Towing Speeds

Some people are not comfortable towing at 100 or 110 KMh. That is fine, BUT they should also be aware of what is happening behind them! After all, that's what towing mirrors are for!
If they see a line of cars behind them, they should pull over at the earliest convenience and let the faster drivers pass. Courtesy goes both ways...

It is my understanding that there is a speed limit in W.A. maybe 90kmh for caravans and trailers over 750kg. Do not quote me (or sue me) but I did stumble on it somewhere. Maybe try a 'google' on it.

Mind you, with some of the tow weights LEGALLY at almost 50% heavier than the tow vehicle, it is probably not a bad thing, IN SOME CASES.

Oh boy, you're in for it now :)) *ta rah*......here goes....

2 points. The posted speed is the speed limit. Not the minimum speed, or even the advisable speed in some cases. It's the maximum speed. AFIK the limits for towing vans and trailers may be lower than the posted speed in some states..

What happens if you are behind a slow moving road train ? Do you get frustrated and try and pass him ? Good luck.

We all use the roads. Old and careful, young and speedy, the sick and the well.
A bit of courtesy for the other drivers (pull off if there's a line behind, give a wave if they do so etc) goes a long way.

I'm suggesting that courtesy is a two way thing. If you're the slower vehicle, keep as far left as you can and when someone starts overtaking, slow down a bit.
If you're the quicker vehicle, overtake carefully. In the old days we used to flash the slower vehicle to let them know we were overtaking (or was I the only one...hmm). This is still an excellent practise if overtaking on a track where dust may obscure vision.

A carload of slightly sozzled young girls stopped at a crossing for me. One leaned out and wolf whistled and then grinned. Being an old f$%^ I looked around but yep, I was the object of attention. I had been in a very serious mood until then, having just visited my very sick father in hospital. I smiled for days after that.
So what does that prove ?
A bit of courtesy, a smile or wave to say thank you, can have an effect far beyond what you could imagine.

Drive as if there's no tomorrow and there may not be !

I'm with both Jimbo and Michael - great to get the grey army up into the warmer climate - I'll do that too as did my old man for many years.

But he (as I) always was aware of the traffic behind and regularly pulled over (or at least reduced speed on a straight and indicated) so he wasn't spoiling everyone elses holiday!

Andy

Try it over here in WA country with road trains up to 4 trailors long. I frequently drive the hilly windy stretch between Widgiemooltha and kambalda with it being uncommon not to have to pass road trains in diesal 1hz utes. I strongly suggest you do what I do - get patient or get dead

here you go for the speed limits for towing:

www.caravanandcampingsa.com.au/page.asp?parentid=22&parent2id=96

agree though - courtesy and patience go a long way - love the pretty girls story too.

Jimbo,
we all don't drive turbo diesels with heaps of power.... (that waz the flak)

I drive about 90 -100 towing a camper trailer, because I drive to arrive and get better fuel economy at the same time. I’m never in a hurry when going from place to place because I camp late each day. I now don’t drive at nite, as one nite I wrote off a steal bull bar, front panel and two lights after hitting a few roos, well about seven, just north of Meekabloodytharra while trying to get to town at a reasonable hour.
I always drive with the CB on the truckies channel so I can inform them of my intended movements and allow them to pass safely. It’s a joke when they pass and you see the sticker stating they are governed to only 100 KPH and you know they must be doing at least 120.

Over here we have roads that are not really wide but they are straight for many, many kilometres at a time and it’s easy for the trucks, which can be well over 50 plus mtr long to stay at their ‘cruising’ speed and just scream past because they can see up the road for miles ahead.

Jimbo, if what you are advocating was the case ... there wouldn't be a single truck on the road!
On most major roads now there are frequent overtaking lanes, but one thing that I have trouble coming to grips with is, why are people in such a hurry ...... to die!

