VSI 50 - Vehicle Lift Restrictions

[lc120_man Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close lc120_man]

From 4WD Monthly: (http://www.4wdaction.com.au/news/43106- ... ban-4wding)

It’s time to stand up for our rights as the Government is about to re-introduce VSI 50.

We are sure that you all remember the furore that was caused last year when the then Minister for Roads, Mr Michael Daly tried to introduce a new law that effectively banned the lifting of 4WD’s in the state of NSW. That law was known as VSI 50. Due to a huge outcry from the readers of 4WD Action, Mr Daly had no choice other than to back down and put VSI 50 on hold.

Well, believe it or not, this Government has once again been sneaking around behind our backs and they are poised to implement this law this month!

It’s time for us as 4WDer’s to once again stand up and be counted, before it’s too late. We need to send a strong and clear message to this Government that says we will not be willing to accept VSI 50 in any way, shape, or form. This Government has created VSI 50 for no real reason, and it is based upon no real evidence or research that can clearly show that lifted 4WD’s contribute to deaths or injuries on our roads.

So how can you play your part?

Don’t stand back and think that someone else will do this. Each and every one of us needs to play our part if we are going to send a clear message to this Government. Don’t let the politicians ruin our way of life, and don’t let them take away your freedom as an Australian to enjoy your chosen recreation. Send in your letter today, and please CC 4WD Action on your email to the Minister.

Simply copy our letter below and add your own personal details then click this link to send it to the Road Minister


Dear current Roads Minister,
Last year your Government tried to introduce a regulation banning responsible 4WD owners from modifying the height of their vehicles.

Although this regulation targeted street hoons, it had severe consequences for the 4WD community and we fiercely opposed it.

Since then, we've faced almost 18 months of uncertainty as your Government has held closed-door meetings and refused to provide us with any updates on the new rules.

We want this uncertainty to end now.

I urge you to publicly rule out any change to the vehicle height regulations in NSW.

I also request that you make an announcement in this vein well before the State election in March 2011, because I will be keenly interested to see what all major parties offer on this issue, and this issue will be strongly influencing my vote.

Kind regards,

Your name

[matt150 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close matt150]

Re: DON’T LET THE GOVERNMENT BAN 4WDING!

Well I was going to step back and not post alot on Pradopoint anymore after recent events, but this enough. The bloody government needs to bugger off and mind there own business. Every year the government decides to restrict more and more access to our home land, under the guise of protecting the environment for future generations. Yet given the chance to sell off our heritage to a multinational mining company for a quck buck, they are lighting fast to do it. This crap about needing to regulate the 4wd industry and modification of such vehicles will result in another way to control the masses and drain more money from honest citizens. This carry on about regulating vehicles lifted more than three inches sort of makes abit of sense, yet still I don't trust these wankers.

As for us little old Prado owners, 50mm is really the limit before the steering and wheel alignment becomes a pain. Overall I think this height issue is just the first foot in the door, towards restricting our pastime to the governments advantage.

Clowns........

[damonat Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close damonat]

Re: DON’T LET THE GOVERNMENT BAN 4WDING!

i ask all 4wd'ers and the public to complete this request/email to support the 4wd community,
whether your in NSW or not. we need to stop this before it becomes law.
the people running the NSW state government, continue to show the finger,
to people they are meant to listen to and represent. bring on the next election i say.
they know that they need to rush through dodgie laws now as they wont be there shortly,
and therefore the back door deals they are getting support for, will not be available shortly.
this VSI 50 is not a reflection of anything other than shutting down of industries and areas, for greedy political back handers.
this is obviously the start of a wider plot that they are cooking up. so don't let it begin.
we need your support to have this proposed law scrapped once and for all. before we all pay the costs

[Prado BB Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Prado BB]

Re: DON’T LET THE GOVERNMENT BAN 4WDING!

