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TOWING LEGALITIES
Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 8:20 pm
by OVERKILL ENG
Having 2 buggies in the shop now we are looking at building a 2 car tralier and tow it behind our little FORD TRADER but no one can tell me wether it is legal or not.
We were originallly going to run a fifth wheel hitch but now have come across atrailer with a 70mm bal hitch.
Has anyone been down this path and know the legalities and i have tried the RTA and they were no help
SAM
Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 8:25 pm
by smooooth
Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 8:27 pm
by napsta
i heard its totally gutless...
Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 8:50 pm
by POS
2 Buggies @ 1250kg's = 2500kg's plus 800+ for the trailer and that puts you legally over most production 4wdrives in OZ.
You can Legally only TOW what the vehicle is approved and plated to tow.
You can modify vehicles to increase there towing capacity but they need to be engineered.
Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 9:13 pm
by forissan
Just be carfull in queensland you can only tow aparantly 3/4 the gvm not nessesarily the stated towing capacity, fith wheel with give you more capacity but only if the vehicle can take it in the first place
Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 10:41 pm
by hotrod4x4
just extend that tray by about a foot so the hubs sit over the end of it ( even clip in style extensions )
and tow a trailer
u then get 2 buggies
and no excuses for being so late to drives
Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 10:43 pm
by OVERKILL ENG
The truck has a gvm of 4450kg but No one can tell me what the gcm is.
I have calculated that the 2 buggies and trailer wil come t about 3750kg.
Does this help
SAM
Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 11:10 pm
by Matt N
"GCM (gross combination mass)"of a vehicle means the greatest possible sum of the maximum loaded mass of the vehicle and of any vehicles that may be towed by it at the one time:
(a) as specified by the vehicle’s manufacturer on an identification plate on the vehicle, or
(b) as specified by the Authority if:
(i) a sum is not specified by the vehicle’s manufacturer on an identification plate on the vehicle, or
(ii) a sum so specified on an identification plate is no longer appropriate because the vehicle has been modified.
quoted from:
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/ ... 42/s3.html
Is it not stated in your truck's manual?
Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 11:11 pm
by "CANADA"
TEAM KNECK wrote:The truck has a gvm of 4450kg but No one can tell me what the gcm is.
I have calculated that the 2 buggies and trailer wil come t about 3750kg.
Does this help
SAM
just drive the buggys.......
or put them both on one trailer...piggyback style
Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 11:15 pm
by ISUZUROVER
TEAM KNECK wrote:The truck has a gvm of 4450kg but No one can tell me what the gcm is.
I have calculated that the 2 buggies and trailer wil come t about 3750kg.
Does this help
SAM
Have seen a few listings for the GCM of larger Ford Trader models, and it is about 1.5x the GVM. But you probably should try and get more exact specs from Ford.
Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 11:27 pm
by Mad Cruiser
POS wrote:2 Buggies @ 1250kg's = 2500kg's plus 800+ for the trailer and that puts you legally over most production 4wdrives in OZ.
You can Legally only TOW what the vehicle is approved and plated to tow.
You can modify vehicles to increase there towing capacity but they need to be engineered.
Didn't tom try to tow 2 buggies with the f truck over the gateway ?
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 1:14 am
by familybus
work it out! your sitting on 70km in the ford trader towing your trailer with both buggies and some clown loaded with all his camping gear and the kids in his jap crap soft roader pulls out of a give way sign and in your path! whats the chance of you being able to pull your setup up before you write him off? id say prety slim, so would you realy want to tow all that weight behind yah trader?
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 1:35 am
by "CANADA"
time to talk to seirra jim about a chev
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 9:32 am
by Shadow
forissan wrote:Just be carfull in queensland you can only tow aparantly 3/4 the gvm not nessesarily the stated towing capacity, fith wheel with give you more capacity but only if the vehicle can take it in the first place
not true
queensland transport always rely on the manufacturers specs.
is the idea to put one on the trailer and one on the ute? or both on the trailer?
If they are both going on the trailer all you really need to know is the towing capacity.
This will be in the vehicle's handbook, or just ring ford.
edit: a google search shows GCM's ranging from 4500KG to 6000KG+ depending on model.
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 10:03 am
by napsta
familybus wrote:work it out! your sitting on 70km in the ford trader towing your trailer with both buggies and some clown loaded with all his camping gear and the kids in his jap crap soft roader pulls out of a give way sign and in your path! whats the chance of you being able to pull your setup up before you write him off? id say prety slim, so would you realy want to tow all that weight behind yah trader?
I tow a trailer which weights 2800kgs which is fitted with eletric brakes and i reccon it stops only slightly slower, if not as well as, my old patrol without a trailer. you can feel the trailer brakes pulling back on you.
so if you have a well setup combination it shouldnt be a problem.
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 10:41 am
by CRUSHU
A friend tows 2 Monster Trucks behind a small truck, on a long trailer, and carry's the tyres on the truck. He is Vic based, but tows all over the country for Monster Truck shows.
