Complete guide to heavy towing (GVM, GCM & ATM explained) | Auto Expert John Cadogan 

to play it safe i will now leave my kids at home when we go camping thanks john peace at last!

Thankyou John. The trinity of videos on towing should be required viewing by every grey nomad and 4X4 junky. If it were up to me, towing a trailer would require an examinable endorsement on the basic drivers licence.

Finding this information explained in a format easy to understand has been almost impossible. Thanks John, extremely valuable.

Every husband that’s buying a camper trailer and has a wife in his ear saying I want a 2.5t-3.5t caravan with toilet shower and indoor kitchen and indoor lounge room needs to be sat down, tied to a chair and made to watch this!!

Go down to any caravan park on the east coast and the LC200 is the rig of choice. Most are sporting the ARB catalogue of parts and ALL blindly over weight. HOPEFULLY this gets shared amongst the grey nomad fraternity. Great episode JC

Thanks John. Engineering facts beats "common sense" any day.

The best explained video on weight related matters. I’ve watched that many and this is hands down the best! Thank you

Good presentation. There is one additional engineering constraint that most seem to ignore and that is maximum allowable axle loads, particularly rear axle. These are incredibly easy to overload and I rarely hear anyone reference them.

"You aren't getting away from it all, you are taking it all with you" - Classic Cardogan!

After watching some of John's videos I ended up buying an 1800kg ATM caravan, 16 foot with ensuite etc etc, pulled by my 2017 Pajero. Well within all limits. It's a nice feelng knowing that my safety margin is bigger than all our friends Taj Mahals😅. Many thanks John👍

So I’ve just watched this for a SECOND TIME! All your videos are great but this is one of the best so far. It’s relevant to us because we are thinking about buying a caravan shortly. We are also considering a fifth wheeler but I imagine that the facts still hold for that. Once again a brilliant video. Many thanks John. 👍

You don’t take bollocks all the time,a very good,informed show, thanks.

Thanks John. GVM’s have been chasing ATM’s and GCM’s around in my head for weeks. Thank you for explaining it all to a novice like me. You’re my hero. You rock.

This is my favourite AND in my view the most important video John has made, and to think he did this for free. Keep it up John, this video will literally save lives.

Brilliant! I am of the John school. Don’t stress towing when one can use quality accommodation and support those local communities one passes through. I do have a map of excellent coffee shops. I have a small pop up tent, stretchers and portable stove and fridge if I am caught out. Definitely no overloading and it’s easier on the pocket. Fred

Thanks John, all my late night searches for ATM videos have giving me quite a different perspective on load displacement, your detailed explaination is far more fitting for the handing of my big loads.

With regard to the cost of 400 nights accommodation compared to the outlay for an expensive caravan....you're forgetting that the caravan will have a excellent resale value, so the net cost is much less than spending 400 nights (WITH THE MASSES) in various motels. Some of us like to get away from the crowds. On the subject of the tow vehicle choice, I agree with you 100%. I own a 3,500 ATM Bushtracker and tow it with a Chev Silverado with a GVM of 5,171kg and a GCM (allowable) of 11,113kg. My actual GCM is around 8,250kg. Apparently around 80% of these Bushtrackers are owned/towed by people with 200 series Landcruisers and on the occasions that I've voiced my concerns (along the lines of your video) I get verbally walloped by all of those owners. A typical response is along these lines: "I've been towing this set-up for thousands of kilometers and never had an issue" etc. I say they've just been lucky.

I love your presentations John, it may be a little tongue in cheek but you are spot on.

Comments were shut off on your weight distribution hitch response, but I wanted to drop a note to say, thank you. Your explanation of the torque forces made total sense, and helped me understand how the heck these work - especially weight distribution hitches like the Andersen, which uses no spring bars. So often, the reviews call it "magic," but I don't remember any of Newton's laws applying to magic. Also, excellent information about potential problems driving through a dip, and disconnecting the WD hitch before navigating obstacles. You've definitely gained a subscriber, and thank you for the logical explanations and understandable diagrams!

Very clear and helpful explanation. I'm not towing anything but this video is so good that it successfully draws my curiosity in engineering and I watched the whole video without stopping. Thank you ironman!

You are very much correct about it being easy to surpass your limits. I have long made a habit of checking my weights when towing, via hitting the scales. Your also quite correct about the better trimmed your vehicle is the less room you have. Not to mention people are more likely to abuse it. Since they go "well i bought a top of the line vehicle so it better be able to handle it".

Best explanation ive seen John. Its scary the amount of dual cabs on the road towing those huge dual axle vans grossly overloaded

I took your advice a while ago John. Bought a Landcruiser and tow a caravan only weighing 1.6 tonne fully loaded. LC only carrying 200 kg max. Job done.