Jimbo, we tow our 16'6" poptop caravan and generally sit between 90-95 kph as it's where the car/van seems the happiest and the economy is probably best at this speed. I do however keep a close eye on my mirrors and will always pull over if too many cars are behind. The one time I won't pull over is on uphill stretches where it is often a struggle to keep up momentum and to build up speed from a dead stop if you stop to let cars past is very difficult. Once I'm over the top however, I am looking for the 1st opportunity to pull over and let the traffic past.
We love the vanning lifestyle and it's a great way to meet different people just as it is with the 4x4 movement.
Most vanners I've met will pull over as circumstances allow just have a bit of patience and we'll all get to where we want to be safely.
Regards Andrew.

Hey! You been taking - 'flog me' pills - Jimbo.

and lots of them, regularly, by the look of it.

I know its raining out there in the Berwick boonies where all form/s of entertainment disappear at 7.00pm sharp, but a 'slow death by forum retort' is taking things to the limit.

Maybe a post on how to dry a 'Jerrycan' in 30 mins, or a paragraph from you autobiography witten by the author of the trip report from your last 'day out', may have elicited enough abusive responses to satiate your masochistic trait, without enraging every road user this side of the black stump.

ROFLMAO

No one can say you aren't entertainment value mate.

Another Pizza and Beer night being considered in FTG this time.

G'day all, jimbo, you sound like a menace to me.
Everyone has a right on the road and we all have to work around that simple fact. Safety on the road is incompatible with impatience and stupidity. If they drive slow, wear it. If they have underpowered cars towing big vans, be sorry for them, but don't come the raw prawn and monster them with your agressive diriving technique. We all have the right to a bit of give N take an your post is a red-flag for me.
Just remember when you used to flog around in an old Dat 120Y for your first car. . . or did you step straight into a V8?

nice to meet you. . . lemons

yeah lets make those 70 y/o retired people do 120km and risk having an accident and killing themselves.....they shouldn't of been on the road in the first place cause your taxes paid for that bit of road.....what a stupid post....

Leroy

Jimbo,

I think you've got the message mate.

Anyone towing bloody great big ANYTHING's, (even with a MACK truck) would have to have rocks in their head to be cruising at the sort of speed you are suggesting.

You just can't stop quick enough in an emergency.
That is why millions of dollars are spent on dual carriageways and passing lanes; so that impetuous drivers can pass without taking out three cars in the process and creating more road fatality statistics.

Surely your just taking the p!ss by posting this topic???

Just for the record, in NSW (and I guess other states) the legal speed limit for horse floats (in use) is 80km/hr.

Jimbo led with his neck and now your chopped daddy.

Most vehicles in top gear tow at around 90 to 95 kph quite comfortably because it suits the torque and fuel economy.

And I agree with footloose.

I can tow at the speed limit and beyond but choose not to for the above reasons and for safety. If you see me then give a call on the uhf and I will endeavor to let you through.

As they say Hell ain't full yet.

Jimbo, more importantly what does the law state in relation to side mirrors for people towing vans. I would see atleast 75% of vehicles towing vans don't have wide enough side mirrors. All too often I will come up behind a caravan on the highway (doing 90kmh - which is fine) but I can't see their mirrors. As you get closer you can see some of them drifting over the white line, totally oblivious that there is even a vehicle behind them (cause they couldn't see you even if they wanted too). Then they get this nasty look when you shoot past them because you want to spend as little time beside them as possible.

Towing a van wider than the vehicle should be illegal without extended mirrors that allow you to see vehilce behind!!

Cheers,
Hughesy

Jimbo.

I'll let you of easy. I guess the real answer hear is the "not so common" courtesy.
One thing to think about is for many out there, they are maybe lucky if its once a year they get to take their van out.
A lot of the surfaces they travell on are new to them. Single lane bitumen for example. A lot of people don't even know how to pass on-coming traffic in this situation.
A wide range of knowledge and experience out there. Someone of your experience show know enough to show some consideration even if others don't.

