Upgrading towing weight of a pickup

[Richard Hunton]

Pretty much exactly that, my 2008 Hilux has a towing capacity of 2800kg my diggers all of that, cant seem to find anything I would get on with to replace it without spending a small fortune.
Then stumbled on a few posts saying they, as can many others be upgraded and certified with DVSA/ DVLA/ the tax collectors to tow more weight.

Has anyone any experience of this ?

 

[pettsy]

I did it with a Vw crafter years ago. Uprated the towing capacity from 2t to 2.8t. In my case it was a paperwork exercise, no vehicle modifications. Just had to confirm rear axle ratio and that the tow bar was suitably rated. I just had to put a secondary sticker next to the original chassis plate in the cab. I used SV Tech, but there’s also van weight engineering.

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We are the UK’s leading vehicle re-rating specialist and experts in all matters relating to Vehicle Type Approval, particularly braking systems. We Support a Range of Vehicles We Provide an Accurate, Quality Service

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[DaveDCB]

I had a price of £800 many years ago but never bothered with it..

 

[Brendan]

If it's anything like my ranger was you'll need a set of tyres above 112 load rating, a towbar and tow ball with a rating of 17.2kn and then have to fit tuv approved air helpers, which will be something like the m.a.d or VB kits, you don't need the kit with auto adjustment you can use the manual adjustment ones.
Not sure if anyone makes a 17.2kn rated towbar for a 2008 Hilux
If they do and you need all the other bits, would have thought it will be the best part of 2k by the time everything is fitted and and the engineering firm paid for the paperwork

 

[DaveDCB]

After all that it won’t add any value so just chop it in for one that tows it legally.

 

[Lancs Lad]

After all that it won’t add any value so just chop it in for one that tows it legally.

My thoughts exactly.
I priced one of my old amaroks at sv but came to that conclusion.
Loads do 3.5t now and saves insurance hassle?

 

[Brendan]

My thoughts exactly.
I priced one of my old amaroks at sv but came to that conclusion.
Loads do 3.5t now and saves insurance hassle?

Didn't think it was possible on the original amaroks due to the electronic handbrake
As said if you got to drop a load of money on it maybe easier to just change to something that can already do it.
When I uprated the ranger it was a bit of a pain to get get prices for insurance as not many places understood the uprating, to be fair brentacre didn't bump the price up as wasn't an engine performance increase

 

[Lancs Lad]

Didn't think it was possible on the original amaroks due to the electronic handbrake
As said if you got to drop a load of money on it maybe easier to just change to something that can already do it.
When I uprated the ranger it was a bit of a pain to get get prices for insurance as not many places understood the uprating, to be fair brentacre didn't bump the price up as wasn't an engine performance increase

Manual hand brake on originals. Drums at rear if you remember....and went through cables and needed adjusting regularly

 

[hiluxman]

Pretty much exactly that, my 2008 Hilux has a towing capacity of 2800kg my diggers all of that, cant seem to find anything I would get on with to replace it without spending a small fortune.
Then stumbled on a few posts saying they, as can many others be upgraded and certified with DVSA/ DVLA/ the tax collectors to tow more weight.

Has anyone any experience of this ?

I would suspect you have one of the ones that was plated incorrectly in 2008. Toyota will replace it to what it should be which is 2250kg.

It was upped later to 2800kg in around 2012.

If you visit the hilux pick up owners club it's all on there about it.

I've had afew 2008 hiluxs and my last one was one of the incorrectly plated trucks but I never did anything about it for obvious reasons.

 

[DaveDCB]

My 2012 was 2800 kg
Then the next facelift became 3500kg..