G’day John excellent presentation, one to upset the troops for sure, cause mate it’s got a whopping V8. Interesting topic also is the 5th wheeler and crew cab utes, rear axle capacity and turn table placement behind the rear axle, there’s death on wheels. I’ve been retired now for 5 years I wonder if this has been sorted out yet, must research it. Well done, cheers Peter

The Best presentation on this subject ever. Well Done John.

Best video on the YT explaining the towing requirements! Greetings from Eastern Arabia!

I understood that without my brain leaking out if my ears. Thanks for the enlightenment Regards Tony Henderson

Superbly done. Thank you John. Wish we more constabulary here in Murka to check these overloaded nitwits.

Hi John ,Laughed most the way through this cause it is so true, We bought the 4x4 with the intent of buying a van, That was 4 years ago, Well we have done lots of travel in Qld but still haven't bought the van, it so easy not to have one in so many ways , Cheers I'am going to happy hour and not towing a heavy van in the morning

Now THAT's an Iron man T-shirt.

Just got back from Cape York, 7000km in 4 weeks. Ford Ranger packed to the gills, gear and camping stuff for TWO people, basic safety and recovery gear, food and plenty of water. Minimal roof load (solar panels, awning, maxtrax). And we saw HUGE caravans being towed by 4WDs, all with the vehicle also packed to the gills, monster roof-rack loads. There was NO DOUBT in my mind that most of those with big caravans were well over the GVM and GCM limits. Insane.

Cant wait give my mate a copy of the "Toyota basic towing guide" who bought a LC200 for towing!

From someone starting their research, this has been so helpful. Thank you

I really enjoyed this. It’s everything that I’ve wondered about answered. I’d like to add that I think another part of the reason why manufacturers don’t sell cars with the height limit is that could springs don’t handle loads all that well and if you made a car with a greater load it would ride like a stay empty. And who wants that ?

Thank you John. Advanced physics explained in simple form. This is why the mining companies explicitly test, re engineer and retest with senior engineers, both company and specialist consultants, manufactors, predominantly Toyota and Volvo, and NATA labs, to produce vehicles engineered specifically for site use. Clear labeling of all towable plant, stating GVM, GCM and ATM, clear towing limitations attached to the inside windscreen, and 4 days of intensive onsite training, theory in classroom with practical onsite, ensures overloading and stupid decisions, with the threat of instant dismissial, are minimal. But what you take away from all this is everyday implementation of knowledge. And if you need to exceed the capacity of your vehicle, either by towing or carrying capacity...buy a truck !!! 👍👍🇦🇺 Oh, and I can fully recommend an ex military Unimog as the ultimate off-road vehicle.

As a Murican! born dude I find these videos very informative even thought they're upside down and in metric.

Fantastically informative. I loved the lengthy rant at the end. From 22:51

Errr....wow! I had no idea about any of that. And I bet I’m not the only one! Thanks. 👍

I'm so glad you have presented this in such a Down-to-Earth way. This is vital info for anyone who drives with any kind of trailer, no matter what the capacity. Everyone could use a bit more education on Trailers, and what it all means when the paperwork speak about Trailer Capacity (Braked & Unbraked), GVM & GCM, etc. . I tow a twin axle horse float that weights around 2,000 to 2500kg when loaded with two horses (depending on which pair of horses we move), and some tack, tools, and hay, etc. I drive a GU Patrol Wagon (TD42), and it handles that float sweet as. I want to get a bigger one that carries three or four horses on an angle, and will be around 4,000 to 4,500kg. I don't like the Yank Tanks, so am looking at buying a 6x6 conversion on a new/newer Patrol (or maybe a 200 series Landcruiser) that has a GVM of 4,500kg or up to around 6,100kg and can tow up to 4,500kg Trailer with Brakes. Any advice on 6x6 conversions John?

