GVM Upgrades

The payload capacity of modern 4WDs often appears impressive on paper but can quickly decrease when you add accessories, gear, and passengers. Staying within your vehicle's Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) can become nearly impossible. A recognised Second Stage Manufacturer (SSM) develops and federally certifies components to increase your vehicle's GVM. This allows authorised dealers to install GVM kits for various vehicles, both pre- and post-registration. Maximize your payload without compromising roadworthiness. Each complete GVM kit undergoes rigorous testing to ensure ADR compliance.

Ensuring Performance and Compliance

Federal approval for GVM upgrades requires rigorous testing to ensure that the vehicle performs as well or better than when it left the original manufacturer. You can be confident that your GVM-upgraded 4WD will stop and handle well, even with the increased load on board. Depending on the vehicle, the following testing is required:

- **Finite Element Analysis (FEA) Testing**: Assesses the maximum load-carrying capacity of the vehicle's axles, chassis, or other critical components.
- **Brake Testing**: Includes laden and unladen brake testing, as well as testing under partial system failure to comply with ADR35/00.
- **ESC Testing**: Ensures that the ESC system's response is the same or better than the original vehicle, if required.

The GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass) of any vehicle is the weight in kilograms that the manufacturer specifies as the maximum the vehicle can weigh when fully laden. GVM upgrades allow a vehicle to be certified to carry a greater amount than the original manufacturer without breaching applicable ADRs or laws.

You can upgrade the GVM of a vehicle using either federal approval or state-based approval, depending on whether the vehicle has been registered or not:
- **Federal Approval**: If the vehicle has never been registered, federal approval can be applied. The GVM kit comes complete with an additional compliance plate that will be fixed to the vehicle.
- **State-Based Approval**: If the vehicle is already registered, the data used in federal compliance is utilized in conjunction with a vehicle inspection by an authorized state engineer to certify the vehicle.

A common question is whether GCM (Gross Combination Mass) can be affected by GVM upgrades. The answer is no, as GCM is a state-based decision. This applies regardless of whether the GVM upgrade is done pre- or post-registration. Some installers may claim otherwise, but the fact is that GCM is not assessed, endorsed, or approved by the federal government. According to the Administrator's Circular 0-4-6 published on 29/06/2018:

"As there are no ADRs that require the GCM of a light vehicle (i.e., a vehicle less than 4.5 tonnes Gross Vehicle Mass) to be certified by testing or evidence provided by a manufacturer, the Department does not assess, endorse or approve any purported change to a light vehicle’s GCM specification by an SSM. It is also important to note that the Department does not restrict or prohibit GCM upgrades, as they are an in-service matter that is the responsibility of state and territory registration authorities.”

A commonly asked question is whether GVM upgrades affect GCM (Gross Combination Mass). The answer is no! This is true regardless of whether the GVM upgrade is done before or after registration. Some installers may claim otherwise, but the fact is that GCM is a state-based decision.

According to the Administrator's Circular 0-4-6 published on 29/06/2018:

"As there are no ADRs that require the GCM of a light vehicle (i.e., a vehicle less than 4.5 tonnes Gross Vehicle Mass) to be certified by testing or evidence provided by a manufacturer, the Department does not assess, endorse, or approve any purported change to a light vehicle’s GCM specification by a SSM. It is also important to note that the Department does not restrict or prohibit GCM upgrades, as they are an in-service matter that is the responsibility of state and territory registration authorities.”

GVM Upgrades of IN SERVICE vehicles (currently registered vehicles) – APPROVED. 

GVM Upgrades under SSM to vehicles PRIOR to initial registration – APPROVED.

GCM Upgrade to IN SERVICE vehicles (currently registered vehicles) – NOT APPROVED

GCM Upgrade under SSM to vehicles PRIOR to initial registration – APPROVED. STILL AN IN SERVICE DECISION SO NO GCM UPGRADE. *2023 update. LS16 code passed for GCM but significant testing to be done before any approvals. SSM not a basis for approval.