Tough Dog Gross Vehicle Mass Upgrades are now available and Wilkinson Suspension Centre is an approved dealer and installer!
We now have exclusive access to supply and install Tough Dog GVM Upgrades. Each Kit includes all the required suspension components plus compliance plate and required documentation for licencing.
A Tough Dog GVM Upgrade allows the vehicle to be certified to carry a greater amount than the originally specified GVM by using their ADR Approved GVM Upgrade kit.
The GVM Upgrade kits have been extensively tested and are designed for a select few makes and models. Here’s how it works:
If your vehicle is fully loaded with tools of the trade or equipped for a long haul off-road touring, your vehicle could become dangerous if it exceeds the specified GVM. Using a Tough Dog Australian Design Rules (ADR) Approved GVM Upgrade can combat these issues.
As a fully-licenced mechanical workshop, we can perform wheel alignments in-house. This means we can supply, install and wheel align your vehicle, offering you a complete service!
Tough Dog GVM Upgrades are now available for the following vehicles:
Toyota Landcruiser 300 Series
Click the image for more info!
Toyota Hilux (GGN125R, 126R)
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Toyota Landcruiser 79 Series Ute & Dual Cab
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Toyota Landcruiser 78 Series Troop Carrier
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Toyota Landcruiser 200 Series
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RAM 1500 DT
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RAM 1500 DS
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Ford Ranger P703 Next Gen
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Ford Ranger PX3
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FORD EVEREST UB
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Isuzu D-MAX
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Mazda BT-50
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SUZUKI JIMNY JB74 3 Door
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Nissan Patrol Y61 Wagon
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New Kits Coming Soon!
As new vehicles are released testing and development begins on new Tough Dog GVM Upgrades. If your new vehicle is not listed here, check in with our sales team to find out if a GVM Upgrade kit will be available for your vehicle in the near future!
Contact us today to book your vehicle in!
Phone: 08 9370 2646
Email: sales@wilkinsonsuspension.com.au
Visit: 81 Beechboro Rd South, Bayswater
A Tough Dog GVM Upgrade must be installed by a Tough Dog Authorised GVM fitting facility. DIY fitment or fitment by a non-authorised agent will result in the kit not achieving certification.
Wilkinson Suspension Centre is an authorised fitting agent.
You can upgrade the GVM of a vehicle with either ‘Federal’ or ‘State’ approval, depending on whether or not the vehicle has already been registered.
New Vehicles
If your vehicle is brand-new and not yet registered, a GVM Upgrade can be fitted prior to initial registration. The GVM upgrade is undertaken at the ‘Second Stage of Manufacture’ (SSM) which means it is only certifiable by the Federal Government via the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications.
In this case, the vehicle will be directly registered with the revised GVM. This is known as ‘Pre-Registration’ and thanks to the Federal Approval the revised GVM will be legal in all states of Australia. This will be made clear by the additional compliance plate which comes with the GVM kit and will be fixed to the vehicle.
Vehicles Already Registered
When changes are made to an already registered vehicle GVM, this must be reported to and inspected by the WA Department of Transport.
If your vehicle is already registered, the GVM Upgrade can still be installed. However, the vehicle will then need to be reinspected for certification by an authorised Department of Transport Inspection Station.
This is known as ‘Post-Registration’ which carries State Approval. Federal Compliance cannot be achieved on a vehicle that has already been registered.
Locations and Fees for inspections can be found on the WA Department of Transport’s website.
These fees are paid directly to the DoT at the time of inspection and are not included in pricing quoted by us for a GVM Upgrade.
The revised GVM achieved is shown in the above vehicle specific images.
For more info, Click on the image.
The cost will depend on the vehicle’s make and model, the selected GVM Upgrade and fitment costs.
Please note that any costs for vehicle inspections and changes to vehicle registration carried out by the Department of Transport are not included in the GVM Kit purchase price.
For pricing specific to your vehicle and needs, please contact our Sales Team.
This is probably the most common question we get asked in relation to a GVM Upgrade!
Towing capacity is based on factors such as the vehicle’s power and torque, rear-axle strength, frame durability and even the grip of the standard tyres.
Therefore, a GVM Upgrade will not increase the towing capacity. To answer this in more detail we first need to explain GCM…
What is GCM?
The ‘GCM’ or ‘Gross Combined Mass’ is the total allowable combined weight of your vehicle and towed trailer.
This is a very important guideline, especially if you are planning to tow a 3.5 Tonne Caravan, Camper, Trailer or Boat behind your fully decked-out vehicle because in many cases, the GCM cannot be changed.
Let’s work through the numbers with a few examples:
Toyota 200 Series GXL – Standard
The formula to calculate the ‘GCM’ for standard vehicles is ‘GVM’ + ‘BTC’. In this example, the ‘GCM’ is 6850kg (3350kg + 3500kg)
Toyota 200 Series GXL – Fitted with a Tough Dog GVM Upgrade
The same formula can not be used to calculate the ‘GCM’ for upgraded vehicles! In this example, that would mean that ‘Revised GVM’ + ‘BTC’ equals a ‘GCM’ of 7350kg which is 500kg over the maximum legal ‘GCM’ for this vehicle. In fact, the ‘GCM’ of this vehicle remains exactly the same, even after a GVM upgrade!
By increasing the vehicles ‘GVM’ this has actually reduced the total allowable weight of the caravan/camper/boat or towed trailer as the GCM remains unchanged.
(Example figures sourced from the Toyota Australia 200 Series specifications document 2020)