Thread: How hard is it to get a trailer GTM reduced?

Originally Posted by Burner

I have been looking at some used plant trailers and many are over 4.5t GTM, taking a huge rego $$ increase. For the carrying capacity we need we can keep it under 4.5t GTM and therefore save on rego, but the guy I asked at the rego call centre said you can't just change the rating to save on rego $$! Maybe I was to honest as to why I wanted to change it!! Is it hard to do?

We have a 28ft trailer on a 50mm ringfeeder hitch with a 4.495t GTM and a 6t ATM, good on the rego cost, but sometimes difficult to get into tight places behind a 4wd hook truck! A shorter one would be suitable a lot of the time, and a lower tare weight also handy.

Edit to add a missing word!!

Greetings,

Not sure about South Australia, but there are legal ways to do this in Queensland; so may also apply in SA. A local grazier friend recently bought a well used 4.5t GTM trailer from a company that hires out plant trailers. To reduce the GTM, he needed to "modify" the trailer. He first de-registered the trailer, removed the original manufacturer's VIN data plate and rego plate - and surrendered them to the Transport Department. He also took the grinder to the original manufacturer's serial number which was welded onto the draw bar, as well as being shown on the old VIN Data Plate.

He then did some maintenance and repairs himself - changed the coupling to suit his needs, cleaned up some rust, sorted the brakes and lights, and splashed some paint around. For legal purposes he defined that work as the "modifications". He was then able to apply to the Qld Dept of Transport to get a new VIN data plate for his new "owner manufactured / modified trailer" - and when doing so, he made sure that the GTM shown on the VIN data plate was below the applicable threshold that allowed for the cheaper rego. Once he had the new VIN data plate mounted on the trailer, he was able to register the trailer again, with cheaper rego.

Apparently what makes the above process legal is that the relevant legislation allows for the registration of Owner Built Trailers, and for the registration of commercially manufactured trailers that have been substantially modified or re-built by the owner.

CAUTION: Motor vehicle and trailer related Leglisation and Regulations vary a lot between the various states in Australia. It is the reader's responsibility to fully research the above information in their particular location and circumstances, and to satisify themselves regarding the legality of the above process in their particular circumstances. The amount and specific types of work that needs to be done to a commercially manufactured trailer in order to claim that the trailer has been "substantially modified or re-manufactured by the owner" varies between states.

Hope that info helps ......

Roy

There are very good reasons to be under 4.5 tonnes.

As well as the rego costs, under 4.5 tonnes, its a light trailer and the rules for everything are much....um...more accomodating.

Over 4.5 tonnes its a heavy vehicle and ya just cant go and build or modify your own trailer..you need to be an acredited manufacturer...and you may need annual machinerey certificate.

There will be ways of having the trailer re-engineered with a new lower GTM...but it is a convoluted and expensive process.

People routinely adjust the GVM of trucks and busses.....to reduce rego fees or to change licencing requirememts........but they are generally of greater value than a trailer.

Many toyota coaster bassed mobile homes have their GVM reduced to allow them to be driven on a passenger car licence.....I know someone who has done this.

Lots of people have GVM reduced on small trucks, if they don't need the load capacity, to reduce the rego.....and the differences can be considerable..a bloke I know had his truck GVM reduced to save hundreds each year....in fact some trucks have specifically "manufacturered" models to get into lower rego and licencing brackets.....but there may be little or no difference in the two models of truck.

Driving a "truck" over 4.5 tonnes can cost you heaps in tolls alone...not sure of the implications for a trailer.

You certainly cat tow a trailer over 4.5 tonnes GVM on a pasenger car licence.



There are some interesting rules revolving arround VIN plates and the like....the rules are written for cars and to stop rebirthing.......but what is commonly done and while not strictly in compliance with the rules...is..... the trailer is deregistered and re registered as a new owner built trailer.

But if you are going to try this, it better look like a "new trailer".

One of the local community groups that a mate of mine helps out, had a trailer that was constantly over loaded.....they took it to a local "trailer manufacturer"...it came back with a new axle, springs and electric brakes...a new paint job...AND..a new vin plate and rego number....they could have "modified" the trailer via the prescibed route...but it was easier and cheaper to " manufacture a new trailer".

YEH...In QLD its cheaper to reregister a new trailer than to replace existing number plates because they are unfit.

hope this helps.

cheers

Talk to one of the trailer mobs (brooks, Treg, ect.). They will know what you can and cant do. The trailer mobs might just be able to replate it and derate it for you.

As others have already said, individual states vary dramatically in their legislation. Tasmania for example wants to charge heavy trailer registration fees if the trailer weighs more than one tonne empty regardless of the GTM.
I also know of a friend of mine who has an International C1300 4X4 truck, manufacturers GVM of 5,500Kg. As he has done it up as a promotional/fun vehicle, he wanted to reduce the GVM to <4,500Kg to avoid the rego costs etc. No way were Transport Tasmania going to even contemplate this, yet many Isuzu and Mitsubishi trucks were available as either a 4,500 or 5,500Kg rating for just that reason.
Damn Government departments and little men with rubber stamps.