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 5:41 pm
by 4sum4
buy a small truck
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 6:36 pm
by RUFF
forissan wrote:Just be carfull in queensland you can only tow aparantly 3/4 the gvm not nessesarily the stated towing capacity, fith wheel with give you more capacity but only if the vehicle can take it in the first place
Hmmm you should check on this info because its not correct. I have a vehicle at work that has a GVM of 9.800KG and a GCM of 240 000KG.
Cantact Ford they should be able to tell you the Max towing Capacity. But im pretty sure you should be right with that Tow rig.
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 6:36 pm
by RUFF
4sum4 wrote:buy a small truck
Thats exactly what a Ford Trader is.
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 7:03 pm
by jeep97tj
All though dual axle will do, with triple axles and 12" electric brakes on all axles, stopping will never be a issue, but being a trader i dont know if u will get out of 3rd though. Go the 70mm ball and but a camper on the truck
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 7:36 pm
by RUFF
jeep97tj wrote:All though dual axle will do, with triple axles and 12" electric brakes on all axles, stopping will never be a issue, but being a trader i dont know if u will get out of 3rd though. Go the 70mm ball and but a camper on the truck
Its got a 5.8ltr Clevo in it so i dont think getting out of 3rd will be a problem.
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 7:40 pm
by Slunnie
RUFF wrote:forissan wrote:Just be carfull in queensland you can only tow aparantly 3/4 the gvm not nessesarily the stated towing capacity, fith wheel with give you more capacity but only if the vehicle can take it in the first place
Hmmm you should check on this info because its not correct. I have a vehicle at work that has a GVM of 9.800KG and a GCM of 240 000KG.
I take it thats a prime mover for a road train?
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 8:19 pm
by Shadow
Slunnie wrote:RUFF wrote:forissan wrote:Just be carfull in queensland you can only tow aparantly 3/4 the gvm not nessesarily the stated towing capacity, fith wheel with give you more capacity but only if the vehicle can take it in the first place
Hmmm you should check on this info because its not correct. I have a vehicle at work that has a GVM of 9.800KG and a GCM of 240 000KG.
I take it thats a prime mover for a road train?
either that or a tug boat
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 8:32 pm
by Modified Toy
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/ ... ailers.pdf
It says you can tow one and a half times the unladen mass of the tow vehicle as long as the trailer has brakes and the vehicle manufacturer hasent specified other wise.
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 8:38 pm
by Daisy
Slunnie wrote:RUFF wrote:forissan wrote:Just be carfull in queensland you can only tow aparantly 3/4 the gvm not nessesarily the stated towing capacity, fith wheel with give you more capacity but only if the vehicle can take it in the first place
Hmmm you should check on this info because its not correct. I have a vehicle at work that has a GVM of 9.800KG and a GCM of 240 000KG.
I take it thats a prime mover for a road train?
a very bling one at it too!!!
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 8:39 pm
by jeep97tj
RUFF wrote:jeep97tj wrote:All though dual axle will do, with triple axles and 12" electric brakes on all axles, stopping will never be a issue, but being a trader i dont know if u will get out of 3rd though. Go the 70mm ball and but a camper on the truck
Its got a 5.8ltr Clevo in it so i dont think getting out of 3rd will be a problem.
alright it might just be the gear box that will have troubles, V8 and all that extra weight
. U wouldnt hire it out, would come back broke for sure.
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 8:44 pm
by RUFF
Slunnie wrote:RUFF wrote:forissan wrote:Just be carfull in queensland you can only tow aparantly 3/4 the gvm not nessesarily the stated towing capacity, fith wheel with give you more capacity but only if the vehicle can take it in the first place
Hmmm you should check on this info because its not correct. I have a vehicle at work that has a GVM of 9.800KG and a GCM of 240 000KG.
I take it thats a prime mover for a road train?
Yep its 9 months old has towed 2 trailers in its life has 5 TVs in it
And a sound system that even a Deaf Man could hear
and is valued at a touch under $600 000. The Paintjob alone is worth $50 000.
Will get some pics of this thing and post them in Chit Chat tomorrow night.
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 9:00 pm
by ISUZUROVER
RUFF wrote:
Yep its 9 months old has towed 2 trailers in its life has 5 TVs in it
And a sound system that even a Deaf Man could hear
and is valued at a touch under $600 000. The Paintjob alone is worth $50 000.
Will get some pics of this thing and post them in Chit Chat tomorrow night.
Yeah but what about the important stuff, how many Icepacks does it have?
Bought a new vehice to tow the buggies???
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 9:05 pm
by Miyagi
RUFF wrote:jeep97tj wrote:All though dual axle will do, with triple axles and 12" electric brakes on all axles, stopping will never be a issue, but being a trader i dont know if u will get out of 3rd though. Go the 70mm ball and but a camper on the truck
Its got a 5.8ltr Clevo in it so i dont think getting out of 3rd will be a problem.
this thing can take off in third and thats with a loaded car trailer!
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 9:12 pm
by RUFF
ISUZUROVER wrote:Yeah but what about the important stuff, how many Icepacks does it have?
Bought a new vehice to tow the buggies???
No the important thing is how many Icepacks will this truck sell. It will be at every Major Truck Show in Australia and should take out Rig of the Year in Truckin Life.