Hi John. Thanks for your guide. You may be surprised to know that I am a 3rd time LandCruiser owner yet have gone through all these calculations myself. And I appreciate your summary. As others have stated, you should have covered the individual axle load requirements. Also a mention of trailer weight distribution. Moving weight rearward can decrease tow-ball loading - and decrease trailer stability if you have too much weight at the rear as many caravanners do with extra tires, trail bikes, etc. tacked on the rear. All a trade-off. Material for a serious towing course. I started with a 75 series Troopy which I know was towing an overweight trailer. Many times I was surprised by sneeky sand drifts on the edge of the Simpson and the trailer stabilised the Troopy from rollover purely via the sand drag acting like a kite tail and giving a delayed correction force. That truck & trailer did everything from the Gibb to the east coast. Later I moved to a 79 series (first one with front coils) and a Trayon slide-on camper. No trailer. Only towing was a heavy 2t box trailer around town. You comments about how cheap accommodation is relative to the rig costs misses a serious point. Many places I like to stay have no motels or B&B. That's what drives many nomads. Now, nearly a quarter century later I have just bought the dreaded twin cab 79 series. No, I won't be towing. Going to try an Active Camper slide-on. And maybe buy a set of those Reich Caravan Weight Control scales so I can spot check weights mid trip as the distribution is never static and most weight bridges don't really have the time to let you play around weighing each axle. Anyway, thanks again for your useful presentation. But please, don't sneer at the LandCruiser crowd. They are not all parochial red-necks. Their 4x4 tugs will likely outlast your alternative suggestions so of course they will defend their choices. Human nature. Try engaging them in a meaningful discussion rather than waving that red flag! 🚩 Cheers, John PS: BTW, many states are increasingly doing random weight checking. I have heard of people in QLD having to truck their rig back home after a roadside check. Unless you can rebalance your load on the roadside it can spell the end of your Big Lap experience. So get with the program people!

Thank you John! I recommend this video to all of my friends

Quite simply a brilliant video John!

Thanks John - just bought a Triton 4WD so this was perfect. I was getting really confused with all the terms.

27:50 Oh, I hear you, John. I've been put in similar situations over the years. On another note. I knew a person that had a business painting roofs in Western Queensland; some insulating paint of some sort. He had a couple of old, F-250 (around 1970 vintage) utes/trucks with full-body-length roof-racks. He would load Ten 5 metre trestles and as many aluminium planks as he could and then send his boys from CQ coastal city out to the middle of nowhere Western Queensland. Through a bizarre set of circumstances, I had to drive one of these utes about 25km over dirt tracks and then the National highway. It was the craziest drive of my life (I'm 55 and worked in transport or was ibn vehicles for most of it). The top-heavy load combined with 1970s suspension and I think drums all-round made for a somewhat 'sailboat in a cyclone' kind of ride.

As a Truck driver by occupation we have to work within GVM restrictions placed on heavy vehicles predominantly to keep the vehicles within limits to ensure safe travel. I have been looking into just such an issue as I'm looking to go the ute &van option and thus far the Dodge Ram with the optional drive ratio upgrade gives a towing capacity of 4.5 tonnes and GVM of 7.237 kg and costs start at $80k. On paper you could buy the Ram and a van within the cost of just the Landcruiser 200 alone. Also the RAM/ Ford F250 series type vehicles are trucks built primarily for towing with large over engineered chassis and drivetrains and built for the job rather than needing modification to achieve a similar result. Holden made a booboo speccing the Silverado which starts at $125k and only 3500kg capacity, when it is available in the USA like the RAM and F250 with 4500kg GVM's.

Spot on! Now wait for the "Yeh But....." Bring on the nuts John.

thank you John. Informative, concise and entertaining, great job!

Great video! Gotta love your technical videos John! Beer garden physics are the best kind of physics!

Thanks John, great video. This whole issue was fore of mind in my recent decision to buy a LC200. I opted for the Lovell's kit at 3800kg, because my 2.5T van has a 300kg ball weight. Spouse and I, like you, just can't our heads around towing up to 3.5T or anything approaching that. While our van runs an ATM of 2.5T, we like to keep it about 2.2T.

Thankyou ! I now concider myself informed . . . and yes before I bought my Camper but not before buying my DPF carrying unit . sigh . .

Much appreciated mate, you have saved me tons of $$ , and gave me a full understanding of what to do, brilliantly explained Cheers 👍👍👍

Great vid mate , nice to see an informative effort amongst all the noise , for once !

He is correct in the first part of this towing guide. He is always talking about maximum weights were in reality most people don't tow these so called Taj Mahals around and saying they cost $190,000 is silly. The average van around the max weight are around $100,000 or less. On the Toyota LC 200 with 300kg on the towball and it's rare to have 3 people, most touring around are couples and in my case with the wife it's only 140kg, so there's 100kg more for the car. Now with that 300kg on the towball now you can take 200kg from your car and put that in van, and your van will be still under GVM, so now your car GVM has gone back his 260kg now with the 100kg I saved, so you can leave that 200kg in your LC 200 and all will be good.

Thanks John, my wife and I came to the realization that staying in motels and hotels was the better option. Our fuel consumption went down and the choice of vehicle expanded. And the real benefit was a vehicle that my wife could drive if something happened to me and I could not drive. My mate ended up getting an imported duel wheel 6.7lt truck and a Longhorn palace. That thing is now sitting in his yard after the big Australian adventure and no one wants it at the price he is asking. We travel in style and comfort, we stay at the best and eat at the best. And we still meet others who have also done the maths.

