised suspension options, what brake pads are you using soft for better stopping and rotor life or hard for really heavy breaking under heavy load , but poor rotor life?
Please go over the tow pro , and how and WHERE it is fitted and wired to, Thanks
P.S take more time when your towing and take extra breaks to allow for fatigue due to towing , you have to concentrate more when you have a large trailer in tow.
What about air bags for the rear axle? Is that not allowed there as they are adjustable?
I fitted my Nissan Frontier with air bags with compressor and valves and gauge inside. Super easy to adjust truck attitude by adding or removing air so it sits right.
Just saw you a couple days ago 👍👍
Breakaway brakes are required over 2000kgs and operate on all wheels on towed vehicle. The ATM can be 2200kgs approximately and still not require breakaways !! VSB 1
Another 2 helpful tips
The van should be level or slightly low at the front to make it stable. You can buy hieght adjustable tow ball mounts. Check that the suspension of the van is up to the loads you are putting on it. Some of the cheap imported vans are sold with way too soft suspension. Both of these issues will result in a van that rocks side to side as you increase speed and that can quickly turn into sway
Good day, nice good information in this video. Just one question if I may? Im in South Africa and I cant understand why all the Australian people mount the UHf ariel on the front bull bar? It is this big ugly ariel right in front of your front view. Why dont you mount it on the C pilar right by the back door or perhaps on the front of your canopy to one side? It is much higher up for reception and if you mount it on the side of the vehicle it will not be so intrusive but still very effective?
Get up to baffle creek Shauno great fishing
GVM upgrades do not reduce axle load on the rear axle nor do they put the weight back on the front axle. What they actually do is increase the load on the rear axle. Axle limits should never be exceeded regardless of any suspension mod. If your near the limits of GVM or GCM get a bigger vehicle even if that means buying a 4x4 truck like a Mitsubishi Canter or a Unimog.
What if you don’t have a vehicle that’s as capable of a towe rig as a 200 series, but still want to do some towing? I currently drive a second gen 4Runner that I’m setting up for touring, which is eating up my gvm pretty quickly, but I usually do quite a bit of recovery’s whenever I go out with my friends and my concern is if one of them broke down and if I had to towe them home I’d be quite a bit over my gvm. Would I be able to get away with just upgrading my suspension and brakes?
You drive past my brother in law in the 200 going down the M1 mobbing like a week ago lmao
What exhaust do you guys use? 3inch turbo back, straight through, muffler delete, cat?
I got load rated tires on my enclosed bike trailer can’t forget about trailer and just installed electric brakes on trailer and Redarc tow pro in Hilux
Make the marriage strong as possible over rate everything to 4.5ton. I use a WDH , changed the chains ⛓ to 100grade 13mm with 400kg bars. Perfect for me. I only tow 2,900kg max. No suspension mods. 21f van.
I’m a mobile diesel fitter with a 2012 Nissan patrol and I am 50kgs over without driver or full tanks of fuel and I don’t have all the gear I need yet. Most work vehicle are probably overloaded and that’s why we go to trucks.
Also can use reverse camera to know how far off a jacknife you are
05:11 Once we were overweighted for 150 Kg...
So the Mrs. had to stay home...
🤪🤣
I like your pic of the stig
It all good getting a gvm upgrade but not many changes your gcm so still in the same boat and most utes have a load proportional value so as the back goes down it changes percentage of braking to the rear or as needed
Good Advice Tip tow to the condition of the day
Can you do a video on how to properly communicate with other road users like truckies with a UHF radio? I have a radio but I don't know what the different sort of protocols are for talking on the radio. Cheers
Good idea mate, we'd like to cover that at some point!
Yep I second this, I've had a radio for years but i still don't quite understand the etiquette, how to best use it in an emergency situation and how to know which channel is best for where you are/what you're doing.
Alot of people are under gvm but over axel rating.
My 79 series does well when towing something heavy, don't even notice your towing anything most of the time.
Hi maybe stupid question, if you do GCM upgrade will this automatically increase GVM?
