Before investing in suspension upgrades, airbags, or accessories for your tow vehicle, make sure you understand your towing weights. Getting your car, caravan, horse float, trailer or commercial vehicle weighed first helps you stay safe, legal, and avoid expensive mistakes. A professional weighing service in Melbourne and regional Victoria can give you a clear picture of your setup and provide tailored and unbiased advice on necessary upgrades and accessories, if required to get your setup compliant.
For the purpose of this article, “Trailer” refers to a caravan, horse float, or any other trailer.
Why Weight Matters When Towing
If you’re planning to tow a caravan down the Great Ocean Road, haul a horse float to Werribee, or head off-grid in the High Country, your vehicle’s weight setup is just as important as the destination.
Every vehicle and trailer combination has specific limits set by the manufacturer—things like GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass), GCM (Gross Combined Mass), tow ball mass, and axle loads. If you exceed these, you’re not only risking fines and voiding insurance—you’re also putting your family’s safety and others on the road at risk.
Many don’t realise they’re overweight until it’s too late. That’s where getting weighed first makes all the difference.
The Costly Mistake Many People Make
A common story goes like this:
- Someone buys a new 4×4 and caravan.
- They add bull bars, roof racks, a second battery, drawer system, long range fuel tank.
- Only later do they discover that all those extras have eaten into their payload, leaving them overweight before they even hitch up.
Or - They buy a car and caravan that are pushing the limits of their towing capacity and vehicle weight limits.
- They suspect they’re overweight given accessories on their vehicle so they invest in a GVM upgrade before weighing their setup.
- Only to discover their GCM remains overweight, or they have installed the incorrect suspension upgrade.
At this point, fixing the problem usually means spending thousands or more on modifications—or worse, having to scale back on travel plans.
Suspension upgrades vary greatly, and you may not even need one. A weight distribution system may be the more appropriate solution to redistribute weight across both axles of your tow vehicle. The benefit to weight distribution systems is that they are only required when towing, therefore not always impacting the comfort of your everyday vehicle. Suspension upgrades may result in a harsher ride when not towing.
By weighing your tow vehicle before you accessorise, or before purchasing a caravan/float/trailer, you can make informed decisions and avoid over investing in accessories or suspension upgrades that don’t solve the problem.
How Professional Weighing Helps
When you book a weigh-in with a service like Weigh My Ride in Melbourne or regional Victoria, you’re not just getting numbers on a scale. You’re getting a full assessment of how your vehicle and trailer work together.
Here’s what the process usually involves:
- Measuring ride height and balance – so you know if your setup is level.
- Breaking down axle and tow ball weights – so you understand where the load is carried.
- Explaining how weights interact – so you see how adding accessories or water tanks impacts towing stability.
- Unbiased upgrade advice – tailored to your vehicle, not tied to a specific brand.
The end result? A clear plan for what upgrades (if any) you actually need, plus confidence that your setup is legal and safe.
Suspension, Airbags, and Hitches: What You Really Need
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to upgrades. Depending on your setup, you may need:
- Suspension upgrades – harsher springs for better handling under load.
- Spring-assist airbags – to help manage tow ball weight and suspension height.
- GVM or GCM upgrades – if you’re close to your manufacturer’s weight limits.
- Adjustable tow hitches – which can be fitted before suspension changes and adjusted later, to ensure your ride height and angle is appropriate..
- Weight Distribution Systems – that can alleviate stress on the rear axle when towing by distributing weight across the front and rear axles of the tow vehicle.
Travelling level is the first piece of the puzzle. A level vehicle and trailer combination improves stability, braking, and comfort—making the entire towing experience less stressful.
Book a Weigh-In Before You Upgrade
If you’re in Melbourne or regional Victoria, don’t invest in suspension, airbags, or hitches before knowing your numbers. Start with a professional weigh-in, get tailored advice, and make upgrades that genuinely improve your towing safety and comfort. Contact Weigh My Ride today!
Stay safe. Stay legal. Tow with confidence.
