Weigh a Tank 300 in its actual touring configuration. Reconcile vehicle, axle and combination limits before adding passengers, accessories or a trailer.
Gather applicable ratings before visiting a scale
Record the VIN, original market, powertrain, plate information and relevant vehicle documents. Obtain recognised gross vehicle, axle, combination and coupling limits as applicable rather than relying on a foreign brochure alone. The towing, payload and roof-load guide explains why these constraints are separate. Ask the appropriate professional what ratings are accepted at the destination and how any claimed modification affects them. A suspension invoice or stronger spring is not proof of an authorised mass increase. Keep missing ratings visible: without the applicable limit, a measured mass cannot be turned into a complete acceptance decision.
Define exactly what travels in the measured vehicle
Include occupants or an accurately documented equivalent, normal fuel and liquids, spare wheel, recovery gear, tools, fridge, luggage and installed accessories. Record any item temporarily removed for the weighing visit. A winch, protection plates, auxiliary battery and carrier use part of the available allowance before loose luggage is packed. The camping power plan helps identify electrical equipment that can otherwise be omitted. Distinguish measured operating mass from an empty showroom state. Do not describe a ticket as fully loaded when children, water containers or a future rear carrier have not been accounted for.
Obtain the measurements the decision actually requires
Use a suitable weighing provider and follow its procedure for total vehicle and axle measurements. If a trailer is planned, obtain the relevant loaded combination and coupling information through a competent operator. This is not an instruction to improvise positioning or trailer measurement on an unsuitable scale. Preserve date, vehicle identity, load description and ticket units. Record uncertainty where the provider cannot supply a required result. A total-mass ticket alone cannot show how weight is distributed between the axles. Ask the provider what its measurement represents, particularly when comparing results from different equipment or visits.
Calculate each margin separately
For a hypothetical arithmetic example, an applicable 3,000 kg vehicle limit less a measured 2,850 kg operating mass leaves 150 kg before that limit, not an approval to add that amount anywhere. The numbers are illustrative and do not state a Tank 300 rating. An axle, roof, tyre, carrier or combination constraint may be reached earlier. Retain each applicable calculation and identify which becomes controlling in the intended arrangement. The rear-door and spare-wheel carrier checks matter when equipment is concentrated behind the rear axle. Do not assume a light front end compensates for an overloaded rear axle.
Revise packing or the candidate when margins are inadequate
Remove unnecessary equipment, change the packing arrangement or select a specification better suited to the load. Obtain professional advice before changing safety-related equipment or relying on a claimed upgrade. A smaller luggage load may be a more practical solution than an unverified modification. The boot-space and family-use guide helps prioritise items that must remain inside. Reweigh after material changes so the acceptance file describes the delivered configuration. A future promise to travel lighter is not a robust buying decision when ordinary family use already consumes the available margin. Consider contingency for realistic supplies added during the trip.
Carry the evidence into the handover plan
Keep the applicable ratings, tickets, accessory list and accepted packing plan together. Explain which measurements need repeating if a trailer, roof system or heavy accessory is added later. Any export preparation that changes the configuration deserves review before release. Use the modification and export guide to retain installation and identity records. The receiver should understand both the current result and its limits, not just receive a single payload number in a chat. A well-documented mass plan can change which Tank 300 is suitable, even when candidates have the same appearance, registration year and advertised towing capacity.
Evidence to collect
- VIN-specific accepted vehicle and axle ratings
- Complete measured load and accessory list
- Dated total/axle/combination tickets as required
- Separate margin calculations and limiting constraint
- Reweigh after material configuration changes
Primary references
Specifications and equipment can vary by market, model year, trim, VIN and production batch. Verify the exact vehicle and current destination rules before purchase.
GWM Australia brochure: variant ratings and accessory-mass qualifications ↗Frequently asked questions
Does being below gross vehicle mass prove axle compliance?
No. Axle limits and load distribution require their own applicable measurements and checks.
Does upgraded suspension automatically increase legal payload?
No. Mechanical changes and recognised mass approval are different questions; verify the accepted ratings and documentation.