Australia
Towing guides for Australia
Practical loadmate guides for weights, towing safety, setup checks, and the Rig Score.
a legal ceiling, not a target
ReviewedBraked Towing Capacity Explained: A Legal Ceiling, Not a Target
What braked towing capacity means, why 3,500 kg is a ceiling rather than a target, and a June 2026 towing capacity chart: GVM, GCM and payload by model.
- the rating
- max braked trailer weight
- the catch
- GCM usually bites first
- the Ranger
- rated 3,500 - real 3,050
the most your caravan can legally weigh, fully loaded
ReviewedAggregate Trailer Mass (ATM) Explained: Meaning, Formula & Upgrades
What ATM means, how it splits into GTM and tow ball mass, how to check your van's real weight, and how ATM upgrades work — for Australian caravanners.
- what it is
- max loaded van weight
- the split
- ATM = GTM + TBM
- payload
- ATM - tare
the most your vehicle can legally weigh, fully loaded
ReviewedGross Vehicle Mass (GVM) Explained: Meaning, Calculation & Upgrades
What GVM means, what counts towards it, how to calculate yours, and whether a GVM upgrade is worth it — a plain-English guide for Australian towing.
- what it is
- max loaded weight
- payload
- GVM − kerb
- when towing
- tow ball mass counts
ten common mistakes, all catchable before you leave
Reviewed10 Common Caravanning Mistakes: A Caravan Towing Checklist
The 10 most common caravanning mistakes — tow ball mass, loading, water, tare and rear axle limits — and the pre-departure checks that catch each one.
- the pattern
- weight mistakes
- ball mass
- 8-12% of the van
- the fix
- check before you hitch
how long a tank lasts, and what the water weighs
ReviewedCaravan Water Tanks: Size, Days of Water & Weight Explained
How long a caravan water tank lasts, what the water weighs (1 L = 1 kg), what size you need, grey water rules and free-camping tips for Australian vans.
- the weight
- 1 kg per litre
- how long
- 4 days on 180 L
- the limit
- counts towards ATM
every limit on the rig, in one picture
ReviewedCaravan & Towing Weights Explained: GVM, ATM, GTM, TBM & GCM
All the caravan weight terms in one place: GVM, ATM, GTM, TBM, GCM, tare, kerb and payload — plain-English definitions, formulas and a worked rig.
- vehicle
- GVM caps the load
- caravan
- ATM = GTM + TBM
- combination
- GCM caps the lot