Towing limits and regulations.
Submitted: Friday, Apr 06, 2007 at 21:47
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vv4yno
I have just upgraded my camper for a poptop and am a little confused at the towing regs. I am very keen to comply with the law and would appreciate some help.
Firstly, my Ford Courier has a max towing weight of 1800Kg but a max ball weight of 60Kg - common knowledge (and the manual) state that ball weight should be 10% of the laden weight but this only gives a max towing weight for the van of 600Kg- How does this make any sense? - If I cant maintain 60Kg ball weight, can I upgrade the
suspension to allower a higher ball load?
On to the trailer - My camper only listed a Tare weight on the papers but the new poptop shows an aggregate weight also. The Tare is 778Kg but the aggregate weight is 2000Kg - this allows for a 1200Kg + load -
well in excess of what it would actually be. Is the aggregate weight a "guess" to stay under the limit for a breakaway braking system? - If this is so, can i get it modified by having the vans aggregate weight measured on a weighbridge before I transfer the rego or will the RTA refuse to change it? -
Ok, on to insurance - If I do have an accident, would the actual weight of loaded van be taken into consideration or would the recorded aggregate weight be taken into account - I ask because the current recorded aggregate weight is 200Kg over the max load permitted by Ford for the courier.
Sorry it is so long winded but I am very keen to get this right as there is too much riding on it to guess.
Thanks in advance for any help,
Wayne
Reply By: vv4yno - Tuesday, Apr 10, 2007 at 18:49
Tuesday, Apr 10, 2007 at 18:49
I have finally sorted out my towing problems.
Firstly, HR's tow limits are the gospel - the plate on the towbar is the final word (same response I got from ford).
This means I can have a download of 180Kg and tow legally - whoo hoo.
The GVM has been fixed up and now reads 1000Kg - this was done by taking the van to a blueslip inspection station and having a "change of records" completed - no cost from the RTA.
thank god thats all done with!!
Thanks to those that offered advise,
Wayne
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232597