Regards

Wim

While I sympathise with what Jimbo is saying, ever tried getting past a caravan on the Great Ocean Road?, what you're asking/saying is totally irresponsible.
In the last week or so I've seen or heard of 3 incidents involving jacknifed trailers, one incident on the Hallam-Belgrave road where the trailer came away from the A-frame and killed the driver of an oncoming car!
I would dare suggest the "trailer driver" was not being irresponsinble, but maybe pressured into driving at 100kmh???
Now that's what we need, more trailers zooming around the country at ridiculous speeds using more fuel and possibly creating a higher risk.
I would suggest that if you don't have the patience to drive, then you should catch a train, bus or taxi, and knock down a stubbie or 10, and become less of a risk!
BTW, on all trips I have made in the past 10 years, I almost always only travel at around 90kmh, and find that I can usually get about 60kms more out of an 80L tank :)
Sometimes even dropping down to 75kmh to get that 20km more!
The $ saving over a Melb-Darwin trip add up.
But courtesy is my major concern, always letting the Jimbo's of this world through, or speeding up in areas where there are no overtaking opportunities to alleviate the frustration levels, then slowing down again, to let "Jimbo" pass ;-)
Gimme a strong tailwind and a deadline and you'll find me zooming past you at 140, even though the 'ol Rangie will demolish 2 litres of oil in the process! :/
I just don't like to see or hear of people getting killed because of stupidity, incompetence, or impatience.
- SO CHILL OUT DUDE!

The Police, Transport Authorities and Road Safety bodies are all encouraging drivers to slow down but some are not hearing the message.

What does it take to get the 'slow down' message through to the 'Bloody Idiots"?

Anyhow, where is the evidence that drivers of slower vehicles are inattentive, unskilled or do not let vehicles pass? My experience and the advice of Road Safety Authorities indicate to me that it is commonly the drivers of fast vehicles who lack skill and judgement.

It is often foolish to tow heavy trailers at the speed limit or beyond. Have a long think about the more limited capabilities of the vehicle and trailer combination and the relative ease with which stability can be compromised.

Similarly, many fourbies are commercial vehicles in disguise and require more careful driving than a modern passenger sedan.

I suppose the same people who rant about 'slow drivers' also bitch about 'L' &' P' Plate drivers, men wearing hats, Volvo drivers, women drivers, drivers who are unfamiliar with the locale etc, etc.

I read a report some years ago wherein it was claimed that people who commonly drive too fast for the conditions and break road laws could be sociopaths who also rule-break in other areas of life (eg thieving, assaults etc). Not a pretty thought!

I 100% agree with Jimbo. You can tell the people that tow mobile roadblocks, they are all the ones against you!

Although this has been done before on here, I find it very rare that someone with a bowling hat on the rear parcel shelf will EVER pull over and let people pass.

One last thing, what sort of bleep wit designs overtaking lanes to 90% of the time by on the side of Mt Everest, not on the flat?

Truckster,

Y'right.

Then there are the other bleeps who stuff it up for the good drivers:
- Sunday drivers;
- old buggers with straw gardening hats;
- young hoons with doof, doof, music;
- car with umbrella on the back sill;
- anyone with a deerstalker, eight panel cap, or beret;
- old Zephyrs or FJs, especially with a foxtail on the aerial;
- car with any nodding doll or fake animal on the back sill;
- police (they REALLY know how to slow down traffic);
- VW Kombis (especially with curtains);
- four door white passenger cars;
- station wagons;
- cars with 'baby on board' signs;
- women with coloured hair;
- women with big sunglasses with gold logos on them;
- Vespas (a new Italian threat - all the earlier ones were run over by Council buses and trucks);
- driver wearing a scarf (especially a plaid scarf);
- anyone of foreign appearance;
- Citroens (but not if driven by men of Gallic appearance - instead they are reckless bleeps who probably reek of garlic and don't know the road rules);
- Peugeots (but disregard the above qualification for Citroens);
- cars with tourist stickers;
- tradesmen with old trailers (shouldn't be many of them around now given the housing boom);
- Dept Transport road maintenance trucks and crews;
- old f*rts with new sports cars;
- old f*ts with old sports cars;
- old f*rts who look like they have money in the bank;
- boomer couple with granny in the back;
- fourby poseurs with umpteen driving lights, huuuuge tyres, purple paint and wrap-around sunglasses;
- poseurs with their foglights always on;
- any vehicle that appears to be from a different State or town;
- trucks hauling logs; and
- farmers.
- cars with venetian blinds;
- cars with dog/cat lover or veterinary signs in the back window;
- cars with dog, car or parrot in the car;
- slow pedestrians;
- cycles on roads;
- fourbys with 'mum's shopping trolley' sticker;
- farmers moving stock;
- women with the netball team in a people mover;
- any car with a netball sticker;
- any car with a trailer doing the garbage run to the tip;
- any car with a trailer doing the 'moving house' run;
- Commodores towing Jayco pop-tops;
- expensive European cars driven by old f*rts (no old bleep should be allowed to own a Porsche or Mercedes);
- top of the range Hyundais (always driven by old bleeps); and
- any ridiculously tiny commuter cars.

