Silverado 1500 GVM upgrades
Australian-delivered Silverado 1500 trucks typically sit in the NA category (GVM up to 3,500 kg). That is tight once you add a canopy, drawer system, bar and touring gear. A GVM upgrade into NB1 (up to 4,500 kg) is the usual fix — more legal payload, still on a standard car licence.
The kit we spec most is the BDS 4" lift with FOX 2.5 Performance Elite coil-overs. McGaughy's does not make a 4" kit for the 1500; their 1500 range is the 7–9" stance kits, which are a different brief. For GVM work on this platform, BDS 4" is the main kit.
Tough Trucks supplies the kit, installs it and issues the modification plate in-house. Call 07 5500 0095. See all GVM upgrades, or the Silverado 2500/3500 GVM page if the build is heading heavier.
NB1 vs NB2 on a Silverado 1500
Almost every 1500 GVM we plate is NB1. Crossing 4,500 kg into NB2 on a half-ton chassis is uncommon — you pick up Light Rigid, 0.00 BAC and heavy-vehicle rules for a rating the 1500 is not really built to live at. If the build is heading that heavy, we will tell you to look at a 2500 instead of forcing NB2 onto a 1500.
GVM upgrade FAQs — NB1 and NB2
Is there a McGaughy's 4" kit for Silverado 1500?
No. McGaughy's 1500 kits are the 7–9" lifts. For a GVM upgrade on Silverado 1500 we use the BDS 4" FOX coil-over kit. McGaughy's 4" kits are the main GVM hardware on Silverado 2500/3500.
Will a Silverado 1500 GVM upgrade need an LR licence?
Not if we keep the certified GVM at or under 4,500 kg (NB1). That is the standard 1500 package.
What is a GVM upgrade?
A GVM upgrade is an engineered increase to the certified Gross Vehicle Mass. It raises the legal loaded weight so a canopy, touring fit-out or heavier body stays inside the rating. Tough Trucks supplies the suspension, installs it and issues the modification plate in-house. Call 07 5500 0095 with the VIN to start.
What is the difference between NB1 and NB2?
Australian Design Rules split goods vehicles by GVM. NA is up to 3,500 kg. NB1 is over 3,500 kg and up to 4,500 kg. NB2 is over 4,500 kg and up to 12 tonnes. The line that changes how you drive the truck is 4,500 kg.
Do I need a Light Rigid (LR) licence?
Only if the certified GVM goes over 4,500 kg. That moves the vehicle into NB2 and a standard car licence no longer covers it. Stay at or under 4,500 kg (NB1) and a C-class car licence still applies.
What else changes on an NB2 installation?
Besides the LR licence, NB2 is treated as a heavy vehicle: 0.00 blood alcohol, higher tolls on many roads, and some states cap heavy vehicles at 100 km/h. Registration and insurance also follow the new category. We walk through that before you commit to a rating over 4,500 kg.
Can I complete a GVM upgrade and stay on a car licence?
Yes. If we plate the truck at or under 4,500 kg it remains NB1 (or NA if it stays at or under 3,500 kg). That is the usual brief on 1500-series trucks, and the choice for HD owners who want more payload without Light Rigid.
Why 4" McGaughy's and BDS kits?
Those are the kits we use most for GVM work. The 4" McGaughy's and BDS systems add the spring rate to support the new rating, clear larger tyres, and still ride like a daily driver. On a few late-model HD platforms BDS does not make a 4" kit — we spec the closest 5" BDS system instead.
Does Tough Trucks issue modification plates in-house?
Yes. We supply, install and complete in-house mod plates at Arundel and Mackay. The plate is what makes the GVM legal, not the lift kit on its own. Call 07 5500 0095.
What else is involved besides the suspension kit?
Load-rated tyres, brakes and the chassis have to match the new GVM. Then an engineer's certificate and a modification plate. We scope that before parts are ordered so inspection is not a surprise.
All GVM upgrades · Silverado 2500/3500 · F-150 · RAM 1500
GVM figures, licence class and heavy-vehicle rules depend on the certified rating and the state of registration. We confirm the path for your VIN before the truck is plated.