This is the latest draft legislation. I understand the arguments, but requiring an engineers certificate for lifts over 2" - 6" is reasonable in my view. Anything greater than 6" for road use is downright silly - once again in my view.

http://www.andrewstoner.com.au/images/s ... 50_Doc.pdf

[tassie tiger Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close tassie tiger]

Re: DON’T LET THE GOVERNMENT BAN 4WDING!

I am a bit lost here. How will the new legislation Ban 4wding?

Is it in the fine print somewhere?

[William Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close William]

Re: DON’T LET THE GOVERNMENT BAN 4WDING!

I am a bit lost here. How will the new legislation Ban 4wding?
Is it in the fine print somewhere?

The government is not banning 4wding. 4WD Action and those who are spreading the word are merely exaggerating to facts in order to get the peoples support. I've skimmed through VSI 50 and the relevant part for us 4WD owners is: a lift of less than 50mm will have unrestricted access to roads (as they are now), 50mm - 150mm will require an RTA certified engineer report lodged to them to be allowed to drive on unrestricted roads and vehicles with a lift of greater than 150mm will not be allowed on the road network (as Prado BB stated, 150mm is just downright silly). For us Prado owners, I don't think many of us have lifts greater than 50mm so it's not a real issue.

I think the issue here is fueled by the fact that:
1) The government has put us 4WD owners in the same bucket as street hoons as VSI 50 addresses both the lowering and raising of the vehicle.
2) The government has proposed this new law without a solid basis. That is, they've linked a high number of 4wds to fatalities, however they have not been able to specify that these cars were lifted. In additon, there is no empirical evidence as to the danger that lifting a vehicle imposes on the operator/public.
3) The government has neglected the needs and viewpoint of the 4WD owners and hence 4WD Action and many others feel that VCI 50 is only the first of many laws which may affect the 4WD community... Which is why this is all a little exaggerated - to scaremonger 4WD owners to act preemptively so that this law, nor others in the future can be implemented.

You have been given the facts, it is up to you to act.

Cheers

[mudboy Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mudboy]

DON’T LET THE GOVERNMENT BAN 4WDING!

I have no issue in making 4 wheel drives with bigger lifts be engineered as that's what it should be now but we don't want to be told what we can and cannot do and is this the start of things to come.

[Offroader Member Find all posts View Profile Close Offroader]

Re: DON’T LET THE GOVERNMENT BAN 4WDING!

I tend to think that the reaction from the 4WD community over VSI 50 stems from the fact that many in the industry can see that this is only the beginning of a wider movement to make owning and operating a 4WD increasingly difficult, unpopular and expensive. Of course this proposed legislation does not represent a ban of 4WD's, but its connection with anti-hoon laws ought to concern all 4WD enthusiasts. It is a nonsense to compare responsible 4WD owners who choose to enhance their vehicle's towing, load carrying or off-road performance with doof-doof hoons driving lowered Excels and Commodores. WIth the political landscape changing in this country through the Greens and other groups, there is more pressure than ever to make 4WD's less attractive. The slippery slope argument is a very real one here as we ask what could be next? Special permits for Bull-bars, Driving lights, off road tyres ? No 4WD's around school zones? Carbon taxes on bigger vehicles? I'm all for making our roads safer but I tend to think that building proper divided roads, having adequate police patrols and better driver education will have a much greater impact than debatable peripheral issues.

[Simmo67 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Simmo67]

Re: DON’T LET THE GOVERNMENT BAN 4WDING!

I have logged on to 4WD Action Forum and fired off my email to the Roads Minister.

I must confess I have a limited understanding of the proposed VSI legislation, but I wanted the Roads Minister to know that I love my 4WD and 4WDing, and, as a voter, I don't want it taken away from me.

[tassie tiger Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close tassie tiger]

Re: DON’T LET THE GOVERNMENT BAN 4WDING!

Its probably a good thing that the rules are tightened up. If only from a public relations point of view.

Each time a huge lifted and huge tyred 4wd goes past do you think the public say with a sigh "thank god there are responsible 4wders' out there". Probably not. They probably think the opposite.

