License for 5th wheeler ??

Several years ago A diesel fitter mate in Geraldton built himself an articulated trailer to go behind a rodeo trayback same as a 5th wheel set up when he went to licences it the police told him as it was Articulated he therefore must have the old C class licence which he had so no worries.
Everyone else I've spoken to who has a 5th Wheeler doen't seem to worry so I'm very interested in the answer you get

In a word "NO", but in my opinion anyone who tows anything should be made to have an ARTICULED license, you only have to go to the local tip on a Sunday for all the entertainment you will ever need just watching people "TRY" to back a box trailer. If you can't manoever it you should not be towing it.

Dear All

As a reasonably new owner of a Fifth Wheeler the answer is no, a special license is not required. The usual things like towing weights and the like must be adhered to. In response to your post Signman I think we can all agree that we have seen many similar situations with other vehicles.

Regards
Rocky

When the matter of licence requirements regards towing caravans and the particular issue of people being unable to reverse their units even in caravan parks was put to the Hon Minister for Transport in Queensland he replied to the effect that his Department had established a priority to concentrate on the younger generation since that was the area where most accidents occured and besides there are very few reported accidents involving reversing vans in Caravan Parks.
His reasoning for not requiring additional licence levels eg articulated, was that all the other states work this current way and he could not justify having Queensland being different.

Even our local MP was left shaking his head.

Kevin J

Intesting comments so far

When we picked up our Fifth Wheeler, the manufacturer allowed for a full day of instruction which included hitching and un-hitching, normal driving and reversing. The manufacturers went to great lengths to ensure that we had previous experience in towing other vehicles, which we both had. I have heard of some manufacturers hand the keys over and off you go.
I am the first to admit that towing a fifth wheeler is different to other vehicles that i have towed, the best part being the way it tracks behind the towing vehicle. Reversing is somewhat different to other trailers and the like but once you get the hang of it it is OK.

After re-reading some of the comments already there are those that tow vehicles and those that don't.

Regards
Rocky

I few years ago a class "C" (articulated) licence was required for any articulated vehicle in WA. Now with the "standardisation" across Australia The it is only required for vehicles over a certain weight, I think 4.5 t. could still be interesting with a number of 5th wheelers.

Neil

Fifth wheels and goosenecks are more stable than tag trailers, so i don't know what the issue is. License requirements are based on the tow vehicle's capabilities, not the trailer size or hitch style. A ball hitch on the bed of a pickup/ute with a gooseneck hitch is not a 5th wheel coupling, as often mistaken. Just cos one guy couldn't do it, doesnt mean everyone else should need special licenses. Man my wallet is thick enough as it is, and it's not from excess cash!

It all goes back to common sense. the pivot point on a 5r should be slightly in front of or in at least over the back axle. New people to the game don't know or appreciate the (swept area) that an articulated vehicle requires. I learnt at 14 years old carting in hay for the Local carrier how to turn the rig off a narrow road and through a 12" gate. Go past the gateway with the Tug swing in so the front bumper just clears the post then steer away to make room for the trailer.
I now drive an F250 with a 30" 5r on the back.
Where I have a problem here in NZ is at tight round-abouts, hang wide to let your trailer come through and some silly bitch joins the roundabout taking up your space.
DONT PASS TURNING VEHICLE signs are there for a reason

then there is the proffessional truck driver who has to spend heaps of dollars and time to get a licence for a semi, and then has to drive on a log book and know all the loading and restraint laws, then get abused by caravaners with so small writing on the back of the van stating what uhf channel they are on, then holding up normal flow of traffic for their sight seeing and stating they are on holidays and screw you. From experience in every state in OZ. Col

Hi Signman,

I used to tow a Jayco Dove outback and we sold that to buy a small fifth wheeler. Ours is an Okanagan 24' which has a dry weight of 1900 kgs. Not a real big unit compared to some of the big ones that are imported from the states. Mine is asembled in Nambucca Heads and is fully Oz compliant. I tow it with a Rodeo CRD dual cab and it tows & tracks like a breeze.

Most people have not accepted the fifth wheel principal yet because we are still in Caravan/ Towball mode. 70% of new Vans in the US are fivers. Most people who have towed Caravans and then try a fifth wheeler would not go back to a normal van.

Interestingly, the overall towing length compared to my old Jayco is only 1.3 metres longer ! No drawbar see !

As far as reversing goes, I leave that to my wife !

Cheers

Pat Robbo

A fifth wheeler on an F250 with a GVM of no more than 4500kg is classed as a small articulated vehicle. Class 'C' license applies. (normal car license).

The question should now be, are we talking about a 2 or 4 wheel drive F250?

Dum Q---- But why are they known as 5th wheelers any real reason because i never saw the coralation

Signman Its a different story if the towing trailer has 3 axles a class 3 or articulated licence is required no matter what the weight

regards Vince

Hi all,
an interesting lot of comments. However I must compliment truckies. Having done the Sydney-Perth trip 15 times with my family I found them extremely professional and friendly.
However when you talk about people backing trailers etc I reckon watching people drive around shopping centre carparks again and again looking for a bay they can drive into and preferably one they can drive straight out of is also hilarious. My wife doesn't read this forum but we live about 8 kms return from the local shopping centre but when it is busy her return trip can be more than 10kms. Sometimes parks so far away I am surprised she doesn't walk from home.
I will deny having written this and will be blaming my next door neighbour.