Greetings from Southwest Texas 🇺🇲
Hey mate how’s it goin over in sepo country?..
Greetings from Oz 🇦🇺….
TRUMP 2024 ✅
Hill country Texan here, love watching these guys. Their laws would drive me nuts though.
@@JamesSmullins Huh? What laws ya talk’n bout mate?..
@@triggerhappy8872 y'all have a lot more laws regarding tire size and weight of vehicles that we don't have.
Only commercial vehicles have to be weighed or ever will be weighed.
Man, watching this as an American with a diesel Chevy 3500 is funny. The rest of the world tows with such small vehicles and I'm over here with a rated towing capacity around 12,000lbs (about 5.5 metric tons).
Us Australians have the worst car laws, in all of the world bloody shit mate
@@coreyschultze2084 everytime I watch one of their videos and they mention that something would be illegal it makes me even happier to be a American.
Just tire sizes alone boggles my mind here with the exception of a couple states you can go pretty much as big as you want and often 35's aren't big enough for some trails which is why 37's are about the starting point for off roading. I have to lift my two wheel drive truck and put 33's on it just to be able to drive the ranch roads due to rocks sticking up and that's the easy stuff.
I looked at getting a big American truck but problem is that they don't fit out track ruts very well I'm told.
That could quickly become painful.
And then there's the fuel consumption.
And then there's the fact they almost cost as much as a house.
Whats the correlation between a suspension upgrade (heavy duty springs) and lift? Can you upgrade the suspension without having to lift the vehicle? I am not doing any real off road stuff so a lift isn't necessary from that aspect.
You can get heavy duty springs to suit heavier loads without going up in height - but the height will always change a bit because when you're unloaded, the vehicle will obviously sit higher than it would have with standard weight springs!
My rangers got a 3500 gvm upgrade and about to tow a 2.5 tonne van (loaded). Cars around 3.3 ish loaded. Still within spec and it has been alot of time and money getting it setup. Just done bendix break upgrade too. Very tricky getting it setup so its a awsome tourer without van and then able to strap van on aswell without taking everything out. Balancing act that im in the final stages of tweaking after two years. Seen the weigh bridge 4 times already and got a couple more trips to make to it yet. Maybe trans oil cooler next i think.
Have you included the towball weight into the equation??
@@craigbrysse887 yeah mate. Ive included everything o possibly can on paper. About to complete new tray cannopy install then weigh in car. If my figures are correct ill be able to tow van at 2.5 tonne with tow ball weight of around 250kgs. Will have van built to sit abit lighter on ball and load it rear heavy. Toy hauler so will have that luxury.
@@daveo1559 Took our loaded setup down to Pedders for a Load n Tow assessment best $75 I ever spent and came with a print out of the results.
@@craigbrysse887 oh yeah cheers for the info didnt know they did that. Ive got a Weigh bridge near me thats $40 a hit and ya can do axles and ball weight and van axle all at once. Might call pedders and look into it. 👍
@@craigbrysse887 how long did the assesment take?
Stock for stock remember any 4x4 can legally only tow roughly 30% more than a VT commodore. They're not as capable as people think
Bluetooth brake controllers save some wire routing and are a snap to use.
Just a reminder, at least in QLD. You CANNOT legally get a GCM upgrade even with SSM. Vehicle standards have clarified this to say they're not valid.
A lot of states you can't legally
What happened to this show, caravan, 200 series grandpa build, 20K canopies, bring us back Joko hilux the cheap 80 series and shorty! Haha
Sell sell sell
We've got a video coming tomorrow that you'll enjoy mate 👍
@@4WD247 Joke aside I enjoyed all the videos team!
Shauno, you mentioned that if you tow anything above 2tonne then you will need electronic brake controller..then all cars manufacturers that boast a 3.5 tonne towing should come with electronic brake controller from factory and included with the car because then it would be illegal to tow more than 2 tonne with your new car that can tow 3.5tonne. If a manufacturer is boasting big tow weights then the car should come with everything needed to tow those big tow weights. Hope this makes sense.
