Find GTM, Identify year, and braking stuff, please?

[paulinef]

Good afternoon, and thanks for letting me join!

I have a Chesney, which I'm (hopefully) doing up to live in.  Everything I have found (prior to today) has suggested that I need electric brakes in order to tow anything over 750kgs.  Today I found that if the trailer / van has a GTM of between 750 and 2000kgs, and it has air (?) brakes or hydraulic brakes (which I think mine has - an override brake, see photo) then I don't need electric brakes on it.

However, I can't see where the GTM/ATM is on my van.  I imagine it's going to alter somewhat depending on what materials I put in it, but it'd be handy to have a starting point so I can understand how much extra I can put in.  I still need to stay under 2300kgs so it can be towed by my car. (Territory)

So, my braking questions are:

Is this a hydraulic override braking system in this pic?
Do I actually need to put electric brakes on the van?
Is there any site I can use to search this VIN and find the original GTM/ATM for my van?


My non-braking question is: the previous owner has somewhat lined the bathroom / shower area using corflute.  Is this a reasonable material to use, or would I be better using the wet area laminex or equivalent?

Thanks so much for any and all information, much appreciated!!!
Pauline

Attachments:

[aussieute]

The picture only shows the mechanism and doesn't show the brake cylinder if it has hydraulic brakes in vic it can be registered but I have a 1961 Jennison and fitted an electric brake axle for piece of mind as don't want van damaged due to not being able to stop. You will not find at site for gvm ATM as they are vintage vans and the number showing IDs not a vin number it is a chassis number hope this helps cheers Chris

[aussieute]

Forgot to mention that for a single axle van it is usually van weight and 150 kg and tandem plus 300 kg if old memory or correct so add all your extras before you get weight bridge certificate for rego in Victoria it is a must for reg cheers Chris

[paulinef]

Coolness, thanks for that info. I probably will get electric brakes fitted, just to be safe, as I know technology has advanced a bit since the 70s. :-)

Oh, I'm in Q... I forgot to put that, too.

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Paulinef,

VIN numbers were only introduced for caravans in 1989, so as Aussieute has indicated, your van won't have one.

The relevant number for registration purposes for you is the serial/chassis number in your photo: FF13762. 'FF' is a code which indicates that your van was built in June 1973. '13762' is a sequential number indicating that the van is the 13,762nd van built, although we're not sure when the sequential numbering started.

Hope that helps a bit.

Don Ricardo