4x4DNA Y62 Patrol GVM Upgrade

Our 4x4DNA GVM upgrade is probably one of the most important modifications we've made to our Y62 Patrol.

When we started setting the Patrol up as a proper touring and tow vehicle, it didn't take long to realise how quickly weight adds up.

Bullbar, winch, roof rack, awning, drawers, fridge, water, tools, recovery gear, electrical setup, passengers, luggage — and then you've still got the ball weight of the caravan being carried by the vehicle.

For us, a GVM upgrade wasn't about seeing how much stuff we could possibly bolt onto the Patrol. It was about building the vehicle properly for what we were actually going to use it for.

Our Upgraded Y62 Specs

Our Y62 has been upgraded to:

• GVM: 4200kg
• GCM: 7700kg
• Front Axle: 1750kg
• Rear Axle: 2450kg

That gives us significantly more usable capacity for the way our Patrol is set up and, importantly, allows us to properly account for the weight we're carrying while travelling and towing.

Why We Chose 4x4DNA

4x4DNA specialise heavily in Y62 Patrols, and that was important to us.

The Y62 isn't a basic solid-axle 4WD where you simply throw heavier springs underneath it and call it a GVM upgrade. There are a lot of things to consider when increasing the amount of weight the vehicle is legally allowed to carry.

4x4DNA offer engineer-certified GVM upgrades and tailor the suspension components to the individual vehicle and its intended load.

We wanted the Patrol set up by people who knew the platform rather than treating it like just another suspension job.

More Than Just Carrying Extra Weight

The biggest benefit is obviously the increased legal carrying capacity, but that's not the only reason we've been happy with the upgrade.

The Y62 now spends its life loaded as a touring vehicle.

We've got our rear drawer system, Bushman fridge, water, tools, recovery equipment, roof rack, Bushwakka awning and electrical gear permanently fitted, plus everything else that comes with travelling Australia as a family.

Then we hook the caravan onto the back.

The upgrade gives us the capacity to build the vehicle for that job rather than constantly fighting against the standard GVM.

Towing Our Caravan

This was a huge consideration for us.

Caravan ball weight becomes part of the load carried by the Patrol, so having a 3500kg towing capacity doesn't automatically mean you've got enough payload left to actually tow a large caravan once the vehicle itself is loaded.

That's something that's very easy to overlook.

With our Great Escape behind us and the Y62 loaded for full-time travel, knowing our actual weights and having the upgraded capacities gives us far more confidence in the overall setup.

We still have to manage our weights — a GVM upgrade doesn't make weight disappear — but it gives us a much more suitable platform to work with.

How Does It Drive?

One thing we didn't want was a Patrol that could legally carry more weight but rode like a truck.

The Y62 is an incredibly comfortable touring vehicle from factory, and we didn't want to destroy one of the reasons we bought it.

We've been really happy with how the vehicle drives with the upgrade.

Loaded up for touring and with the caravan behind us, the Patrol feels planted and well suited to the weight it's carrying.

We've now driven it over long highway stretches, gravel roads, corrugations and 4WD tracks while travelling Australia, and the setup has performed really well.

Airbag Man Rear Coils

Our rear suspension setup also incorporates Airbag Man rear coils, which work well with the way we use our vehicle.

Our loads can change depending on whether the caravan is connected and what we're carrying, so having a setup designed around our actual touring requirements was important.

It's not about using airbags to compensate for an overloaded vehicle — the GVM upgrade gives us the legal capacity, while the suspension setup is there to properly support and manage the load.

You Still Need to Know Your Weights

This is probably the biggest thing we'd tell anyone considering a GVM upgrade.

Don't assume an upgrade automatically means you're legal.

You still need to understand GVM, GCM, individual axle limits, caravan ATM, GTM, tow-ball weight and the actual weight sitting on each axle.

That's why we've weighed our own setup and keep an eye on where the weight is going.

The extra capacity is extremely useful, but you still have limits — they're just higher than they were when the vehicle left Nissan.

Was It Worth Doing?

For our Y62, 100%.

If the Patrol was completely standard and only used around town, we'd obviously have no reason for an upgrade like this.

But ours isn't.

It's a heavily equipped touring 4WD carrying a family and towing our home around Australia.

The 4x4DNA GVM upgrade has allowed us to build the Patrol around that job while retaining the comfort and capability that made us choose the Y62 in the first place.

Would We Recommend 4x4DNA?

Based on our experience, absolutely.

We've been extremely happy with both the upgrade and how the Patrol performs with it.

For us, the biggest advantage was dealing with people who know Y62s and could build the suspension and GVM package around what we were actually doing with the vehicle.

If you're building a Y62 for touring or towing, we'd recommend working out your real vehicle and caravan weights first and then talking to 4x4DNA about the appropriate upgrade for your particular setup.

Our 4200kg GVM upgrade has been one of the most important modifications we've made to the Patrol — not because it's exciting to look at, but because it allows the rest of our touring build to actually work.