They'll just increase the cost of new cars to have this added in I'd say
Easiest and best towing tip I have ever learnt is learn to actually drive with your trailer on. Some many times I've seen people towing even with box trailers and they run over gutters or get a bit of a sway going and slam the brakes on. Recipe's for disaster. Learn how your trailer tows and how the car tows it.
Farm truck with swags or 200 towing half a house?
My best towing tip ? Do a course on towing, there is so much more to it than just “hook up and go”
Couldn't agree more mate
A professional caravan dealer would help with a 1st timer with weights would they?
What is the best rear camera for the caravan, so you can see who is behind you while driving? Wired or wifi?
Wifi would be easiest for a caravan mate!
Checkout the Safety Dave range of rear cameras for towing.
Biggest issue i had with this episode was the INCOMPLETE INFORMATION being given. When a GVM UPGRADE is done it does not let you keep your braked towing capacity at the manufacturer limit. To retain braked towing capacity and do a GVM UPGRADE you must also have a GCM UPGRADE which most second hand vehicles can't have done
I had an after market transmission cooler installed to my 2017 Colorado the temp never goes above 86 degrees the car drivers better with lower gearbox temps.
What people don't realise is when you update your gvm to +4000gvm you still can't go over your gcm
So you can do all this but you can no longer tow a 3500 caravan if your car is that gvm weight! So that is why Shaun is towing a small van!
bs with a jmax kit gcm is upgraded
Make sure your trailer lights work with your vehicle before setting off
We have similar restrictions in the US. This is never enforced unless there is a claim. And, even then, may not be a huge factor. How diligent is Australia in enforcing these ranges after inspection? Or, is inspection even enforced for diy and new trailer purchase? 🤠
I cant speak for all the Aussie states, but in WA we have mobile vehicle inspectors that can pull you over and weigh your vehicle on the roadside. They mainly target trucks, but have been known to check caravans / car trailers occasionally. (FYI - the guys are knows as Mermaids: c@nts with scales) 😉
Our 80 series landcruiser has 126/123R bfgoodriche all terrains
Best tow vehicle tip is to sell your standard 200 and buy a ram 2500. It's already a ute and already has the big gvm. Alot less hassle then spending a house deposit just to upgrade your 200 just so it preforms as well as a standard 2500
Hey mate - because of the import fees in Aus the rams are actually quite expensive!
@@4WD247 I don't agree. For 160k it's already a ute, already has the big gvm, coil springs all the way around and solid front and rear axles. By the time you buy the 200/y62 then chop it then upgrade the gvm then have a tray fitted and then fit all the other accessories on it you would be at that price anyway
@Adam Blundell Almost double the torque of a 200 series as well. A far better option for heavy towing.
I bought a 4x4 Canter, it was the only way I could make it work
We only load our trailers to 75% of the limit this has come from grandpa to dad and to me as if you then stuff up still got plenty of room for extra stuff but then your safe
Why do you say tow vehicles should always be heavier than the tow load? Besides the ideal and the whole physics stuff... Are there exceptions in your opinion, besides big rigs, ie. (even 1/2, 3/4, and 1 tons and up "Utes"/Trucks are towing sometimes upwards of 3x truck weights?) Is this more offroad issues? You Mates, seem to have very strict regs there? Curious, what would you do on stock 200 5.7 petrol, to be able to highway towing heavy 4k+kg, (stock 3900kg towing), but heavy offroad w/3k kg? Your stretched 200 Ute, now that's a Proper Ute! Mate!
Please check your vehicle manual as most will say you cannot use the weight distribution hitch… they are actually really dangerous and known as shin breakers too!!
More... You like metric but not for tire pressure? why psi and not Bars, or CM of mercury?
Your tow and payload laws are a bit different than here in Canada. Here any trailer over 7000lb needs (by law) weight distribution hitches unless you use a 5th wheel/gooseneck. Any trailer over 3500lbs has to have functional brakes.
I haven't seen a 5th wheel off road trailer here in Canada yet, but considering all the comforts of home many people insist on having, it won't be long!