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Tare Mass

Tow Vehicle

This is the actual mass of the tow vehicle – how much your vehicle weighs at manufacturer specification (including fluids like fuel and coolant) and with no payload.

Camper Trailer, HyperCamper or Caravan

This is the mass of your Lifestyle Camper Trailer as specified by us the manufacturer, with no payload. Refer to the unique specifications for your trailer.


ATM (Aggregate Trailer Mass)

This is the tare mass of your caravan plus its maximum payload. It’s the maximum your caravan is allowed to weigh in transit. This is a rating set by us, Lifestyle Campers as the manufacturer and cannot be exceeded.

ATM = tare mass (caravan) + max payload


Maximum Payload

The maximum weight that can be loaded into the caravan for towing. This does not include the weight of people inhabiting the camper trailer, HyperCamper or caravan while stationery, but does need to take into account water, gas and any accessories you’ve added to the caravan since purchasing it.

This rating is set by us, Lifestyle Campers as the manufacturer and cannot be exceeded.

Maximum payload = ATM – Tare Mass (Caravan) – Tow Ball Mass


TBM (Tow Ball Mass)

This is the mass exerted on the tow ball by your fully packed camper trailer, HyperCamper or caravan. When your caravan is hitched, this mass is included in your tow vehicle’s payload.


GTM (Gross Trailer Mass)

This is the maximum weight of the loaded camper trailer, HyperCamper or caravan that can be supported by its wheels, not counting the portion supported by the tow vehicle when hitched – or jockey wheel when parked.

This rating is set by us, Lifestyle Campers as the manufacturer and cannot be exceeded.

GTM = ATM – Tow Ball Mass

It is important to note that the advertised weight will be specified as ‘in standard configuration’ and dry. You would rightly expect that if you buy a trailer in standard trim the advertised weight would be the weight reflected on the VIN Tag. All added accessories, whether they are a bonus accessory, or a purchased accessory will increase the Tare Weight. Equally as important, they will decrease the load carrying capacity, which is the difference between the Tare Mass and the ATM (Aggregate Trailer Mass).

 

It is impossible for us to advise a universal answer to this question as everybody has a different requirement for what they take camping. The load you intend to take camping added to the Tare Mass must not exceed the ATM, so it is important to consider everything you are going to add to the trailer, e.g. water, food, clothing, bedding, tools, etc. when calculating the load capacity. We recommend as a minimum 500kgs and ideally the larger the load capacity the better.

We will happily fit internal cooking facilities if requested by our client depending on the model being purchased, however we are dedicated heavy duty, off-road manufacturers and our aim is to build vehicles that will allow you to take them anywhere you can take your car. One of the challenges is to alleviate dust and water ingress so the less aperture openings we install the more chance we have of keeping dust and water out. It is an absolute requirement under the Gas Regulations that when you have cooking facilities inside the Caravan, HyperCamper or Camper Trailer additional vents must be added, high (on the roof) and low (at the bottom of the door) as a minimum. The regulations clearly state what size these vents need to be, and they are there for your safety. You are not allowed to cover the vents while traveling on dusty or wet tracks, it would make your Caravan, HyperCamper or Camper Trailer illegal. Experience has told us the less apertures or vents you have the higher chance you have of keeping water and dust out. No internal cooking keeps the number of vents down and we all know there is nothing better than cooking outside while you are camping!

We fit many internal cooking facilities and we highly recommend you discuss this question further with our team throughout your decision-making process.

I Note All Your Caravans, HyperCampers And Camper Trailers Don’t Have Internal Cooking Facilities as Standard and Only Available as An Option, Is There A Reason for This?

 

The short answer is yes, we can decrease the ATM, but we would highly recommend you don’t do it this way. The ATM of your Caravan, HyperCamper or Camper Trailer gives you the maximum total weight of the Caravan, HyperCamper or Camper Trailer. The towing capacity of your car, at 2,500kgs will not be exceeded if you don’t overload the Caravan, HyperCamper or Camper Trailer, you must keep the total weight of the Caravan, HyperCamper or Camper Trailer to 2,500kgs or less (or whatever your car manufacturer specifies). Decreasing the ATM may restrict your load carrying capacity should you change cars or decrease the re-saleability of your Caravan, HyperCamper or Camper Trailer.

 

It is imperative that you know in detail the towing capacity and ball weight of your car! It is the only way you can make an informed decision on what Caravan, HyperCamper or Camper Trailer you should buy.

 

Stone or terrain damage will not be covered by warranty. We highly recommend you research effective tools or ways to reduce stones being thrown up from the car and consider the terrain you are travelling over and the damage that may be caused. A good idea is to fit wide low mud flaps to the back of your car to reduce the rocks being distributed by the rear wheels or an after-market protection device like a Stone Stomper which will all but stop rocks coming off the back of the car and hitting the Caravan, HyperCamper or Camper Trailer above the draw bar.

It means you can expect to take the Caravan, HyperCamper or Camper Trailer where you want to take it; if your car can pull it through it should follow, but it does not mean you will not sustain damage. The same as in your car, if you are seriously off-roading you have increased the likelihood to damage your vehicle and the same applies to the Caravan, HyperCamper or Camper Trailer.

Once you have paid for the vehicle and it has left our manufacturing facility you must have it insured, from that point our insurance cannot and does not cover the vehicle. Even on transportation whether we have organised the transportation or you have done it directly you must have the vehicle insured.

LCT warrants all parts of the manufacture and assembly of the Caravans, HyperCampers and Camper Trailers, carried out and manufactured by LCT, will be free from defects in material and workmanship at the time of manufacture for a period of 12 months from the date of delivery, except in the case of the chassis and suspension, which will be warranted for a period of 2 years from the date of delivery (Warranty Period). All components supplied and manufactured by third-party suppliers will be covered in line with their warranty policy. The warranty period begins on the date that the Caravan, HyperCamper or Camper Trailer is first registered or put into service, whichever is earlier.

View full Warranty Policy

LCT’s limited warranty does not apply to a chassis or suspension that is bent or has experienced a loading condition higher than a design specification. Damage or defect which result from accident, collision, abuse, corrosion, stone/rock damage, normal wear and tear, during transit, storm damage, fire, neglect, theft, improper maintenance, improper set-up and pull-down, improper wheel nut torque, hub imbalance or any damage caused thereby, alteration, overloading or work carried out by an outside repairer (not approved by LCT prior to work being completed). All transport costs for warrantable items, complete Caravans, HyperCampers and Camper Trailers to and from LCTs facilities are at the cost of the owner.

View full Warranty Policy

We recommend a general service every 5,000kms and if you have done a lot of off-road, corrugated road or difficult terrain travelling we would also recommend getting a wheel alignment. Your wheel alignment should be checked at every service. Your Caravan, HyperCamper or Camper Trailer is a mechanical vehicle and servicing is a high priority to keep the vehicle reliable. Also, servicing is part of the terms and conditions should you require to make a warranty claim.

We can help with repairs and servicing.