If there anyone missed please feel free to add.

On a brighter note, do you know that if you get the bigger diesel donk in a F350 it has enough grunt for some quick pick-up before the lady with the lolly pop sign can stop you at a school crossing? Hmmmmm, forgot to put school speed zones and lolly-pop ladies into the list of bad things that slow down good drivers.

All in jest, no need for flames ;-)

EV700

Hi Jimbo,
The forum was getting a bit tame re debates wasn't it.

I think you have caused mass - debate amongst the ranks.

I even curse myself when I can't keep with the flow of traffic.

We regularly tow a horsefloat on the highway. Horses move in transport and therefore it is best to stay under the speed limit. If you pull over to the left, you run the risk of the tyre going off the side of the road and flipping the trailer with the horse inside.

Guidelines on how to tow http://www.horseproblems.com.au/horse_problems_australia_on_safe.htm

BTW Horses are known to poo over the back tail gate withhout notice. You best stay your distance

Thanks for the correction on WA speeds - yes, it is 100, even in the 110 zones. Another link for anyone interested:
www.towingguide.com/legal_requirements.html

In some sort of defence of jimbo, who said that towing at a speed limit of 100kl/h was anywhere near dangerous. Just because there is a speed limit doesn't mean anything over it is unsafe,just illegal.It is a free country so you can travel at any speed you like but don't have a go at somebody for wanting to travel at 100 or 110km/h even if they are towing. By the way I tow a KK camper trailer at a constant 110 plus (jackaroo t/d) because I want to enjoy more relaxation time when I get to my destination. And yes ,if your uncomfortable towing at a higher speed slow down or keep off the roads.

Jimbo, I hope this same concern extends to any ignorant 3#%!!/??+=+ who doesn't check their rear view mirror. Tonight coming home from Sydney on the F3, despite signs all along the freeway to "keep left unless overtaking" this wnaker in a Troopy dawdling up the big dipper at 80 in a 110 limit zone is in the r/h lane holding everybody up and is offended when I, amongst others cut in front of him from the left where there was hardly any traffic (If you happen to read this Mr Wnaker I'd love to discuss it with you) and then proceeds to go over the speed limit when he's over the hill and cuts in front of me. He wasn't a kid. Just infantile. An ignorant Knut who would rather hold everyone up than change into a lane where the traffic is travelling slower and let people thru. I think it's in the constitution not to let those behind get past. Having got that off my chest, it's easy to put yourself in caravanner's shoes, being 4x4ers, because every Lantra, Echo or Excel will risk life and limb to get past the 4b (or Schappelle {Corby}) in front of them even if it is travelling on the speed limit.

This is not quite on the topic but on a recent trip I had a bit of a fright when overtaking a road train. We were towing the camper van and fully loaded. My 3.0 TD auto cruises easily at 100-110. We came up behind a road train who was sitting on 100. The road section was between Port Pirie and Port Augusta and there are a good number of overtaking lanes. However the road ahead was long straight dead flat and clear, except for a dot on the far horizon. It seemed safe to overtake then and there rather than wait for the next overtaking lane, so I did.