The truth is, thats the real truth not the made up truth that some vested groups push, is that you can see most of this wonderful country in any std low range 4wd. You can see even more if you give it better suspension (within reason), some decent tyres and a pair of diff locks.

Once you NEED more than this then it has turned into motorsport. Just like rallying, off roading and circuit racing. Take it somewhere away from everyone else just like all the other forms of motorsport.

The good thing that will come out of this for the majority of responsible 4wders is that the govt will be seen to have addressed the issue, and provided we self regulate, we should be left alone. (Should says the optimist.)

My 2c.

[damonat Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close damonat]

Re: DON’T LET THE GOVERNMENT BAN 4WDING!

just a quick reply,
my 2inch lift that i bought, and others on PP have gotten similar results,
is when fitted it has given me over 2inches of lift.
so to buy to kit (with VSI50) i would ok, but when fitted and driving around, i would be ticketed.
make the starting point of VSI50 75mm and i have no issue with this proposal.
but i am concerned with were the NSW state government will go next in relation to restrictions for 4wding

[William Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close William]

Re: DON’T LET THE GOVERNMENT BAN 4WDING!

just a quick reply,
my 2inch lift that i bought, and others on PP have gotten similar results,
is when fitted it has given me over 2inches of lift.
so to buy to kit (with VSI50) i would ok, but when fitted and driving around, i would be ticketed.
make the starting point of VSI50 75mm and i have no issue with this proposal.
but i am concerned with were the NSW state government will go next in relation to restrictions for 4wding

Hi damonat,
You've got a good point there and I reckon you'd have a case if they were to fine you for it. The fine print in VSI 50 states that it has to be fitted to manufacturers specification. So I can only assume, that if your lift was fitted according to spec and turned out a little more than 50mm you would be in the safe. Perhaps you should voice your concern to road minister.

However practically speaking, I somewhat doubt law enforcers will target those who are marginally above 50mm. I believe there will be an error margin as with speeding. Speeding error margins are based on reading instruments, where as with VSI50 I believe the error margin will be inherent in the way the lift is calculated (from the centre of the wheel to the top of the arch. That is, the error will occur from different tyre sizes (which is permitted) and wear and tear of the tyre. I believe this proposed law is to put an end to those (obvious) lifts of 150mm+ and deter those who want to get a similar lift by making a "grey area" of 50-150mm.

Cheers

[lc120_man Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close lc120_man]

Re: DON’T LET THE GOVERNMENT BAN 4WDING!

OK Guys,

Looks like 4WD Action jumped a gun here...

The 4WD aftermarket and accessory industry through the AAAA and the Australian 4WD Industry Council has amongst others, had serious ongoing consultations with the RTA and meetings with the minister. The working party is working on updated VSI 50 Draft Document, for which they have signed non-disclosure agreement with RTA. Will just have to wait for RTA to release it...

Cheers,

Stan

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: DON’T LET THE GOVERNMENT BAN 4WDING!

where as with VSI50 I believe the error margin will be inherent in the way the lift is calculated (from the centre of the wheel to the top of the arch. That is, the error will occur from different tyre sizes (which is permitted) and wear and tear of the tyre.

When you measure from the center of the wheel to the arch, it doesn't matter what the wheel/tyre size is or the amount of wear. It will always be the same distance.

[tassie tiger Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close tassie tiger]

Re: DON’T LET THE GOVERNMENT BAN 4WDING!

where as with VSI50 I believe the error margin will be inherent in the way the lift is calculated (from the centre of the wheel to the top of the arch. That is, the error will occur from different tyre sizes (which is permitted) and wear and tear of the tyre.

When you measure from the center of the wheel to the arch, it doesn't matter what the wheel/tyre size is or the amount of wear. It will always be the same distance.

Is it? (and thats not being sarcastic)

If the springs are 50mm higher that will lift the body 50mm higher which makes the distance from the wheel to the arch higher doesnt it?