GVM upgrades for American trucks
A GVM upgrade is all about timing
The kit is only half the story. When it goes on, before or after your vehicle's first registration, decides how it's approved, what the sign-off costs and how far that approval travels.
ORI Platinum GVM InstallerPre & post-regoFederal SSM approval
Two numbers on your compliance plate
Every vehicle leaves the factory with a legal weight limit. Load past it and it doesn't matter how well the vehicle handles it, you're over.
VEHICLE COMPLIANCE
GVM
Gross Vehicle Mass. The most the vehicle can legally weigh with everything on board.People, fuel, water, gear in the tray, and the ball weight of anything you're towing.
GCM
Gross Combination Mass. The most the vehicle and trailer can legally weigh together.ORI's GCM re-ratings for full-size American trucks are certified to LS16 standards through independent testing.
And then there's payload
Payload is the part you actually get to use. It's the gap between what the vehicle weighs empty and its GVM.
Everything you add eats into that gap. The bull bar, the canopy, the family and the van's ball weight all come out of the same allowance.
Why you'd need one
Once you're past GVM, the vehicle isn't legal on the road, no matter how well it seems to handle the load. That's not a conversation you want to have with your insurer. A GVM upgrade raises the limit properly, with suspension built for the extra weight, engineered, certified and rated to match.
When to start looking into it
The best time is before you need it. Once the weight is on, you're already over.
Before you order
If the vehicle isn't registered yet, pre-rego is still on the table. It's the only time it is.
Before the build
Bull bars, winches, trays and heavy canopies all come out of your payload before you've packed a thing.
Before you hitch up
The ball weight of your van or trailer counts against the vehicle's GVM, not just the trailer's.
Before or after first rego
This is the part most people only find out once it's too late to choose.
First registration
Pre-rego
Brand new, not yet registered
- ORI is recognised federally as the second-stage manufacturer (SSM)
- The upgrade goes straight onto the compliance plate
- Legal in every state and territory, no state engineering
- On eligible packages, big lifts and tyres up to 37" are part of the approval
Post-rego
Already on the road
- Still available for vehicles you already own
- Needs a local engineering sign-off, with fees on top of the kit
- Some of the bigger lift packages are pre-rego only
Buying new? Talk to us before the vehicle is registered. That window closes the day it gets plates, and it's the simplest way to do the job.
Why it pays to check first
A GVM upgrade can change more than the number on the plate. Two things catch people out.
Your licence
A car licence covers vehicles up to 4.5 tonnes GVM. Several ORI packages take American trucks past that, and from there you'll need a light rigid (LR) licence. Check that before the vehicle is booked in, not after.
Where your vehicle came from
ORI's approvals apply to locally delivered vehicles, such as Chevrolets through GMSV and RAMs through RAM Trucks Australia. Private imports aren't covered.
Which vehicles it covers
ORI's GVM and GCM packages are built specifically for full-size American trucks. Tap a model to see the packages we offer.
Toyota Tundra
Silverado 1500LTZ & ZR2
Silverado 2500HD
Ford F-150
RAM 25005th gen
RAM 25006th gen, coming soon
Where we come in
Geelong Performance is an authorised ORI Platinum GVM Installer. We fit the package, and because we tune these vehicles as well, the whole setup can be handled in one place.
Planning a new vehicle, or loading up the one you've got?
Give the team a call and we'll talk you through which ORI package suits your vehicle, and whether pre or post-rego applies.
Contact us herePackage details, stages and approvals are set by Offroad Industries. See Offroad Industries for current specifications.