The acceleration was much slower than I expected and it took an eternity to pass the road train (three trailers). We rocketed up to about 125-130 and that dot on the horizon started to get bigger. We completed the overtake with a reasonably safe margin, but it did make me sweat a bit. Even if the road train driver was alert and had seen the awkward situation develop, I doubt that if he had buttoned off that it would make that much difference. I would have still been accelerating and on the wrong side of the road and faced with the possibility of a sudden swerve to avoid the head on, with the trailer snaking behind. There was a fatal near Blanchetown SA a year ago in similar circumstances. A family in a LC towing a full size van rolled and killed the occupants.

Towing anything reduces your performance. Be careful out there!

Kings

Well hasn't this been a lot of fun?

For the record I tow a camper with a suitably powered vehicle. My "rig" can hold the speed limit and not present danger to other road users.

In fact, my setup is such that I can nail the throttle and overtake safely (not spending too much time on the wrong side of the road). I actually hit "horrendous" speeds of 130 or, God forbid, 140 for brief periods to ensure I am not a danger.

My setup is a balance of towing ability, power, and the weight of the thing being towed. Works for me and I'll happily accept a liitle less fuel economy so as not to be a nuisance on the road.

It's a matter of common courtesy.

Cheers,

Jim.

Hey Jimbo - u've really brightened up my day reading this post. i was going to go on about young blonde sheilas in hyundai excels and all those ex volvo drivers who now punt subarus but i've lost it mate - too many tears in my eyes from laughing at this ruckus - that bad i'm running the risk of a double post because i think i hit the wrong button last time.

and. . . what's wrong with Volvo's
Na! . . . just kidding. I haven't had one in years. . .LOL

lemons

In response to "what happens if you blow a tyre at that speed?"

Well, not a lot really expect for wrecking a rim.

It's happened to me. I blew a tyre towing a 17 foot boat at 120. My own fault, the tyres on the trailer were very old and I should have put new ones on earlier.

She pulled up straight as a die.

The "good oil" that I received from a bunch of grey brigaders (mostly mexican) was that they primarily travel at slower speeds to achive better fuel economy (!!!).

I regularly travel between rocky and Brisbane and particulalry around this time of year the roads are thick with vans and I am constantly faced with vans travelling at anywhere between 70 - 90. Very frustrating to say the least and what's more the majority by far seem either little concerned or oblivious to the lien of vehicles behind them. I will add though that there have been a few that either use the UHF or pull aside where possible but inmy experience these are few and far between.

I don't have an issue with caravans, but I do have an issue with those who tow vans with inappropriate vehicles or through either ignorance or arogance fail to consider other road users by travelling at 20 odd ks below the accepted limit to save themselves a few bucks.

The real problem starts directly behind the slow moving vehicle as it's generally the driver who sits so close behind they can't see what's coming and is not competent enough to overtake.
This only makes it more difficult for others to get past so the queue gets longer and longer and the vehicle in front gets all the flack and abuse.
If the overtaking lane is on an uphill stretch and he's able to speed up after the road levels out, of course he's going to.
If you couldn't get past before hard luck and wait for the next opportunity.

I tow a van normally at about 95kmh and that's good enough for me, I listen to the trucks and watch them coming up behind and pull over whenever I'm able to do so safely, like at a floodway when in the north of the state.
I certainly don't pull off just because some idiot wants to sit right up my backside dangerously wandering around poking his head out for a look.

Coming back from the North on the coastal highway recently I was overtaken twice by the same idiot in a Hilux on solid white lines!
Then at big roadworks further down a flagman said a Hilux had rear ended another vehicle speeding through the restricted 40kph area! Served him right.
Sit further back where you can see better, drop down a gear and floor it when safe to do so.
Alan H.

Since I have been living in the UK for a while, and driving both here and in Europe, I am amazed at the different attitude to speed.

On the mptorways here, the 'speed limit' is 70mph, but nearly all the traffic drives faster than that, and I regulasrly cruise at 90 mph.

Even on 'A' roads the traffic is a lot faster than in Oz.

Don't believe that this extra speed is due to better roads. Most are similat r to Oz, and the traffic levels are much higher. The 'Speed Kills' is just propoganda. The limits in Oz should be raised