Ford F-150 GVM Upgrade in Australia: Up To 4300kg GVM & 8800kg GCM
- Mar 26
- 6 min read
The Ford F-150 might be one of the biggest utes on the road - but once you start towing with them or modifying them like a proper Aussie tourer, the factory Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) and Gross Combined Mass (GCM) starts becoming the problem pretty quickly.
These Offroad Industries (ORI) GVM upgrades are federally approved and engineered specifically for Australian-delivered F-150 XLT, Lariat, and Platinum models (both SWB and LWB), giving you a serious bump in legal carrying capacity — while actually improving how the truck drives under load.
Let's break it down properly.
FORD F-150 GVM UPGRADE: FACTORY VS UPGRADED SPECS
From factory, the F-150 sits at:
SPEC | FACTORY FORD F-150 | WITH ORI GVM UPGRADE |
GVM | 3,220 kg | Up to 4,300 kg |
GCM | Factory limited | Up to 8,800 kg |
That's a potential increase of over 1,000 kg of legal carrying capacity - which is the difference between constantly watching the scales and actually building the truck how you want.
The Gross Combined Mass (GCM) upgrade is also part of this package, certified under LS16 for towing up to 4.5 tonnes. Available both pre and post registration - so if you've already got your F-150 on the road, there's still a path forward.
This matters most if you're towing a large caravan or boat and you're truck is full with passengers running a tray and canopy setup, a long range fuel tank, or towing a caravan with any real ball weight.
GVM UPGRADE VS. SUSPENSION LIFT: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE FOR THE FORD F-150?
There are a lot of suspension kits coming into Australia for the F-150, many of them based on well-known setups out of the US. What’s important to understand is that most of these setups aren’t certified as a GVM upgrade in Australia.
A suspension upgrade is not the same as a GVM upgrade.
This ORI Ford F-150 GVM upgrade is federally approved under VTA-064837, which means it has gone through proper engineering and validation, load testing and compliance processes, and certification under the same framework used by established Australian GVM manufacturers.
It's not just about lifting the vehicle higher - it's about legally increasing your GVM and GCM and ensuring the truck remains compliant across every state and territory in Australia. That's the difference.
FORD F-150 GVM UPGRADE STAGES EXPLAINED: WHICH SETUP SUITS YOUR BUILD?
STAGE 1 – ENTRY LEVEL GVM UPGRADE (3700KG)
Best for: Light touring setups, daily use, mild accessory builds.
Key components:
Fox 2.0 Performance Series Coilovers (Front & rear)
BDS Upper Control Arms
ORI 200kg Rear Leaf Packs
SPEC | DETAILS |
GVM | 3,700 kg |
GCM | 8,200 kg |
PAYLOAD | 1,224 kg |
LIFT | 2 inches |
TYRES | 275/60 R20 (factory compatible) |
WHEELS | Factory rims suitable |
What it means in real life: This is your entry point into legal GVM territory. If you're running a bull bar, some driving lights, and a light canopy — but haven't gone full overland spec yet — Stage 1 gets the job sorted without overcommitting.
STAGE 2 – SAME GVM, BETTER SHOCKS (3700KG)
Best for: Same load as Stage 1, with a meaningful step up in ride quality and off-road performance.
Key upgrade:
Fox 2.5 Performance Elite Coilovers (Front)
Fox 2.5 Performance Elite Shocks (Rear)
BDS Upper Control Arms
ORI 200kg Rear Leaf Packs
SPEC | DETAILS |
GVM | 3,700 kg |
GCM | 8,200 kg |
PAYLOAD | 1,219 kg |
LIFT | 2 inches |
TYRES / WHEELS | Aftermarket required (minimum 1074.5 kg load rating) |
What you're paying for here: Better heat management, better control on corrugations, and a more refined ride — especially when the dirt gets rough.
STAGE 3 – FULL GVM UPGRADE (4300KG)
Best for: Serious touring builds, heavy loads, towing.
Key components:
Fox 2.5 Performance Elite Coilovers (Front)
Fox 2.5 Performance Elite Shocks (Rear)
BDS Upper Control Arms
ORI 200kg or 400kg Rear Leaf Packs
Husky Extenda Flares (required for 35" tyres)
SPEC | DETAILS |
GVM | 4,300 kg |
GCM | 8,800 kg |
PAYLOAD | 1,819 kg |
LIFT | 2 inches |
TYRES | 35x12.5xR18 | 35x12.5xR20 |
WHEELS | Aftermarket required (min. 1250 kg load rating) — Offset: 0 | +12 | +18 | +25 | +30 | +35 |
What it means in real life: This is where the F-150 becomes a proper touring platform. Canopy, drawers, fridge, dual battery, recovery gear — and still legal. Note: if you're planning to run 35" tyres, aftermarket flares are required.
STAGE 4 – TOP SPEC PERFORMANCE + MAX GVM (4300KG)
Best for: Heavy builds with premium ride performance.