Great vid John. Has frustrated me for years all this 3.5 t tow rubbish. Seeing all these uninsured, un or ill informed towers everywhere. This should all be reeled in. We regularly tow 1900 kg behind our 100 series. Knowing how it behaves in emergency braking situations on a bend, we will never tow more than about 2.5 tonne and really, thats stretching it. People need to think about all this. I agree a course and a license would be a good thing where sll this is taught and examined.

John, I heard this guy (from a reliable source), who run a business that regularly tow a car trailer with his Ute (around town). It can be done but certainly not recommended. It was like "one man in a Ute + a trailer & an old car on it". I don't think he was blowing the total weight, but I cannot imagine that will be fun at all.

A very thorough explanation, thanks John.

Great video, people need the same education for roof loading. After market places selling steel roof racks that only leave 10kg static roof payload and then people throw heaps of stuff on

People often forget that changing to larger LT tyres often adds around 10 - 15kgs per corner. Those cheap Titan drawers from 4WD Supacentre are around 70kgs empty. It doesn't take much to eat away at that GVM.

Informative video John, much appreciated. 🚗👍

Such good advice and very well explained as per usual John 👍👍

Hey john, I’ve been saying this for years. One thing you forgot to touch on which people forget about is axle loads. When they do GVM upgrades they can’t upgrade the axle load rating most of the time. So even if you upgrade the GVM you most likely will still exceed the axle load when you add the ball weight.

Absolutely brilliant video JC. I hope all the ignorant out there who are over these weights gasp loudly! How easy it is to exceed GVM...very easy! Local weigh bridge is free, so there is really no excuse. Latest issue of RV magazine tells of what you can be charged with if you smash overloaded, includes manslaughter if you kill someone!

This is the best T-shirt you had. Pete the CHEMIST LOVE IRON MAN. UOU ROCK. LOVE U

Great video John. I have posted it on my Jurgens Caravans Chat Page.

Well done John for pointing out that which should be the bleeding obvious, highlighting the absolute stupidity and false economy of the BIG 4x4 and the BIG towable home away from home, let's hope some will heed the message.

Your best explanation ever. Well done. Recently looking to buy an SUV that can tow a van of 2T will a ball weight of 180kg I found that only really the expensive euro SUVs would meet my needs. I previously had a Touareg 180 which was great but with a replacement starting at $105k decided to sell the van and just buy a car (loving the Stinger). With the huge caravan market in Australia I don’t get why manufacturers are not appropriately meeting the market. Or maybe I do, they just don’t want to be liable. Also when you ask a car salesman, they are totally clueless and will tell you it can do what you are asking for, even though it can’t.

This should wake up some people.Thanks for showing And that's why we tow 2.34 ton caravan with an Iveco Daily van GCM of 7000Kg we are always within the limits of 600/700 KG

John, thank you. Best advice! Love all your videos.

Thank you. This needs to be said. Then said again, then again and forevermore untill people listen.

Hey John C, Great video!!! Problem is the consumer!!! The second biggest investment that most people make is a vehicle; and most never read the OWNERS MANUAL!!! I speak from the HEAVY TRUCK INDUSTRY background; I don't care what continent you live on when it comes to RV towing there should be a required drivers license. Living in the U.S. I see this problem quite often; any vehicle that is towing be it LARGE or small should be required to go through a weigh station!!! Here In the U.S. the auto manufacturers are all about the whistles and bells; here they have turn pickup trucks into Toys!!! I live at a lake and I see it constantly; over load light weight vehicles towing a heavy RV!!! (OVER LOADED)

Great video John, very informative. I think buying a truck and fitting it out with a camper body would be better/ more fun!

Excellent, no point in me commenting... you have covered it well!

Intelligent and articulate... and the maths doesn’t lie 👍

Hi John. A very informative and educational video; much appreciated. I’ve worked in risk management for many years, so have a good comprehension of what you mentioned. The key point (for me) of your video relates to the potential implications if one exceeds the set limits and there is accident, the owner of the vehicle and Taj Mahal will likely be wiped by their insurance company for operating an unroadworthy vehicle and their insurance claim denied - as you alluded to. Civil action may then follow for injuries and/or damage caused, which could mean people having to sell their houses and other assets in order to try to cover compensation. Not to mention the loss of your vehicle and whatever you were towing. Plus for me were the Triton payload figures - I’m a happy Triton owner; without a Taj Mahal! Thanks again John - great work. Cheers, Jeff.

