Towing question

[mickrangie]

At work I drive a Mazda T4000 flat bed truck...

It can carry 2.5T and it's rated to tow 3.6T with brakes...

Can I tow a 3T trailer (4x4 Forklift) and carry 2.5 load on the tray with out braking any laws (or parts on the truck)

Mick

[crispy]

Yeah my old man used to drive a truck like that carting seed, with 2T on the truck and another 2T on the trailer. It towed it fine bit slower, but never fell apart.
I couldnt see it being illegal unless you break the load rating of either the truck or trailer or both i guess

[mickrangie]

coool thanks
that's what i was thinking....

the fork we are getting it constant 4x4 with diff locks!!! Hmmm might have to take out to the bush!!!

http://www.manitou.com/uk/quel/besoins/mats/mats_01.htm

[auto_eng]

You should be fine so long as you don't excees the manufacturers GCWR (Gross Combinational Weight Rating).

This is the total weight of the vehicle and trailer. Some vehicles have a GCWR which is less than the GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass) and ATM (Aggregate Trailer Mass), basically meaning you can not carry a max load and a max weight trailer at the same time.

What year is the tow vehicle?

[droopypete]

Mick if you can legally tow 3.6 and the fork weighs 3, I doubt any trailer that can handle 3 tonne is going to weigh less than 600 KG.
Peter.

[mickrangie]

You should be fine so long as you don't excees the manufacturers GCWR (Gross Combinational Weight Rating).

This is the total weight of the vehicle and trailer. Some vehicles have a GCWR which is less than the GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass) and ATM (Aggregate Trailer Mass), basically meaning you can not carry a max load and a max weight trailer at the same time.

What year is the tow vehicle?

99 Mazda T4000 where do i find the GCWR?? had a look in the manual and found nada

[droopypete]

It should be on a placard somewhere, try a door jamb.
Peter.

[DR Frankenstine]

A flat tray with a towing capacity of say 3.5 tonne is ok empty but lets say you put 1 tonne on the back then you are only allowed to tow 2.5 tonne im not sure if this law applies to light trucks. sounds like a stupid law to me as a ute would tow better with a bit of weight on the back.

[mickrangie]

damn

It sounds like a stpid law!! I have put over 6T on our poor little truck and it went fine (pls don't tell ma boss)

couldn't find GVCM place card anywhere and the guys at Mazda are a useless bunch of plicks!!!

thanks fellas

Mick

[auto_eng]

Have a look at the compliance plate and tell me the CPA (Approval) number and the GVM. I'll see if I can get it.

Is this vehicle anything like the T4600?

[mickrangie]

Have a look at the compliance plate and tell me the CPA (Approval) number and the GVM. I'll see if I can get it.

Is this vehicle anything like the T4600?

yep the same yrs have a 4.6L mine has 4.0L

cheer mate!!

Mick

[mkpatrol]

Have a look at the compliance plate and tell me the CPA (Approval) number and the GVM. I'll see if I can get it.

Is this vehicle anything like the T4600?

yep the same yrs have a 4.6L mine has 4.0L

cheer mate!!

Mick

If the vehicle is under 4500kg GVM (gross vehicle mass - weght of vehicle while loaded to manufacturers specs) then it won't have a GCM (gross combination mass -weight of loaded vehicle and loaded trailer). It will have whats called a maximum towing capacity which will be in the handbook or availiable from Mazda.
If it is over 4500kg GVM then you should know what all the weights mean as part of your drivers licence test for the higher class of licence. The manufacturer by law has to supply the GVM & GCM on the vehicle. It will more than likely be on the rego label if the vehicle is over 4500 as you have to nominate which insurance category when you pay for rego. You have to pay more insurance if you want to tow a trailer.
What state are you in?

[mickrangie]

smellbourne vitoria

[mkpatrol]

The regs are pretty much as I have said, if you get on the vic roads site, they have a leaflet on towing trailers. Whats the GVM of the truck?