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 sure that your DMW 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: A check of the maximum load carrying capacity of the vehicle's axles, chassis or other critical components.
- Brake Testing: Laden and Unladen brake testing as well as testing under partial system failure to comply with ADR35/00
- ESC Testing: If required, this test ensures that the ESC system's response is the same or better than the original vehicle.
The GVM of any vehicle is the weight in kilograms that the manufacturer has specified as being the maximum that the vehicle can weigh when fully laden. DMW 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.
• If the vehicle has never been registered, Federal approval can be applied. The DMW GVM kit comes complete with an additional compliance plate which will be fixed to the vehicle.
• If the vehicle is already registered, the data used in Federal compliance is used in conjunction with a vehicle inspection by an authorised State engineer to certify the vehicle.
The answer to this commonly asked question is no! This doesn’t matter if the GVM is done pre or post rego either, some installers will tell you otherwise but the fact is that GCM is a state based decision. Please see below exert from the Administrators circular 0-4-6 published 29/06/2018,
“As there are no ADRs that require the GCM of a light vehicle (ie 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.”