4WD Legalities; what is important, and why?

There’s a lot of laws and regulations about modifying 4WD’s, weight capacities, tyre size increases, lift kits and much more. Unfortunately there is no uniform regulations from state to state in Australia, and that makes it even harder to stay on top of.

If you aren’t interested in legalities, you should be; driving a 4WD around that does not comply can have some very serious implications if you have an accident and do damage to your vehicle, anyone else’s and even worse, if you hurt someone.

There’s a lot of ways in which your vehicle can be illegal, and its not always relating to modifications.

What is legal?

Australian 4WD modification limits; a state by state guide

Wondering how high you can lift your 4WD, what size tyres you can get, and whether its possible to get a GVM or GCM upgrade in your state? In this post, we cover the differences on a state by state basis, and try and make the complicated and unequal 4WD regulations simple.

Is your 4WD legal?

Today, more than ever its critical to ensure your vehicle is legal. Unfortunately, a huge number on the road are not, and many people have no idea. The risks of driving an illegal 4WD around are huge. This post covers everything you need to know about how 4WD modifications can make your vehicle illegal.

32 ways to make your 4WD illegal

Going on from the above post, there are lots of ways to make your 4WD illegal that aren’t well publicised. If you want to know more, check this out.

What’s the maximum Ute Tray Length?

If you’re installing a tray on your 4WD, there’s a maximum length for each vehicle from a legal, and sensible perspective. Find out more here.

Weights

Towing capacity; a simple guide to keep you legal

Another very misunderstood area when it comes to a 4WD is towing. The marketing certainly doesn’t help, but poor loading practices also often make a setup illegal, and that’s not the place you want to be in. For a one stop, simple guide that will leave you understanding all of the towing requirements in Australia, check this out.

What does your 4WD weigh?

The number of people who take their vehicle over a weighbridge and get a serious shock is incredible. If you don’t know what your 4WD weighs, you need to. To find out why, and how, read this post.

Roof racks; are you overloaded?

Roof racks are a great accessory, but they are used incorrectly and dangerously by a lot of people. Not only do you have to watch the weight on the roof racks, but the overall weight on your 4WD’s roof. To find out more, check this out.

Tyres and Wheels

Fitting Bigger Tyres to your 4WD

Installing larger tyres on your 4WD is one of the most common modifications ever. The thing is though, every change you make has a list of downsides, and no one ever thinks about them. Before you install bigger tyres, check this out.

Tyre size; you can go 50mm above the biggest tyres in your model range

What’s the largest tyre size you can fit to your 4WD? Often its not the 50mm that everyone tells you. In some cases, you can go more than this. If you want to know how, have a read of this.

Are 35 inch tyres legal?

If you’re considering fitting 35″ tyres to your 4WD, one of the first steps to do is check the compliance side of things. Are they legal? Find out here.

What is the minimum width wheel for your 4WD tyre?

Did you know that there are standards for the minimum width wheel for every 4WD tyre size out there? Here’s how you comply.

Lights

Are LED and HID light conversions illegal?

Every year, thousands of people convert the headlights on their 4WD to LED or HID, searching for more, and better light. The thing is though, is it a bad idea, and is it completely illegal? Find out more here.

Where can you install Light Bars and Spotlights?

Want to run some aftermarket lights on your 4WD, but don’t want to upset the police? Here’s where you can mount them.

Hitches and Tow Ball Weight

Can you flip your tow hitch?

Have you ever seen a tow hitch running upside down, and wondered if you are actually allowed to do it? In some cases you most certainly can, but there’s a few things to check first. Find out more here.