No matter whether you have a truck for work or to haul gear for your weekend hobbies, the weight can quickly stack up. GVM upgrades are made to reinforce and support your truck, while also massively boosting your hauling power. From loading up the tub with tools, to attaching a trailer or caravan on the back, there’s a lot to gain from this comprehensive upgrade.
Rather than just getting a suspension upgrade alone, getting a properly engineered GVM upgrade serves to increase your ground clearance but also retain the stability and control you expect, even when you’re fully loaded. If you’re not sure if you’re ready to make the jump into something with more power and a heavy-duty payload, we’ve put together our top five reasons it’s something to consider.
1. You’re Already Carrying More Weight Than You Realise
If you’re loading on things like a long range fuel tank, have a lot of gear to carry, or are planning a major cross-country trip, the manufacturer payload can fill up quickly. That doesn’t account for carrying passengers, bull bars, winches, and anything you load onto the roof rack.
Plenty of drivers will be pushing the limits of what’s safe to carry, which compromises on handling and in the long-term, can wear out your wheels and tyres. Factory suspension is perfectly fine for regular everyday use, but if you’ve invested in something rugged like a Ford F150, Toyota Tundra, or Chevy Silverado, you’re probably not an everyday driver. You got a heavy-duty beast because you wanted more.
GVM upgrades come in all shapes and sizes, meaning there’s no one-size-fits-all kit. We’ve got a full scope of options for this exact reason. Upgrading to a properly engineered system with heavy-duty coil overs, control arms, our own range of leaf packs and of course a dedicated suspension kit works wonders and ensures your vehicle can carry that weight as intended. These components are specifically rated for higher loads, meaning less sag, improved support, and better control when fully packed.
2. Your Vehicle Doesn’t Handle Well Under Load
If you’re heading out with all your gear and notice a big difference in how the ride feels in terms of stability and navigating over bumps compared to when you’re not fully loaded, it’s time for an upgrade. Your suspension will be working overtime and this is a particular concern when you’re heading off the beaten track where the terrain is less consistent than a road. Weight transfer is more severe, which can have a knock on effect on everything from the factory suspension to increased wear and tear on your tyres.
When you get a dedicated GVM upgrade, you’ll be gaining more resilient suspension for a start, but will also get secondary parts that support the wheel base and frame of your truck. It’ll also often enable you to get bigger tyres, not only giving you superior traction even when you’re carrying a lot of weight, but it’ll also make it easy to traverse rough ground when you’re off-roading.
3. You Want to Tow Without Compromising Safety
Outside of loading up with every seat filled in the cab or heaping gear in the tub, you might be towing on a regular basis. Whether that’s a caravan or trailer, it’s important to have the power to do it safely. Rather than bearing down on the wheelbase, the tow ball weight is applied directly to your rear axle when you’re towing. This can quickly push you over your GVM, even if your trailer is within its limits purely because of placement.
Having a tow bar is only one part of getting your setup done. You need the right kind of support to avoid rear-end sagging, reduced steering control, and increased braking distances, making it a must-have for safety. The key components that deliver those benefits come from stronger suspension components that redistribute the load, along with shocks that absorb the greater forward motion from the increased weight when you’re braking. This allows you to maintain proper ride height and handling balance, even when towing heavier setups like caravans or trailers.
4. You’re Building a Proper Touring or Work Setup
For serious workers and adventurers looking for something that can not only haul more with a mega payload increase but also want longevity, a GVM upgrade is for you. From doing a loop of Australia with a caravan in tow or heading to a jobsite where you need water storage, tools, spare parts, and recovery gear, the weight racks up quickly. Depending on your needs and the vehicle you drive, you can get a GVM Stage that delivers anywhere up to a 199% increase in payload.
If you’re planning ahead and are looking into getting a new vehicle, now’s the best time to plan for a GVM upgrade. With pre-rego approval, you can get a road-ready, nationwide approved vehicle with Offroad Industries as your Second Stage Manufacturer. This means you’ll have a beast of a vehicle that’s approved in every state and territory before you even get behind the wheel for the first time.
We use top quality aftermarket parts, including our own range to give you torture-tested suspension kits and parts to make it easy to load up and head out, no matter where work or the journey takes you.
5. You Want to Stay Legal and Protected
We’ve touched on legality and approval, but beyond safety, overloading your vehicle is a legal issue as much as a safety issue. Driving an overloaded vehicle can lead to fines, or voided insurance and major complications in the event of an accident.
Even a moderate increase of 50% can be the difference between being compliant and road-worthy and having issues down the track. All of our Stages are engineered and ready to be installed and approved, meaning you’re guaranteed to get the extra payload you need.
Discover GVM Upgrades Today
From better control and safety to the ability to go further even when you’re taking everything and everyone with you, GVM packages from ORI are built to go the distance with you. Explore by make and model today, or contact us for more information. We’re happy to consult with you, answer any further questions, and give you a personal recommendation so you can get what you need from your truck.