chrissmith61 wrote:The magazine has quoted “GVM + ATM = GCM” at the bottom of column one on page 83.

The correct formula should be “GVM + GTM = GCM”

Neither of those formulae are correct – most of the 4WD utes have GCMs less than the sum of the full weight of the truck and the maximum weight on the wheels of the van. The GCM takes into account the total weight of all the axles in the combination.

The other thing you have to watch is you don’t count the ball weight of the van twice. If you are going to weigh the tug and van separately then the Ball weight should be included in the weight of the tug.

Old Techo wrote:Thanks Chris, but you are limiting the conversation to my perspective (1).

The Oxford Dictionary describes gross the following way….

(of weight) including contents, wrappings, or other variable items; overall:
‘a projected gross take-off weight of 500,000 pounds’

In my perspective (2) what I measure on the weighbridge is my actual mass and it is proper to call it gross vehicle mass as defined by Oxford. So this is the ‘other’ and practical perspective.

Forget dictionaries. Their definitions vary. That is why the drafters of legislation include their own definitions in the legislation. Go to this page. When you are talking about motor vehicle regulations, if you use any other definition then you are wrong.

Here are some from some of their other publications.

I saw a mag on the top 50 upgrades (or something along that vein)
Air Heating but pictured a Safe
Asked the bloke whose bearings would be under greater load, his tandem axle ones or my single axle ones, considering our ATM was similar?


Sullage Hose Carrier.
Think they meant 50mm, not 150mm unless they have large hoses.

masterplumber wrote:Asked the bloke whose bearings would be under greater load, his tandem axle ones or my single axle ones, considering our ATM was similar?

MP, I suspect what he meant was that tandem wheel bearings are subjeced to higher lateral loads every time you turn a tight corner and scrub the tyres. So it’s not a weight thing.

PeterD wrote:When you are talking about motor vehicle regulations, if you use any other definition then you are wrong.

PD, thanks for the link to the definitions however I see that the single word ‘gross’ is not listed.

In my perpective (1) I was referring to ‘the law’ where you are correct that definitions are critical and I didn’t challenge them.

In my perspective (2) (viewpoint of a curious owner at the weighbridge) where I quoted the Oxford Dictionary I was not talking about motor vehicle regulations. I was talking about a practical way for a layperson to describe the results of a weighbridge test.

I only bothered to enter this discussion to determine if there was a way that the Mag article may have been less wrong than it appeared to Chris.

Old Techo wrote:

masterplumber wrote:Asked the bloke whose bearings would be under greater load, his tandem axle ones or my single axle ones, considering our ATM was similar?

MP, I suspect what he meant was that tandem wheel bearings are subjeced to higher lateral loads every time you turn a tight corner and scrub the tyres. So it’s not a weight thing.

Food for thought.

I saw a Tri-axle van being pulled by an F250 on theM1.

Those bearings must be under real strain, although I considered peeling the front and rear tyres off the rims more of an issue.

MP

I was just thinking, would it be good if you could lower one axle and only have 2 wheels on the ground when you want to do a sharp turn, say parking in a tight spot.
You could have a scissor jack welded to the frame on each side over the axle as long as they extend far enough to lift the van or at least take the weight of the other wheels.
A bit extra work and i don’t know if it would work. My van is a single axle so i can’t try it.

Hans

The magazine gets a hell of a lot wrong, they definitely do not employ proof readers, fitting of towing mirrors in some road tests doesn’t seem to apply to them. I usually start at the back of the magazine so I don’t get swamped by photos of Fred. They should change the mags name to “The adventures of Fred”
Doug