Key upgrade:
Fox 3.0 Bypass Race Series Coilovers (Front)
Fox 3.0 Bypass Race Series Shocks (Rear)
BDS Upper Control Arms
ORI 200kg or 400kg Rear Leaf Packs
Husky Extenda Flares (required for 35" tyres)
SPEC | DETAILS |
GVM | 4,300 kg |
GCM | 8,800 kg |
PAYLOAD | 1,819 kg |
LIFT | 2.5 inches |
TYRES | 35x12.5xR18 | 35x12.5xR20 |
WHEELS | Aftermarket required (min. 1250 kg load rating) — Offset: 0 | +12 | +18 | +25 | +30 | +35 |
Why choose this: Maximum payload and the best possible ride quality under load. If you're carrying serious weight and pushing the truck hard on outback tracks, this is the setup that holds up.
STAGE 5 – 4 INCH LIFT WITH GVM UPGRADE (4000KG)
Best for: Builds that need height and legal load capacity without sacrificing too much payload.
Key components:
BDS 4" Suspension Kit with Fox 2.5 Performance Elite
BDS Upper Control Arms
ORI 200kg or 400kg Rear Leaf Packs
Husky Extenda Flares
SPEC | DETAILS |
GVM | 4,000 kg |
GCM | 8,000 kg |
PAYLOAD | 1,509 kg |
LIFT | 4 inches |
TYRES | 35x12.5xR18 | 35x12.5xR20 |
WHEELS | Aftermarket required (min. 1250 kg load rating) — Offset: +12 | +18 |
What it means in real life: A proper lift with a strong GVM result. Sits between the lighter 3700kg stages and the full 4300kg setup — a solid middle ground if you want stance and compliance.
STAGE 6 – 6 INCH LIFT (3700KG)
Best for: Maximum lift on 37s.
Key components:
BDS 6-inch Suspension Kit with Fox 2.5 Performance Elite
BDS Upper Control Arms
ORI 200kg Rear Leaf Packs
Husky Extenda Flares
SPEC | DETAILS |
GVM | 3,700 kg |
GCM | 7,800 kg |
PAYLOAD | 1,209 kg |
LIFT | 6 inches |
TYRES | 37x13.5xR18 | 37x13.5xR20 |
WHEELS | Aftermarket required (min. 1074.5 kg load rating) — Offset: +12 | +18 |
What it means in real life: Six inches of lift on 37s is a serious statement build. The GVM sits at 3700kg rather than the full 4300kg, so this stage suits builds where presence and ground clearance are the priority.
IMPORTANT NOTES (READ THIS BEFORE YOU BUY)
This package suits Ford Australia XLT, Lariat, and Platinum models only — SWB and LWB. Pre-registration install means federally approved and compliant Australia-wide. Post-registration installs may require engineering approval, which is not included in pricing. Load-rated wheels and tyres are not included.
WHICH F-150 GVM UPGRADE STAGE SHOULD YOU CHOOSE?
Here's the simple way to look at it:
Stages 1 & 2 | 3700kg GVM: lighter builds, accessory fitouts, factory-friendly tyres.
Stages 3 & 4 | 4300kg: proper touring rigs, heavy loads, towing.
Stage 5: splits the difference with a 4000kg GVM and a 4-inch lift.
Stage 6: is the biggest lift with 37s, sitting at 3700kg GVM.
Within each GVM level, the real choice comes down to shock package.
Stages 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 run Fox 2.5 Performance Elite - the go-to for most builds. Stage 1 has the entry-level 2.0 Performance Series. Stage 4 steps up to Fox 3.0 Bypass Race Series for the highest-performance result at full GVM.
FOX 2.5 VS FOX 3.0 SUSPENSION: WHICH IS RIGHT FOR YOUR F-150 BUILD?
FOX 2.5 PERFORMANCE ELITE (STAGES 2, 3, 5, AND 6)
This is what suits most F-150 owners.
More than capable for touring, towing, and off-road use. Handles weight well without becoming harsh on sealed roads. Better suited to mixed conditions — outback tracks, highway towing, daily driving.
In simple terms: This is the best all-round setup for the majority of F-150 builds. If you're not doing sustained high-speed desert running, you don't need to go further.
FOX 3.0 BYPASS RACE SERIES (STAGE 4)
This is where things step up — but it's not for everyone.
Designed for high-speed off-road use under sustained loads. Built to handle heat and repeated impacts without fading. Internal bypass design means soft through the middle of the stroke, significantly firmer at full compression.
Where it actually makes sense: long desert runs, sustained high-speed dirt driving, and heavily loaded vehicles being pushed hard. If that sounds like your build, Stage 4 is worth the step up.
FORD F-150 GVM UPGRADE IN AUSTRALIA: FINAL THOUGHTS
Not all suspension kits are created equal. Plenty of lift kits on the market will improve clearance and ride height, but they don't legally increase what your F-150 can carry.
All six stages of ORI Ford F-150 GVM upgrade stages are federally approved and professionally installed at BAW Automotive's workshop in Brisbane.
Whether you're after a legal bump in capacity for a lightly kitted truck, or you're building a serious touring rig that needs to carry real weight and tow heavy — there's a stage here that covers it. Book a free quote with the team at BAW Automotive and we'll point you in the right direction.
