Over-loaded tug and/or Van!! Is this you???

[Crusty181]

That price is mind boggling for sure, makes you wonder why spend all the money on a new vehicle when you have to spend that much more

If I dropped the Troopy off at Superior Engineering and signed up for the full Spa treatment, I would be rolling out arounf $55k lighter. Add that to the purchase price and we're up around $140k mark

vehicles like the Grand Cherokee is classed as a MA

Whoops ... brave move, mentioning the Grand Cherokee is not actually categorised as an offroad vehicle by anyone, including Jeep (or Fiat in the real speak) any Fed Dept or any State authority. Woo hoo, an own goal. @DRW jump in any time, it's a HoeDown.

 

[rags]

Interesting read in this recent VCAT claim regarding over weight van
http://www8.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/vic/VCAT/2020/418.html

 

[Crusty181]

Interesting read in this recent VCAT claim regarding over weight van
http://www8.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/vic/VCAT/2020/418.html

You win the "Covid 19, Im bored award" .... reading austlii verdicts??. You've proved me wrong, on my list I had hanging from the lemon tree 2 up the list from austlii research.

 

[Boots in Action]

Interesting read in this recent VCAT claim regarding over weight van
http://www8.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/vic/VCAT/2020/418.html

Well @rags, that should serve as a warning to all vanners, especially those with large vans, that all is NOT what it appears to be, and that the buyer should ALWAYS be aware of what caravan manufacturers say or advise is not always correct. Sure, we will sell you anything you like including any extras, but it is your responsibility to limit the weight and load factors...if you know about it!!! Roma deserve all they get for this "accident waiting to happen"!!!

 

[Drover]

brave move, mentioning the Grand Cherokee is not actually categorised as an offroad vehicle by anyone

Since I class a proper 4x4 is a vehicle that I can roll under on a trolley to work on, preferably has leaf springs and very little electronic BS that puts a lot of so called off road vehicles off my list, the Grand is a very capable AWD for dirt roads and tracks but the likes of the Araluen Track of the 70's, not a hope and that goes for many of them.... For the Mine Truck it would be a doddle.

 

[Drover]

Thats a good read @rags I wonder if it will make the agents/manufacturers take note, be interesting to see ............... Even if it was to spec once he loaded it up and his tug he would be over, they still seem to think that if it says 3.5t tow that you can..... I give up.

 

[BJM]

Still making new utes that can tow 3.5 tons with drum brakes.And dont tell me drum brakes are more efficient etcetc.!

 

[Brente1982]

Thats a good read @rags I wonder if it will make the agents/manufacturers take note, be interesting to see ............... Even if it was to spec once he loaded it up and his tug he would be over, they still seem to think that if it says 3.5t tow that you can..... I give up.

This is very true and is of great concern if you ask me.
There would be many unaware of the fact, that just because it says your vehicle can tow it, does not mean that you can infact do so if you wish to fall within the confines of your stated GCM.
Mine for example, in its current form would limit me to just under 3000kg including ball weight.

 

[Brente1982]

Still making new utes that can tow 3.5 tons with drum brakes.And dont tell me drum brakes are more efficient etcetc.!

Theyre most certainly not. I upgraded my front discs and pads as much as i could. Without forking out substantial cash to change my drums to discs, im limited in the rear.
But a properly tuned and installed electronic brake controller should help with this.

 

[rags]

You win the "Covid 19, Im bored award" .... reading austlii verdicts??. You've proved me wrong, on my list I had hanging from the lemon tree 2 up the list from austlii research.

thanks Crusty181, I cant take any credit for lying awake at night searching the austill records. I seen it posted it elsewhere and thought in the interest of public service I could share it here.

 

[rags]

Well @rags, that should serve as a warning to all vanners, especially those with large vans, that all is NOT what it appears to be, and that the buyer should ALWAYS be aware of what caravan manufacturers say or advise is not always correct. Sure, we will sell you anything you like including any extras, but it is your responsibility to limit the weight and load factors...if you know about it!!! Roma deserve all they get for this "accident waiting to happen"!!!

Interesting that 2 expert witnesses had the van weighed in its bare form yet came up with a difference of 200kg. Not sure if that is to do with the scales or something else.

 

[Brente1982]

It was an interesting read (yes i read it all )
Very interesting and a real eye opener.

 

[Boots in Action]

Still making new utes that can tow 3.5 tons with drum brakes.And dont tell me drum brakes are more efficient etcetc.!

Not really true @BJM . Mechanically speaking, drum brakes ARE more efficient. Ever tried to stop your vehicle when engine not running and the power boost has gone?? The big difference between drum and disc brakes is that although drum brakes have greater brake lining surface area than a disc pad, the drum is unable to disperse the heat generated as quickly - not enough airflow over/through the drum - unlike the disc rotor which is fully open to the air and has massive airflow passed it. Water getting into the drums is another problem and discs do not have those limitations. However, the disc pad can get so hot from severe and frequent braking that it is as bad as hot brake drums. Improvement in brake disc technology has led to twin (and more) cylinders to clamp the friction disc against both sides of the disc rotor and the need for ceramic pads in high performance vehicles. Not to mention ventilated disc rotors or varying performance. And don't believe that having power assisted anti-locking brakes on all wheels cannot fade. Every thing has limitations and brakes are no different. It depends on the load, the slope and how the driver uses them. That is what gears are for too. Interestingly, a lot of trucks are still drum brake operated as are our vans.

 

[Drover]

I noticed that as well @rags but it depends on so many things I don't think it mentioned if they weighed ATM or GTM, I have even seen a scale change figures on the same truck as the wind increased, it was blowin that much I couldn't get the door open so went back to hide in the office and saw the scales change.....

PS: Having rotated down many humungous hills in 5 to 40 ton rigs I'll go disc brake any day, sometimes the theory doesn't hold up in the real world..... and while discs can give problems similar to drum it takes a l\lot longer, unless your a DH then its all academic.

 

[BJM]

Have raced a few vehicles in my day with drum brakes ,never would they pull up in a straight line.! Pedders tests between a rear drum braked Ranger and one with their disc conversion showed a much shorter braking distance.
Never had a problem with disc brakes ,always fit quality pads and discs .

 

[Drover]

Have raced a few vehicles in my day with drum brakes ,never would they pull up in a straight line.! Pedders tests between a rear drum braked Ranger and one with their disc conversion showed a much shorter braking distance.
Never had a problem with disc brakes ,always fit quality pads and discs .

Plus I loose less bits of skin and blood changing pads and rotors.............

 

[davemc]

another article on that @rags.

https://rvdaily.com.au/victorian-ca...Wa_Z1sGLwB62SweOUM3TkvHtWa3F2eGc7XkW6FVFjoicI

 

[Drover]

Funny thing is you can still read in these online magazines reviews saying that this or that van at 3.4t or similar can be towed by this or that dual cab rated at 3.5t towing cap, so they are all pushing the myth.

 

[davemc]

Funny thing is you can still read in these online magazines reviews saying that this or that van at 3.4t or similar can be towed by this or that dual cab rated at 3.5t towing cap, so they are all pushing the myth.

same mags with paid adverts for utes with 3.5 tonne towing in them

 

[Brente1982]

That is true, but there's been a slow shift in disclaimers being out in to note that *3.5T towing capacity is only reached with almost zero occupants and a stock vehicle*