my GVM is 4495 kg. Deliberately as Queensland, Aus, (my permanent address) has no annual inspection for vehicles less than 4500 kg which makes galavanting around the world a more pleasing bureaucratic experience. Roadside inspections begin at 4500 kg GVM.
achieving that weight was a design challenge, particularly given the base weight of a MWB single cab chassis. The first thing I did when I bought my second hand vehicle was remove the 250 kg of steel which had been added (with engineer sign off) to strengthen the chassis to support its original use.
having designed the final vehicle the challenge was then to procure and build while resisting the temptation to change or improve the design.
there's a quirk in Aus whereby caravan tare weight is measured with tanks empty, motorhomes (my FG is registered as a motorhome) have tare measured with full tanks. A challenge as I included 240 litres of diesel (2x standard FG tanks) and 240 litres of water (in three tanks).
Frameless fibreglass foam sandwich panel body, the lightest materials I could achieve and be comfortable.
no insurance spares, strategy is to have sufficient information to identify, source and ship spare parts as necessary. sufficient consumables carried to reach next reasonable source.
While overseas I carried 100 kg of snow chains. Which took the weight a bit over 4495 kg. In Aus I carry 50 kg. For mud.
The bed lift added significant weight. One day I may shorten the legs. The bed base is foam sandwich. Single sided double inner spring mattress could be lighter.
In China road tolls are calculated on vehicle gross weight, the toll booths have rolling scales. Fully loaded, we were a tad over 4500 kg. But use some fuel and water and we were ok. The toll booths weren't interested in whether we were legal.
A couple of years ago I replaced 260 Ah of AGM batteries with 300 Ah of Lithium batteries. But also increased solar. And added inverters. This year I'll replace framed glassed solar panels with flexible (loose about 80 kg).
So, to answer the question. I pay lots of attention to weight, and endeavour to keep within what is a tight limit. My primary concern is safety, but I'm obviously also interested in being legal.
I refuse to jettison the bread maker. I'm considering air con. I lost 6kg of my body weight in the recent 6 month trip.
