Know your weights before you tow
ATM, GTM, ball weight and what they actually mean for you.
Workshop
Caravan and vehicle weighing
Know exactly what your van and tow vehicle weigh, loaded the way you travel, and how that compares with their plated limits.
All makes and modelsBought from us or not
Done in Murray BridgeThirty years of claims
Quoted before workNothing done without your say-so
Book onlineWe call to confirm
What’s included
Axle, ball and combined weights so you tow legally.
- Caravan ATM and axle (GTM) weight
- Tow ball weight
- Tow vehicle GVM and axle weights
- Combined (GCM) weight
- Comparison with your plated limits
How it works
What happens when you book
- Arrive loadedWater, gas, food, gear, passengers, bikes. Brochure figures are empty weights and are useless for this.
- Weigh the combinationEach wheel of the car and van is weighed hitched, then the van unhitched for tow ball weight.
- Compare with the platesEvery figure is set against the compliance plate limits of the van, the car and the towbar.
- Fix the problemIf something is over, we show you what to move, remove or upgrade. Often it’s a water tank or a toolbox in the wrong place.
Signs you need this
Book in if any of these sound familiar
- A new tow vehicle or a new van
- Accessories added since the last weigh (bull bar, drawers, canopy, second battery)
- The car squatting at the back when hitched
- Never having weighed it at all
- Heading on a long trip where a roadside check is possible
- Insurance renewal asking for weights
When to book. Weigh before your first big trip, after adding accessories or water capacity, or whenever you change tow vehicle.
Workshop
Caravan and tow vehicle weighing in Murray Bridge
Murray Bridge Caravan Centre weighs caravans and tow vehicles using calibrated portable scales, measuring each wheel individually. You get ATM, GTM, tow ball weight, GVM, individual axle weights and GCM, all set against the plated limits of the van, the car and the towbar, in a report you can keep for insurance or a roadside check.
Most caravan combinations we weigh are over on something, and it’s usually not the van. A full water tank, a canopy full of recovery gear and a heavy ball load push many dual-cabs past their GVM or rear axle rating while the van itself is legal. Knowing the numbers is the difference between a holiday and a declined insurance claim.
Weigh before your first big trip, after fitting accessories and whenever you change tow vehicle.
Common questions
Can’t see yours? We’ll call you back.
Murray Bridge workshop
98 Maurice Road, Murray Bridge SA 5253 · 08 8532 4777 · admin@caravancentre.com.au
Mon – Fri8:30am – 5:00pmSaturday9:00am – 12:00pmSundayClosed
DirectionsWhy does ball weight matter so much?
Tow ball weight counts against the car’s payload and rear axle, not just the van’s ATM. A heavy ball load is the usual reason a legal van sits on an overloaded car.
What happens if I’m over?
Nothing from us. You get the numbers and advice on how to fix it. Insurers and police are the ones who care if you’re caught over.
Can you weigh just the van?
Yes, but the combination is where most problems hide. We recommend both.
Tips and tricks
Towing out of Murray Bridge
The freeway, river roads, the Mallee and the Coorong. What to sort before you leave town.
Set tyre pressures when they’re cold
Heat changes pressure. Check before you drive, not at the servo.
Murray Bridge Caravan Centre
Ready when you are
Book online and we’ll call to confirm, or request a call and talk it through first.
Other services
Caravan servicing
Brakes, bearings, gas, electrics and chassis checked to a set schedule.
Mobile servicing and repairs via RV Now
We come to you. Servicing and repairs at your home, storage yard or caravan park, via RV Now.
Wheel alignments
Axle alignment to stop tyre scrub and poor tracking.
Insurance repairs
Hail, storm, road and accident damage on all makes.
Accessory installs and fitouts
Solar, awnings, water tanks, racks and full off-grid fitouts.
12V electrical
Lithium upgrades, DC-DC chargers, inverters and fault finding.