Buyer Questions
Tray Weight, Payload and GVM
The part of a build most people work out after they have already spent the money. Get this wrong and it can void your insurance.
Get Your Numbers CheckedThe Honest Bit
Payload disappears faster than people expect
Your GVM is the most your ute is legally allowed to weigh, loaded. Subtract the tare weight of the vehicle and everything bolted to it, and what is left is your payload.
A tray, a canopy, a bull bar, a winch, drawers, water, fuel, tools and two people add up quickly. Plenty of work utes on the road are over their GVM and the owners have no idea.
That matters beyond a fine. If you are overloaded in an incident, it can void your insurance, and that is a much more expensive problem than a lighter build would have been.
How We Handle It
What we do before we cut anything
- Work out the tare weight of the proposed build
- Check it against your GVM and what you plan to carry
- Design lighter where the load allows it
- Keep heavy gear forward and low for better handling
- Tell you straight if the numbers do not stack up
- Flag when a GVM upgrade is worth investigating
- Give you the figures in writing before you commit
FAQ
Weight and GVM questions
How much does a ute tray weigh?
It depends on size, material and fit-out. Aluminium keeps it lower than steel, and we give you the tare figure for your specific build before you commit.
Can I upgrade my GVM?
We are fabricators, not GVM certifiers, but we can organise GVM upgrades using certified installers that we know and trust.
What happens if I am overloaded?
Fines and defects are the obvious risk. The bigger one is that being overloaded in an incident can void your insurance.
Keep Reading
Related pages
Not sure what you have left to carry?
Send us your ute model and what you plan to load. We will work the numbers with you before anything gets built.
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