Re GVM upgrades. The 105 series LandCruiser carried over the same chassis and axles from the 80 series. With different splines on the rear diff and different hubs. But looking at it, I've got no problem upgrading the gvm on my 80 series to be the same as the 105 series gvm (or very similar). It was same as you said, 4 new springs, 4 new dampers. Warranty isn't an issue on a 24 year old car.

What John says about buying a truck (RAM, Silverado, F Series etc) is on the money. The difference between towing a 3500kg van with a Ranger compared to doing it with a Silverado is staggering. The Silverado has 6.6 litres of diesel torque, but most important, it has the wheelbase that makes it stable as a tow vehicle. A white knuckle trip in a Ranger becomes a relaxing drive in the Silverado. It really doesn't know a 3500 trailer is there (it can tow 7000 kg with ease). Try one, you will never go back. Another thing is the cofg and the side profile of the trailer significantly influences the towing capability. A 3500 kg flat bed trailer caring an excavator is a who different kettle of fish to a 3500 kg 36 foot van that's 3m tall. Take Johns advice, if you really want to tow 3500kg caravan, get a Ford F250/350, RAM 2500/2500 or Silverado 2500/3500. The difference between 2500/3500/4500/5500 models is the max payload. Even better is a 5th wheel style, they are so much more stable than a bumper pull.

hi John greetings from Shitsville USA brother we really enjoyed the video and love the Iron Man shirt

My son is seriously considering buying a 4x4, plus adding a towbar. I'll have him watch your advice. Many thanks.

Very informative, thanks heaps John!!! I had NFI before watching this video

Best towing explanation out there👍. Exactly, why dont the manufacturers offer a tow GVM upgrade from factory as an option...Toyota, ,Mitsubishi, Ford etc. Agree with other comments about axle capacities and tyre ratings. Load to ground. Great work. On the video..

Thanks so much John. This was doing my head in before watching your video.

Excellent video. You might have saved some lives with this one!

Thank you. We're beginner towers. This is great advise

I like that you use red brick in your red room :)

Just to let you know I am off to find the fabled dingo piss creek. Took your advise, bought a little van, (no toilet) and an old year 2000 landcruiser. Wish me luck, I am going to head west initially, well after a short stay on the sunny coast.

Lol the free body diagram remind me of my statics subject lol good work!!

great demonstration/ explanations, down to earth, thank you

Seems I'm here so early it's still only available in 360p... The Vaseline lens really does make John look a lot more handsome though.

I 100% agree with not towing something heavier than the tow vehicle. It's a long story, but many years ago a friend and I needed to move half a dozen or so cars overnight. We had a TD Cortina as the tow vehicle and the largest of the cars we towed was an F150. It was super sketchy, but even another Cortina plus the trailer weight was still very sketchy. Luckily we only needed to move them 10km's or so.

Thank you for what should be part 1 of "Towing 101". How often do you see a retired couple cruising along in their new Landcruiser towing a 3500kg caravan (or a 3400kg Jayco because all the bits keep falling off making it lighter.....and lighter) with probably no idea about what to do should their mobile mansion start to fishtail? I need an HR licence to drive my 40ft. motorhome, yet only a car licence to drive a Silverado with a 30ft caravan. Training and a special licence for towing heavy recreational vehicles perhaps?

Terrific story John shame people just do.not.listen I travel 60 000km a year for work in the outback and see at least one rolled car and caravan per week Every time I think someone's dreams just been shattered by their own doing

What an awesome Tutorial... I'm often 58 tonne over 9 axles... heaviest I've towed was 84.5 tonne over an 11 axle road train. I doubt urban males ever consider such issues of GVM and its axle weights... perhaps a Video of downhill control of vehicle n its load would be helpful to some John... Credit where credits due... From The EV guru...(and real name).

Brilliant vid, very informative and helpful. Cheers mate.

I’m currently doing some ADR testing for a LC200 GVM upgrade kit. Definitely an interesting concept and I’d be interested to talk to you a bit about it JC

My husband once towed a '74 Toyota Crown with a Triumph Herald !!!!!!

John, your "Weighbridge 101" flip sheet has an error in that number (3) is actually GVM - D/Load. Maybe call it GVM' ("GVM prime" instead). This actually threw me out when I went though the weigh bridge worries and may do the same to others. Great job otherwise - have shared it with friends as the best summary I came across.

A vehicle towing a trailer up and down steep hilly terrain will experience dynamic weight shift between trailer and vehicle, this must also be taken into account. I hope this helps

Good! I'll stick with my tent as long as possible... 😊

John, you nailed it. Santa Fe vs LC200........who would have thought. Maybe I was wrong....